(Please excuse my awful attempts to write in French)
I've written of my celebrity-crush on Beatrice Martin before, and now that I've actually seen her play live (sadly we didn't meet) I'll admit, I've fallen even harder. Securing a front-row-centre spot, I eagerly awaited the playing of the beautiful piano notes that accompany the young lady's graceful singing voice. With slight concern I noted during the sound-check that Beatrice seemed a bit frazzled with the way things were going, but after a few private words with Vish, and his introduction of Coeur de Pirate, she was all smiles...
Dressed in skinny blue jeans and a blue'n'black striped shirt (with short sleeves to display her tattoos) Beatrice wowed the crowd with her well-crafted songs, sung entirely in French. Asking our preference for banter language she spoke in both national languages, showing the Quebec songstress' proficiency as she coyly took soft jibes at her own obscurity in this province. Handling the delicate keys and delightful vocals herself, a couple musicians accompanied her and added a variety of sounds including acoustic and electric guitar, violin, and ukulele. This allowed for an upbeat version of Ensemble, though the rendition of Printemps cut the keys and opted for a clap-along instead. After introducing and beginning a "really sad" song she restarted it with charm, explaining that a bug had flown into her face. Once past the somber piano opening the violin swept in followed by acoustic strumming to fill out the sound. Before the other musicians left the stage they assisted on a note-perfect rendition of Comme des Enfants, the song Beatrice attributed to making her famous in La Belle Province.
Once alone on the stage she played her original Francis, before a Malajube cover (still in French of course). As she's been known to do, the 'Heart of a Pirate' took Rihanna's Umbrella and made it her own by slowing it down and laying it out over the piano. Sensational.
Very few people responded when the chanteuse asked the crowd who'd heard of her before the set, but I'm sure by the end of this show her name had become inextricably entangled in lovely chansons en francais, just as my heart-strings had become tangled up in knots.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Coeur de Pirate est une Voleuse de Coeurs (Hillside '09)
Friday, July 17, 2009
Countdown: In 7..
That's right.. in one week from now we'll be heading down to the island at Guelph Lake to set up some tents and take in a weekend full of more music than there were musicians at last week's BSS show. The excitement is spreading like this unknown arctic blob.
A look towards Friday...
Hopefully Coeur de Pirate will have her health/energy back to perform Friday night (after being forced to skip her Dawson City performance citing illness/exhaustion depending on the source). With her upcoming schedule absolutely packed (in Quebec) for the rest of the year, let's hope she can recoup! If not, I've got a fallback in Australia's The Grates. Speaking of energy, my bet is that USS will bring more to shut down the Island Stage Friday night than Loreena McKennitt over on the Main (no offense).
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Hillside Guide
A few acts I'm making a point of catching - hopefully I'll see you at some of these!
Coeur de Pirate may be my most anticipated set of the festival, basically because I fell hard for Beatrice (don't tell my g/f) upon first hearing this lovely chanteuse and have yet to see her live. This lovely tattooed young lady sings glorious songs en francais over lilting piano. Added incentive is that she was a Polaris Prize long-lister.
Clues are a delightful band outta Montreal who's debut self-titled album recently dropped. Not only that but they are part of the third Pop Montreal showcase at Hillside - and those Pop Montrealers are no slackers.
Bruce Peninsula have released a most excellent album entitled A Mountain is a Mouth and I can't wait to see their stage adaptation.
Patrick Watson a beloved Canadian indie rock figure that I have never seen before. Therefore I can't speak for his live performances but based on recordings I'm intrigued and excited to try him out.
Timber Timbre aka Taylor Kirk has a buzz following him everywhere - enough to get swooped up by the Arts&Crafts label. Should be a soft, lovely show.
The aforementioned I am excited to see for the first time, whereas I can vouch for the following acts having taken them in before (check the links!).
Hey Rosetta! I won't even get into all the reasons why, but I love the poop outta these guys (and girl). As awesome as Into Your Lungs is - the live show blows it outta the water (in this case, Guelph Lake).
Final Fantasy. Violin. Loops. Pop. Amazing. A must-see!
Woodhands are a two-piece that bring the energy.
The Arkells from Hamilton put on a rockin' live show from my experience.
As always there will be plenty to see at this year's fest and I look forward to checking out a bunch of others in addition to this list including The Rural Alberta Advantage, Australia's The Grates, the token party-band for this year (besides Woodhands) - USS, Sunparlour Players, Silver Starling, Library Voices and the list goes on.
Okay, so I guess that hardly narrowed the list down.. you'll have to see what turns your crank.
I don't claim to be an expert - though can anyone really be an expert when it comes to music? It's all so subjective. Therefore in terms of Hillside Festival acts I would definitely encourage you to check the bands out for yourself. In addition to the above list I'll even provide a handy R3 playlist I created as a jumping off point. It is recently updated and features only Hillside 2009 bands; by clicking the currently playing artist you can access more music and info from that artist on their New Music Canada page.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Polaris Shortlist Reaction
In keeping with my polaris coverage - I'll give you my initial reaction and fire it off without much thought.
Well I went 6 for 10 which is barely a passing grade of D. Somewhat disappointed in neither of my buzzed darkhorses, Coeur de Pirate and Timber Timbre, making the short list. Guess that means my overall prediction of TT is absolutely wrong!
Of the four new ones, Metric is okay but pretty boring really. K'naan deserves it and is doing something unique at least - probably my fave of these four. Granted the only short list album I haven't heard (or at least haven't listened to) is Fucked Up - so I guess I'll have to check it out. Malajube was alright - perhaps I didn't get into it because it is french (so I can't sing along as easy) and perhaps it made the short list because it is french (and they wanted to diversify)?
I can see why the Arkells didn't make it - their album is solid but not too different and really it is their live show that makes it. On that note, I'm pleased to see that Elliott Brood slipped in! Also somewhat understandable that Wolf Parade didn't make it since this album didn't even surpass their own debut.
Gotta say I'd be underwhelmed if any of Joel, Metric, GLS won.
Having to make a new prediction of my winner I will root for Hey Rosetta! and say K'naan also deserves it (and make a point of sitting down with the Fucked Up album).
Short list follows the jump!
1. Elliott Brood - Mountain Meadows
2. F*cked Up - Chemistry of Common Life
3. Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels
4. Hey Rosetta! - Into Your Lungs
5. K'naan - Troubador
6. Malajube - Labrinths
7. Metric - Fantasies
8. Joel Plaskett - Three
9. Chad Vangaalen - Soft Airplane
10. Patrick Watson - Wooden Arms
