The Sunparlour Players are one of those bands. Like Shout Out Out Out Out and The Burning Hell their recorded music is fine and all, but it is the live show where they really take off.
As they were soundchecking I was worried that Guelph had forgotten about this as the eBar seemed to have cleared out to some degree, but when the banjo broke out the crowds came flocking, seeing as we are what singer Andrew Penner described as their pseudo hometown. What better place to kick off an extensive tour?
And kick it off they did.
The raucous three-piece ran through a serious amount of favourites from both of their previous two albums, much to the delight of the attentive and responsive people clapping along up front.
The key difference to the live show seems to be the drumming. Not only is he lined up at the front of the stage along with his bandmates, but Rosie is seriously killer at percussion - multi-talented too! Most tunes saw a xylophone rested on his set being played by one hand while the other manned the drums, and the kick leg kept the beat. He even broke out the accordion a few times.
Dennis celebrated his birthday by accepting a spontaneous outpouring of fan-led 'Happy Birthday', a couple of pints, and then rocking out the guitar and banjo. He even set banged on the "The" kickdrum and cymbal for a few tunes too like Dyin' Today. (The band is still rocking the rattiest looking kickdrums which at one point were painted one-word-per-drum "The" "Sunparlour" "Players".)
Hollerin' and singin' is what Penner does best and last night was no exception. Belting out old favourites like John Had a Bell and a Whistle and If the Creeks Don't Rise from Hymns for the Happy he sure did make us happy. Also give him some creativity points for hanging a windchime from the stem of his instrument, and tying bells to his boots for other songs!
It was a full, energetic and upbeat set but we still wanted more. An encore screamed O'Captain, the movie-soundtrack tune Bless this City and once again a distinctly Sunparlour version of Thunderstruck! Can't wait for the new album sometime next year, and surely a tour to boot.
Sunparlour Players Set List:
Wall Sisters
Battle of '77
Joy in What You Lack
Nuclear
North
*New Song?* "Your Grandfather"
Point Pelee is the Place to Be
Pacifist's Anthem
If the Creeks Don't Rise
Dyin' Today
John Had a Bell and a Whistle
The Detroit River is Alive
Encore:
O'Captain
Bless this City
Thunderstruck
Friday, October 15, 2010
Sunparlour Playas (eBar, Oct 14)
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Barbers, Theives & Players
Having begrudgingly pulled myself away from the Lorrie Matheson show at the Attic I arrived at the eBar in Guelph in time to catch most of Del Barber's opening set. Boy, am I glad I did as he was a treat. Without any prior knowledge of Del or his music I walked in to a young man seated on a chair with an acoustic guitar and a mature folk-singer's voice beyond the age on his face... Throughout his very enjoyable folk-bordering-on-country set Del proved that he is a very capable musician, picking and pounding his guitar while his excellent voice sailed throughout the quickly populating bar. Armed with an excellent cover of Neil Young's Harvest Moon and a handful of amusing anecdotes he thoroughly entertained.
I had heard the second band in the sense that the singer and man at the forefront is also the singer of the alt-country group Cuff the Duke, from Oshawa. Wayne Petti's voice immediately recalls Cuff the Duke classics for me and as much as they may try to differentiate from his primary project it was difficult for me to hear much difference. Granted Wayne Petti and the Thieves (oh I get it, Petty Theives.. ha) do their best at playing melodic rock, but with that voice it still brings up stetson-hat associations. They managed to steer clear of any strong country feel until the first half of a song near the end of the set, however they wiped that away with one of their many crashing instrumental breakdowns. With Wayne wailing on the electric guitar, and his two bandmates watching him (they haven't played together long - 3rd show in fact) they would bring a whole lot of noise and a touch of feedback to the endings of many tunes. Though it's not too markedly different than Cuff the Duke it can only be counted as a positive thing that Wayne is putting his excellent voice to good use wherever he can.
Finally it was time for the show that has become a fan favourite here in Guelph. In dapper dress the Sunparlour Players opened with recently released album Wave North opening track North. The manner in which this song is sung is earnestly, which most accurately describes the feeling put into the lyrics while singing this song both live and on album. From there the three-piece band continued their sit down set, though it was sit-down with energy! - beginning with mostly music from the CD for which this show was honouring the release. Included were tracks such as Nuclear, O'Captain, and Point Pelee is the Place to Be, some of which prominently featuring the banjo, and one even saw a xylophone being bowed. The lead single Battle of '77, which included the accordion, got a very strong reception though perhaps the biggest response was deservedly for the track If the Creeks Don't Rise. However I do have a bit of a grievance with a handful of folks in attendance. As much as I am glad that they were enjoying excellent music, I was twice as annoyed by their antics in order to show that enjoyment. Drunkenly spilling, loudly talking, carelessly bumping, disgustingly pashing, stupidly yelling - these people were detrimental to the entire crowd who wanted to see the band equally as much, but managed to enjoy the show in a way that also respected the other patrons. Nevertheless the show continued with the lead 'player', Andrew Penner, standing up from his chair midway through. He got the place jumping even higher by mixing in a handful of older songs including John Had a Bell and Whistle. By the time it came to the finale the crowd was putty in their hands and we stomped and sang along to the appropriately chosen Wave North closer Build It Up. Can't wait for the Hillside set! It was a solid closing to a solid night in which all five bands I saw delivered.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Add the Sun(parlour Players)
Still no sign of Holy Eff, despite some activity on the performer page such as the addition of Guelph local folk singer-songwriter Josh Gabriel.
--Update--
The Sunparlour Players will play music from their great new album Wave North at Hillside.
Also, after pointing out yesterday that the Library Voices weren't on the official list, they have now been added.
