There'd been discussion as to whether the Library Voices would headline the show, but here they were playing slot one of three at the eBar's first Friday night show ever. It has only been slightly over a year since their opening slot for Hollerado on this same cramped stage and in that time much has happened to this band out of Saskatchewan. Speaking of cramped stages, the eight-piece remains in tact (and I have a theory on that) though the male manning the keys had been relegated to the floor in front of the stage to no ill-effect as it made the show that much more personable. Out of the gate was a rocking intro song that I haven't heard from them recorded or live and it served as a proper opening before assaulting us with pop. In the aforementioned year's time LV has released a full length Denim on Denim and they hit us up with a majority of tunes from that disc, including Insider Trading off the top - a song that charges along. As catchy as their recorded material is, Library Voices are one of those extraordinary bands that really make it happen live. It is the sheer enthusiasm and joy that they pump into those instruments that invite smiles to the faces of the audience, claps to their hands and lyrics to their lips. Their happiness on stage, my theory on why they can stick it out with such a large band, becomes infectious and spreads like the plague through the crowd (if the plague caused you to dance bordering on blissful delirium). Whether they are climbing on amps, strumming from their knees (bassist), or in Carl's case - doing somersaults on the dance floor (while singing) they're something to see.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Library Voices (eBar 6/18/10)
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Odd, Out-of-this-World Bill
The latest edition of The Bookshelf newspaper comes with a whole load of great news on the concert front. First there's the 1/2 page spread of Hillside performers as previously reported, and on the front is this tasty tidbit.
In June (the 18th to be exact) the eBar will be hosting a show with three great bands on their own, each with a sound much different from the next, which will make for a diverse though guaranteed excellent concert.
Starting off the night will be the spacey pop of ex-Arts & Crafts band, Young Galaxy. Last time I caught them it was a sunny Toronto Island afternoon - and they brought out a bit more of a rocky side than displayed on their dreamy albums.
From there things are going to jump into high-gear as the Library Voices will fill the place with their large ensemble of fun, pop music. Last time I caught them at the eBar I was floored, and since then they've only gotten better. Not only that but their full length Denim On Denim (Canadian tuxedo?) is out, catchy, and ready to be heard live.
Finally are the much-loved in the indie community Besnard Lakes. This band uses a variety of instruments, in interesting ways, such as bowing a guitar, to create a progressive pop sound that a lot of people (myself not included) lose their poop over. Maybe you'll find yourself in that group?
Regardless of your style of pop there's going to be something here for everyone. An eagerly anticipated concert not to be missed!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Big Shows in Little Guelph (THT Updates x2)
A glance at the sidebar schedule might make you think you were living in a big city, but in reality lil old Guelph is being blessed by concerts from some big, formerly big and gonna be big names in the upcoming months. Not to knock the others on that list but here are some highlights.
Metric is playing the University of Guelph's frosh week. Introduction probably unnecessary, but in order to see Emily Haines and co. you'll need to be a student or at least know a student. You may also need to know a loan shark as tickets are $36 - ouch! Peter Clark Hall is an awful venue, but that's usually because it is mostly empty, which may not be a problem for this show.
Japandroids who've been getting some hype (including being the X3 artist of the month for May 2009) were forced to cancel their last tour at the last minute due to a medical emergency. This BC power duo are known to bring a heckuva sound are returning to make up for that missed show. Support Mt. Saint Helen's Vietnam Band, Little Girls.
The Bouncing Souls are punk rock veterans, having played countless Warped Tours not to mention touring constantly on their own over the past twenty, yes twenty years! I caught them a few years ago at the Vancouver Warped and my desciption isn't particularly complimentary but you've gotta hand it to these vets for still bringing it after all this time. If they got me in the pit it musta been doing something right. Along for the ride are Saint Alvia Cartel. Early Show!
Two Hours Traffic bring their pop-done-right sound from the Island of Prince Edward in October. Lucky for us THT haven't forgotten about Guelph just yet when making their jaunts across the country. I remember their free gig at Jimmy Jazz just a couple years ago, and the two eBar shows that followed those - with the crowds growing for each one. I didn't blog any but I did write after the second eBar gig "Another solid fun-filled set, with 4 new songs including a good one called Noise Maker." I see that Noise Maker did indeed make the new album Territory; the opening track no less. Can't find the opening support just yet, but regardless The Danks who include a couple THT boys in their lineup are playing too - so I'd DEFINITELY advise getting tickets ahead of time for this one!
Whoa, further update as this big show gets bigger and Spiral Beach join the bill.
Not just The Acorn but Ohbijou too! This gig was supposed to go down last year if I recall but was cancelled well ahead of time for reasons that escape me now. It is back on and at the Dublin St. Church. Never seen the Acorn but Glory Hope Mountain was a killer album, and Ohbijou are lovely (and current X3 artists of the month). This'll be something to see!
The Hidden Cameras finally return to Guelph. Their live shows are known to be spectacles. Unfortunately I missed the last time they played the Dublin St. Church, and it has been over 2 years since that time so catch them while they're here!
Library Voices are doing a free gig. They may not be as well-known as some of the bands above but damn are they as great! It is a noon-hour concert (exactly what it sounds like, a show at high-noon in the UoG UC courtyard) and it's 100% free. I gave them some love for their recent Hillside show.
Almost worth canceling my travel plans to catch all these great acts...
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Library Voices' Future (Hillside '09)
Hey Rosetta being a tough act to follow, Library Voices brought the troops - all nine of 'em, including three females - and boy (and girl) did they fare well. So big were they, that the stage crew required a massive whiteboard diagram of the setup in order to assemble the stage.Fashion was a mishmash, including some lovely dresses and suits, though also some hipster fads. Regardless of dress, each of the members played their part well (as in their last Guelph show), showing passion in the form of a busted tambourine right off the top that was tossed and skittered across the stage in pieces.
Opening with a bunch of new songs from a forthcoming album (potentially dropping this fall) they worked up the masses assembled in the Island Tent before hitting us with numbers from the oh-too-short Hunting Ghosts EP such as Love In the Age of Absurdity with its rippin' guitar. Vonnegut's Grave had a couple of the females taking turns on the verses in the spirit of sharing. Though Kundera on the Dance Floor says 'don't go there' - they did - with members singing from the floor in the midst of the crowd. The final number was their breakout song Step Off the Map and Float that brought down the house as the sax was being tossed in the air and bashed off the stage, while the sweaty-wet (and tall!) bass player climbed onto the drumset.
A fantastic new tune with a fantastic new chorus sang "I saw the future escape from a crystal ball, it said the present is just an afterthought. Love is a forget-me-not, so I guess the past is all we've got." Well I've seen the future in this Regina group's crystal ball, and it promises success and longevity!
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Holy F! Where'd they go!?
Probably reading too much into the Hillside Performer list right now but...
Holy F*ck have been removed from the list which could break a lot of hearts if they're no longer playing.
Another removal: Pilot Speed (formerly Pilate) is gone from the list.
However to at least partially make up for those, Canadian R&B singer Divine Brown is now added.
Also local Guelphites and remixers-extraordinaire Green Go are on it now too.
--Update-- Silver Starling (formerly Mothers Fathers) from Montreal, with ties to Stars, Arcade Fire and others, have also been added to the list.
Amber McLean who is playing Manhattan's soon is set to play Hillside - I'm assuming she's jazzy.
Of course the performer list comes with the caveat that it is the *performers confirmed to date* and it is naturally *subject to change* and all that. I'm praying that when correcting "Holy Rosary" to "Red Rosary" they accidentally deleted "Holy F*ck" which was directly below it.
Library Voices who state they are playing the fest have never been on the performer list. Also early leak, Kae Sun, hasn't seen the official list yet either. So there's definitely room for change.
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.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Holler. with your Library Voice
The Library Voices collective took to the stage, nearly outnumbering the sparse but enthusiastic crowd at the Ebar. There were a whack of instruments played by the assorted 8 members cramped onto the stage. The females held down the keys/synths/xylophone (alternating with an accordian and melodica), while the males played bass & drums, a couple electric guitars and notably a rented sax (since they recently had ten grand worth of equipment ripped off). It seemed that every member kept a tambo close at hand too. Self-proclaimed "pop as fuck" they layered on the sounds to make joyous and full-bodied pop tunes one after another. Noting the intimacy of the small crowd they slowed things down and played a lovely quieter number about the Book of Love. The entire Hunting Ghosts EP was played, including the R3 fave, Step Off the Map and Float which was excellent. During the final track the obscenely tall bass player picked up a drum and held it in the body slam position above his head while the short-in-stature, long-in-drumstick drummer banged away on the drum whilst standing on an amp. Spectacular!
Up next were the 4-piece outfit known as Hollerado, from (rhymes with) Quebec. They played some gritty rock'n'roll with a couple electric guitar riffs buzzing over deep bass lines and hard-hitting percussion. This was the standard for all but their regular-rotation R3 single, On My Own, which was more slow and steady. Banter was rather amusing as they pointed out the celebrities in attendance that included a member of The Arkells and the dude from the back of the $5 bill (the skater. I know, I was hoping for Sir Wilfred too!). All these people took in a solid rawk show.
