A week after the packed house for Dancehall Free For All the Jimmy Jazz was back to business as usual, however with the music being put out by the Ketch Harbour Wolves they deserve a full venue. Those of us in attendance marveled in a solid set focusing on new tunes from Anachronisms, the disc that brought me out to this show (over an interesting bill running at the eBar). Officially hailing from Toronto, despite their name's origin being in Nova Scotia they admitted that members came in from Cambridge today. The male five-piece unnecessarily crammed themselves into a corner of the Jazz but played an equally tight set nonetheless.
Holding it down with a pair of guitars, bass, keys and drums, they tossed in some xylophone early in the set. Impressive on many tracks was the three-part vocal harmonies as the lead singer who was more than capable on his own was backed up to great effect. There was a resounding nod to The National, primarily due to the drumming on Damascus, while the final song Black Skies Around You had a Hey Rosetta! feel to it, what with the piano intro building to a climax before coming back in. Between were personal faves (after only having the record for 2 days)Breakdown and Photograph featuring some neatly amped guitar work. Altogether it was a well-played live rendition of quite excellent songs. Given some exposure the crowds will be out in droves to feed back the appreciation that these guys deserve.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Catch Ketch Harbour Wolves (Jimmy Jazz 6/24/10)
Friday, June 18, 2010
Whale Tooth Free For All (Jimmy Jazz 6/17/10)
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.
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
The Darcys create, Canyon City grows
Canyon City. Here’s a few more C's for you. Competent. Carpal Tunnel. Covers. These young lads could certainly play their instruments, but it was plain to see that they’re still cutting their chops. While stretching out his wrist the singer himself self-deprecatingly pointed out that the vocals weren’t quite up to snuff before launching into a Supremes cover – one of many covers on the evening. I won’t rule them out completely as the determination seems to be there, but they’ve got a ways to go yet.
Based on the crates full of effect pedals on stage I was a little weary of another noisy assault at the Jimmy Jazz. However The Darcys didn’t fit the mould I’d already set out for them. By creating well-composed, layered songs over strong and varied drumming they were much more dynamic than I first anticipated. Guitars did swirl, filling out the songs in a way that added texture and not simply noise. Someone in the crowd lamented how it was a shame that a band of this caliber was stuck playing the Jimmy Jazz on a Friday night – but who knows, with the right luck they could very well break beyond.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Kazoo Fest: A 'Rich' Party with Diamond Rings (PS: I Love You)
Let's say the party planning committee convened for a brainstorming session.. do you think they could come up with something as over-the-top as Rich Aucoin brought to the Jimmy Jazz in Guelph last Friday?
Gathering the crowd together in a little-league style huddle there was a hip-hip-hooray cheer, complete with balloons and confetti, to get the party started. Immediately following this, the pre-programmed dance beat kicked in so people could shake it. While youtube sensation video clips shone on the wall, he cut up their audio, including the "ow ow ow ow ow" grape-stomper, to form the beat. When it wasn't viral videos, the music kept time with an skewed-colour version of the animated 'Grinch' movie circa 1966. It was difficult to pay attention to any of that however, as Rich did his best to whip the crowd up by running amongst us when not manning his keyboard or effect-mic. He jumped and clapped and started sing-alongs to the lyrics splashed over top of the videos and generally encouraged a raucous party. People were only too happy to partake in this mixed-media bash -- Rich Aucoin for party planning president!
The energy may have been down for the next band, but the noise level was WAY up - and they were only twice as big as the solo Rich Aucoin set. PS I Love You amped things up through a slew of electric guitar effect pedals and hard-hitting drumming. Nearing the end of the set they brought out John O'Regan (Diamond Rings/D'Urbervilles) to guest sing, but mostly just groove.
Diamond Rings were next and so John's dancing continued, but now in a more interpretive style to the prepared Macbook Pro beats. O'Regan also played some keys and sang but it was his movement that entertained me the most. However after a few of his tracks, and one music-filled night (see Bruce Peninsula review) I called it a night, to wade home through the drunken university students puking and falling over. (Them, not me!)
Friday, June 13, 2008
Hey Rosetta! (and Jon and Roy)
Jon and Roy opened up (barefoot) and were a mix of acoustic and drums or bongos. A very Jack-Johnson feel to it that got old rather quick (and lasted far too long). (4.5/10)
I bought the CD before they started because I'm sort of obsessed with these guys right now. I'm not sure what it is - the song Another Pilot struck me and became a fave a couple months ago (from their EP Plan Your Attack). Desperately I searched for mp3's to no avail (maybe I just love the pursuit?). After having their last show in Guelph canceled due to illness this was the make-up show and I wanted to be sure to see them while I still had the chance. I've got this inkling that they have commercial success just around the corner.. Another possibility for my insta-love for them could be that they're from St.John's Newfoundland. Which certainly helps but its more the excellent balladry, piano soft, and guitar rock mix (often within the same track!) that keeps things fresh.
The 6-piece took the stage with Tim on the keys and vocals, slowly leading us in before the band took up the cause. The guitarist played well and sang here and there. The cello and violin were a great addition and shone through (as the violinist's eyes shone on Tim for most of the set). Bass and drums rounded out the sextet.
The first song was off the freshly released Into Your Lungs (and around in your heart and on through your blood) which I'd just bought.. then they threw a couple "oldies" (relative term) at us with my previously mentioned fave "Another Pilot" and then "Lions for Scottie". They won me over early and it seemed as they went on more and more people got onboard. In fact when we looked around near the end of the set we saw that the normally sparsely populated bar was now packed (the most I'd ever seen in there). Just as on CD they mixed slow ("Holy Shit - what a relief") and fast, piano and guitar, to great effect. If they played all night I would have stayed all night. But after a generous show they said goodnight but were immediately met with an encore-worthy round of cheering and soon returned to play Into Your Lungs opener "New Goodbye" as a fitting close to the evening.
(9/10)
It was one of the best performances in recent memory and if they continue (as I know they will) they're going to be winning fans over all across this country. Is it too early to say Polaris '09?
"I told myself look up and believe" sings Tim - and they've given plenty of reason to believe in their bright future.
