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...
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Big Shows in Little Guelph (THT Updates x2)
Friday, July 31, 2009
Busy Hillside Saturday Recap
Saturday at Hillside featured a whack of amazing performers - enough to keep me on my feet 11 of the 12 hours of music. Catching at least part of 19 different sets I was busy and here is my attempt to recap ALL of that including Bruce Peninsula, Attack in Black, Julie Doiron, Bahamas, Ohbijou and so much more.
With three minutes to showtime, a gaggle of instrument-toting musicians walked through the crowd to the Island Stage early Saturday morning. The Cliff Hangars workshop was titled "Bruce Peninsula meets The Rural Alberta Advantage" and it was quite literal as they met mere minutes before the show began. This was slightly unfortunate as they weren't able to plan the collaborations all too well and therefore swapped songs for at least the first few tracks (after a lengthy Rock-Paper-Scissors duel to see who would go first). Of these there was a notable RAA track, North Star, which is an apparently still unwritten (or at least incomplete) new tune. The bands finally meshed when they performed Fleetwood Mac's The Chain led by the BP females, and some slide guitar (while the bass solo was done by voice since they were lacking in an actual bass). On another track there was an attempt to record and sample the entire crowd humming a note. However this failed so instead the members of both groups crowded around the tiny keyboard and were able to lay it down. This was subsequently used on a track that only employed keys, percussion and vocals. In finale they attempted to teach us a song written by a preacher that asks "What are they doing in heaven today?" The lessons didn't stick all too well, but boy did we nail the count-it-in "bum-bum-bum"! As a nice touch, the closing chorus was sung completely a capella.
Emma-Lee
Emma-Lee sang That Sinking Feeling on the Main Stage in a colourful summer dress playing an acoustic guitar. Lovely as it was I was off to wake up with Green Go!
After Green Go, since Julie Doiron was late to the Lake Stage I snuck over for literally a glimpse of Kristin Sweetland. The tall lady was telling stories and I just couldn't wait around for the song to begin so I jetted back to Julie Doiron who still hadn't begun. Eventually she took to the stage and I caught a fast, extra-rocking version of a song I enjoy, No More. However with the full 4-piece band playing, Julie didn't seem to be focusing on the vocals and they became unemphasized and lost in the mix, to my disappointment. I decided to cut it off then and jet to the Island Stage.
Bruce Peninsula
Just an hour after finishing up their collaboration, Bruce Peninsula were back at it. The nine-piece nearing-gospel group filled the stage with four lovely females, leaving five equally as lovely males. Introducing the song as a "lung-collapser" due to the exhausting vocal harmonies they belted out Shutters and by the end I could understand the descriptor. The male lead vocalist has a very distinct and somewhat gruff voice, but when offset by the angelic singing of his female companions it melds into glory. For the final number Casey of Ohbijou joined them on-stage for a rousing rendition of Crabapples, perhaps the best track off A Mountain is a Mouth. It was mindblowing, with drumming on everything from the metal tent poles to the stage itself, along with tambos galore as the aforementioned male lead walked throughout the crowd. Do we want this set to end? "Oh Hell No"!
Bahamas
During Bruce Peninsula's set it had begun to rain heavily (though enthralled by the set I hadn't noticed) and it sealed my decision to stay at the Island Tent and give Bahamas another shot. Afie took to the stage with an electric guitar (no, not a Pink Strat) alongside a drummer. He ran through a number of songs from that album before excusing the drummer and playing a couple more solo. Unfortunately I'd decided that despite my efforts to get into it, Bahamas just weren't the thing for me, which meant that I left the tent before Tony Dekker (Great Lake Swimmers) and Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy) joined Afie for a cover of Purple Rain. Dang.
I did catch some of Treasa Levasseur and her upbeat, jazzy music on the Lake Stage, filled out with a guitar, couple of saxophones and drums.
The Tallboys comprised of Kevin Breit, Matt Brubeck and Jesse Stewart played some great freewheeling music together as the accomplished musicians collaborated on the Lake Stage. Obvious professionals their timing was impeccable and the songs themselves great. All of this emphasized considering Jesse Stewart removed a boot cast from his broken foot before beginning the set.
While passing by David Martel at the Main Stage I was forced to stick around as he was playing The Good Lord which then morphed into most of John Wayne Gacy, Jr from Sufjan Stevens' fantastic Illinois before returning to a strong ending of the original track. This delayed my arrival to Ohbijou who had packed the Island Stage. With streamers streaming from their mic stands Casey sang, with her sis Jennifer on violin and the band also playing xylophone and cello on tracks such as Steep. It was the final song that came across best though. Just as Bruce Peninsula had included Casey on their last song earlier in the day, most (if not all) of Bruce Peninsula clamoured onstage for a singalong that brought out the sunshine once again!
After a refreshing swim I waited for Mishka's reggae to finish before the haunting Timber Timbre set.
On the way to eat lunch provided for volunteers I heard some familiar strings and followed my ears to the Sun Stage. Am I glad I did, as Owen Pallett was partway through a favourite Final Fantasy song, This Is the Dream of Win and Regine. (He should have saved that song with the verse "I tried, and tried to keep the clouds away!" for his stormy main stage set!) I would have liked to stay for more as Owen noted later that sharing the stage with Buffy Sainte-Marie was a highlight of his life, but I was called away by dogged hunger.
Attack in Black disappointed me once again live. Perhaps I should just accept that I'm only a fairweather fan - enjoying a handful of their singles but never loving their full catalogue and usually finding myself bored by the live shows that insist on playing the deeper album cuts. I did catch one of their more straight-ahead rock songs, You're Such an Only Child, which I did enjoy though.
Eccodek
My only other option was Eccodek on the Main Stage, who as I noted before play music that isn't within my regular scope of music, but watching them I could feel the energy they were pumping out nonetheless.
Though I would have liked to have seen Silver Starling debut some of their material, or to have accompanied my girlfriend to her fave Dala, or catch up with my hometown-heroes Tokyo Police Club (Newmarket is close enough to Bradford right?) I played it safe by staying put in the Island Tent and not braving the possibility of a giant line to get back in. Overall I think it was a wise decision based on what I heard (or didn't hear in the case of Silver Starling) from others who had attempted it. Based on experience I'm sure the Sunparlour Players would have been great as well. However I was more than happy with the sets from Hey Rosetta, Library Voices, Woodhands and The Arkells!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Oh, Bijou, Doiron, GLS (et plus) at Hillside
Exciting announcements...
Ohbijou's gloriously lovely songs will sparkle in the Hillside sun this July 24-26.
Julie Doiron is also bringing her equally lovely self to Hillside.
The Great Lake Swimmers, on the heels of the release of another solid effort The Lost Channels will showcase Tony Dekker's wonderful songwriting and guitar plucking. They are no strangers to Hillside, having played Hillside Inside just this past February. (Also have shared a stage with the aforementioned Ohbijou.)
Lindi Ortega from Toronto is slotted to play her acoustic pop on Sunday the 26th.
Skydiggers will be playing their roots-rock at the fest, after 20 years together!
Sam Turton brings his mix of rootsy blues.
Workshop info.. David Woodhead will be running Olifiddle workshops.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Great Ohbijou Fantasy
The River Run Centre is a gorgeous theatre designed to hold approximately 785 spectators for plays and theatrical productions. Last night it stood as the setting for a three-band concert of indie proportions.
Ohbijou took the stage as a 7-piece that played easily twice as many instruments. Fronted by two petite sisters with surprisingly strong and lovely voices, the group played through a lush mix of light indie music. It was very well done though slightly sleepy at times.
A brief intermission didn't even allow us to leave our seats before a drumset, banjo, upright-bass, acoustic guitar and keyboard were taken up by the Great Lake Swimmers. The lead vocalist had a most interesting and excellent voice, which was nicely accented by the female keyboardist's backing. The upright bass player looked pretty mean with his full beard and tats but knew how to play. The drummer played a myriad of interesting ways and instruments, such as a washboard. The frontman also had a wonderful strum-plucking style that really did it for me on Ongaria greats like There Is A Light and Your Rocky Spine. Other songs included Moving Pictures, Silent Films and Changing Colours, though I would have liked to have heard the female take the lead on Imaginary Bars which was not on the set list. The set was absolutely lovely and could easily have been followed up by an encore - but despite the efforts to start a standing ovation I'm sure a lot of people were anxiously awaiting the main event. The one-man violining genious. Final Fantasy.
Owen was just about to start up his looping extravaganza. He came on humbly dressed in a t-shirt and pants and without much lead-up launched into his tunes. The set seemed somewhat ad-libbed. With Owen doing whatever grabbed him, including two covers of a man who he says he is planning on doing a full album of. The two-songs had funny and interesting lyrics but were solely piano-based and are definitely a departure from He Poos Clouds. The second song of the set had me grinning the entire time at just how phenomenal it was. It was a rendition of the title track from the inaugural Polaris Prize winning album and it was admittedly a tough play for Owen, in fact partway through he paused momentarily and mentioned how difficult it was to play, but this just made my grin grow wider as I was simply amazed. A total highlight. A few other highlights were This Lamb Sells Condos, Many Lives for 49 MP and the CN Tower Belongs to the Dead. Once again words cannot describe all of the ways that Owen produces noise from his violin, nor the visual display that Stephanie puts on with the overhead projector. It was another incredible set, capped off with a two-song encore including Song Song Song, that had Owen beating up his violin a couple times more before the end of the night. This simple word was uttered more than a few times last evening; "Wow."
