Whale Tooth had to compete with NBA Finals, Game 7, 4th Quarter and did a respectable job of it. Despite my split attention I can recall the five piece putting on a catchy set. The front woman was dressed in hipster vogue yet had a pop-friendly voice with a classic sound I couldn't quite place, but it was complimented well by the occasional male vocals. Not only that but she was an animated dancer, rivaling the drummer in that regard, though he gets respect for doing it while sitting behind a drum set. The five piece actually broke from their quick and catchy tunes for an extended dance breakdown in one of the tunes, that had both the band and the crowd moving. Their triumph on stage almost evened out the disappointment of another Lakers championship.
Jimmy Jazz may not always be the most happening bar on the block but when they're hosting local bands things change. Tonight was no exception as the young Guelphites kept streaming through the door to see the latest from Dancehall Free For All. They've been bringing their danceable mish-mash of genres to the masses since high school and have no signs of stopping. Having made two albums already, a self-titled and last year's 9-5 Lives, this show saw them back with yet another soon-to-be-released disc. The six young men were dressed to the nines, complete with skinny ties, while playing a bunch of new tunes, which obviously did not yet have the crowd recognition but went over okay nonetheless. As the set progressed they did add in some old faves and a cover too but the biggest reaction must have been for the guest rapper. At first I thought he was a punk messing with their mic but soon realized he was welcomed by the band as he spit a mostly unintelligible (for the sound) verse over some Dancehall instrumental doodling. After his departure they did a handful more, including one of the more difficult attempted singalongs I've heard. Tossed in for good measure was a drum, to bass to keyboard solo while the sax and horn section deserve mention. To round out the sextet props to the guitarist, as well as the leader - the man with the voice. It was a slightly underwhelming set when compared only to previously great DFFA gigs. Their closer saw their rapping friend come back up for a chilled out reggae-style song before an additional encore offering finished off the night.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Whale Tooth Free For All (Jimmy Jazz 6/17/10)
Monday, July 27, 2009
Dancetent? Free For All (Hillside '09)
It was early Saturday at Hillside two years ago that I wandered into the Lake Stage for an unexpected treat that came in the form of exuberant youth (then high-schoolers) playing infectiously energetic pop music, filled out with a brass section. As good as Dancehall Free For All were then they've only improved since. Sure a tad of that energy may have worn off, but it's been traded for maturity which shows in both the songwriting and the stage presence. The singer's vocal are dynamic and full, looking slightly odd coming from this young man, but sounding right in context. They played through mostly new songs from the recently released 9-5 Lives including Danny Knows! as well as super-new and yet unreleased tracks like Shameless and Kelsey Tells Me. All included the sax and trumpet that provide that signature sound and really get the kids moving. The teens that packed the Island tent even started a mini circle-pit which added to the occasional ska feel of the show (their age evidenced by the fact that I could see perfectly over their heads from 30 rows back!) But you don't have to be young to enjoy this band, as they produce quality music, which just so happens to mash in a whole load of fun!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
First Impressions of Alexis, Bidini, Billy, Dancehall, Dirty, and Hayden
Billy Talent III - One thing about this Ben Kowalewicz rock group is that they are unwavering in their sound. BTIII sounds much like BTI (and BTII for that matter) but since they charged out of the gate at such high quality they left themselves less room for improvement. This is not a criticism, in fact I am still a fan of the new music despite my tastes changing since that original album (was that back in high school? sheesh). In subtle ways they've polished their chops and honed their songwriting, and the lyrics have consistently told a strong story - from Standing in the Rain to the new The Dead Can't Testify. If the crowd (that I read about) at Edgefest is any testiment to Billy Talent remaining relevant, they have no need to reinvent their sound, this is just fine.
Alexisonfire Old Crows, Young Cardinals - Disclaimer: This is based on one quick listen through my sh*tty laptop speakers. That said, the previous albums had improved from one to the next in my opinion though some fans of hardcore music would disagree with me, but I liked the increased melody and decreased "Ra Raaa". In fact, Crisis even came in at the top of my year-end list when it was released back in '06. I'd heard the vocal dynamic had changed even further on this album, and though it will take a more thorough listen to distinguish all of this my first impressions are that something has changed. In no means does it sound bad, but I wasn't taken by any of tunes in the first go-round. They've earned my benefit of the doubt so I'm going to spend some time with this in the days to come. (Update: First track in through headphones this time and I'm already enjoying it more)
Dancehall Free For All 9-5 - This young sextet burst out of the Guelph high school scene a few years back with a brass section, pop sensibility and unbridled enthusiasm - wowing crowds in order to earn a Hillside up & comer spot which allowed them to win over even more. The first EP was short and sweet and managed to capture most of that live energy. On the second album things haven't let up a whole lot, though the songwriting has seemed to mature just as quickly as 18 year olds do. Again they are brief (9 tracks, clocking in under 27 minutes) but the tunes are still catchy, and fleshed out musically now that they have had some time and experience under their belts. Perhaps it is toned down slightly in terms of poppiness, but there is much more lying underneath to make up for it.
Hayden The Place Where We Lived - This one is really cursory since I listened to it once, while traveling and wasn't paying particularly close attention. However nothing grabbed my ear throughout, not even in a haunting or lovely way as Hayden is capable of. I've read this is a breakup album that is more pop than most of Hayden's previous work, and so far it isn't stacking up to even his latest release of just last year In Field and Town. He is a grower though, hopefully this one can grow on me too.
Bidiniband The Land Is Wild- The effort from former Rheostatic Dave Bidini. Not sure he's going to carve out enough of a name for himself with this effort to lose the Rheo precursor but this is an entirely listenable disc. The eight-minute How Zeke Roberts Died caught my attention with its story. Song Ain't Any Good is somewhat true in its statement musically, but is interesting enough to stand out. I'll give it a couple more spins to see if there are any more keepers.
The Dirty Projectors Bitte Orca - That Stillness is the Move song is flippin great. There are a couple more tunes I like from this album, but after that one being the leadoff that I'd heard I had high high hopes and it couldn't quite live up. Ah well, I'll take one great song anyday, the other decent ones are a bonus.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Hillside's Library Dance Hall (Updated)
Correction to today's earlier post... there are in fact Hillside leaks.
Notably Dance Hall Free For All that Guelph band that took Hillside by storm a couple years back after winning the high school battle of the bands to earn a spot on a Hillside stage. Did they ever earn it! People are still talking about that show.. and now that they have a new album, they're back.
Another spectacular live pop collective, Saskatchewan's Library Voices will have to take it up a notch (outside voices anyone?) for this year's festival.
--Update-- One more performer to play Hillside; The BidiniBand featuring David Bidini founder of the Rheostatics. Enough said.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Dance Hall Free for .. Boats!
Caught a solid double bill for a Tuesday in Guelph at the Albion. Here are some thoughts.
Boats! played a similar set to the previous time at the Albion. We arrived after they had begun but managed to hear a few of the songs I enjoy; 'You Have Nothing to Lose (except your arms and legs)' and 'Scenic Gorges' included. It takes some getting used to the high pitched voice that the lead singer employs live (through an effects pedal I now believe) but they still were upbeat and fun. Again they closed with the singer on the keyboard and the rest of the members with drumsticks drumming on most anything around the venue they could find. 7/10
Dance Hall Free for All were playing a show in their hometown and it seemed that many of their high school classmates (and some parents too) had come out to support them. They didn't disappoint playing their funk/rock/dance mix of tunes with their impressive male lead vocals overtop. The lone female was missing (apparently due to a broken jaw) but they still had a trumpet and a sax rounding out the brass section. 'Something Collective' (my personal fave) and 'Dollface' were standouts though the entire set was enjoyable and even those around me who weren't familiar with the band were digging them. They played an even better set than their Hillside debut last summer which managed to win a tonne of people over and if they keep this up they have a promising future. 8/10
