The Sheepdogs - Long Haired Freaky People

After seeing the Sheepdogs guys perform a few times on their latest Canadian tour (see the previous post for remaining tour dates as the band heads back west) my review is up on relix.com - check it out!

Or follow this direct link:

http://www.relix.com/features/2012/12/05/the-sheepdogs-long-haired-freaky-people

And pay special attention to the photo accompanying it, also taken by yours truly! For more pics from their gigs in Ottawa and Montreal (Ritual and Club Soda, respectively) check out this gallery:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33900800@N07/sets/72157632168783867/

FYI, i love this band and wish i could have followed them across the country. Three shows simply arent enough to scratch my itch!

The Sheepdogs Have At It - a new documentary film

The Sheepdogs may be on the road, but a brand new 85-minute documentary about their journey to fame and the cover of the Rolling Stone has just been released - it made its premier on December 2 in Whistler, BC. Unfortunately, the guys were on the road in Ontario at the time and couldnt attend, but you can check out a sneak peak of the doc here:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/sheepdogs-chase-rock-dreams-in-documentary-trailer-20121130

The Sheepdogs are still touring across Canada and have shows in Toronto, Sarnia, Hamilton, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, Saskatoon (hometown), Edmonton, Lloydminster and Calgary before the new year. GO! 

Socializing with BLSH

With a summer of touring across Canada and a winter of warming up fans for Umphrey's McGee, Austin, Texas-based Bright Light Social Hour has been a busy band ("busy beavers" we'd say in Canada). Sitting down for a drink and a chat before their show in Ottawa, we got so caught up in philosophical conjecture we almost missed the show...

jambands.com - In Like a Lion, Out with a Bang Bang - Dispatch in Sound Acedemy, Toronto - 08/10/12

Check out this link for my relix magazine review of Dispatch live at Sound Academy in Toronto, 08/10/12.

jambands.com - Dispatch not messin around with first tour in a decade

Click this link for my jambands.com (Relix Magazine) exclusive interview with Braddigan from Dispatch - i spoke with him in depth on the phone from his house in Colorado, just a few days before he left for the West coast to kick off their current tour with Pete Francis and Chad Stokes. There are some great gems in there!

DISPATCH in Toronto, Oct. 8 - There was a decorated band with a heart of gold...

I thought I was ready…

I remember well the summer of 2002 – there was a girl.

Her name was Julie. She and I were counselors at the sleepaway camp I had gone to for many summers. She had curly brown hair and dark blue eyes, and freckles that came out in the sun. As our romance kindled, we would sit at the end of the dock with a blanket wrapped around us, watching the sunset as I sang to her. One day, Julie told me there was a song she wanted to play for me – it was called the General.

It was a revelation.

More than 10 years have gone by since I discovered a little indie band called Dispatch—“indie,” at the time, meaning something different than it does today. Admittedly, I was introduced to the band at a time when they were announcing a hiatus and the passionate fan base—Julie included—was lamenting the fact.    

As I went back into the band’s discography and discovered more of Dispatch, they quickly grew into one of my favourite bands. It was a mixed blessing, because I thought I’d never have the chance to see them live, like a Gen-X’er who discovered Sublime a year after Bradley died.

Then they got back together. They announced a European tour, their first one across the pond. And then word came of the North American tour, with not one, but two stops in Canada. Like I said, I thought I was ready.

At Toronto’s Sound Academy on October 8, 2012, I finally got my chance to see Dispatch live—I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

“We’re so happy to be here with you guys on Thanksgiving,” exclaimed Chad Stokes to the crowd midway through the set. “We’d much rather be here than in the U.S. for Columbus Day—and they didn’t even wake us up at the border. You guys are so friendly!” (Note to American readers: Canadian Thanksgiving is the second weekend of October. There are no pilgrims, but there’s plenty of turkey.)

When I spoke to Brad Corrigan, one-multi-talented-third of the band, a few weeks ago, he described his excitement at being able to play new material after so many years. While the guys did break out several selections from the new album, Circles Around the Sun, this show was nothing less than a journey into the musical history of Dispatch, featuring their rocking-est numbers alongside their folkiest tunes, jams and sing-alongs, crowd participation and no shortage of witty banter.

For just their third show north of the border, as Chad and Brad at one point discussed on stage – “We played once at the Horseshoe Tavern…That’s right, a while ago” – the guys really left it all on stage. They played with a harder edge than I’ve usually associated with Dispatch, channeling the spirit of some of the one-off gigs they played during their hiatus. Some of their live sound this night reminded me a little of the Foo Fighters, equated in my mind with the garage-rock origins both bands share.

I was especially impressed with their ability to take some of their slower ballads, like Two Coins, Carry You and Out Loud, and really rock. Some of the more haunting, somber material from CATS got the same treatment, with Sign of the Times, Flag and Josephine all sped up and electrified. It was a particularly epic version of Flag, with an extended moe.–like jam that really had me moving.

Beginning the show with a blistering version of Passerby that set the tone for the evening, Time Served and Circles Around the Sun announced the band’s arrival in Toronto. Then, just as the crowd started to go nuts with those dark, crunchy opening chords of Open Up, Stokes put a halt to the whole thing.

“Wait – stop,” he said mid-strum, setting his guitar down on the stage in front of him. “I promise we’re gonna play this song, I just want to be able to hear it when we do.” After fiddling with his amp at stage right, he returned to his axe, picked it off the stage and resumed the crowd favourite. It was a candid bit of stage theatre that heralded an intimate and very accessible show.

I admit, I was really hoping for their awesome Open Up/Land Down Under medley, but you can’t win ‘em all. The barn-burnin’ bluegrass version of Flying Horses made up for it.

Ironically, for a place called the Sound Academy there were some sound issues. Trouble setting up the mics delayed the start time by about 15 minutes, and Chad had to make several in-song adjustments to his levels. The guys got around it by using the crowd to the best of our abilities, calling for repeats and audience participation at least five or six times during the show. There was even a little tribute to Harry Belafonte and his classic Day-O back-and-forth, which we all got a kick out of.

The crowd was really great. Incredibly knowledgeable, they knew every word to every song. It was obvious everyone was having a really good – jumping up and down with arms around each other and big smiles, swaying and dancing, people were mostly just happy to get the chance to see Dispatch, and the guys were feeding off that energy.   

I must say, Dispatch’s live dynamic was not what I expected. It was interesting to watch the guys rotate around the stage and trade instruments between songs, double checking for each song whether Pete Francis was playing a guitar or a base, if Brad or Pete was on the drums and which side of the stage they were on. Pete, for his part, is the least vocal on stage – he spent most of the show with a contented smile on his face, just enjoying himself and taking it all in.

Francis is their anchor, holding down the base lines and inserting a perfectly timed Caribbean-sounding solo flourish here and there. Brad brings a more rowdy, east-coast pub-show dynamic that never gets out of hand but almost seems to give Pete and Chad the OK to have fun. Chad is the “frontman,” keeping everything moving and directing traffic, so to speak. These roles, that seem so natural, have evolved over the decade the guys spent apart and are an extension of the confidence the three have gained in themselves individually and in coming back together as a cohesive unit.

All in all, with the highlights of Open Up, Bang Bang, and set closer Bats in the Belfry into Mission, my decade of anticipation came to a very satisfying close. When those classic chords of The General began, I couldn’t help but feel a happy tear in my eye and a smile for things past. 

BREAKING NEWS: DMB in TO

If you listen to the Jam On satellite radio, you know that there is an ongoing debate as to whether or not Dave Matthews belongs in the "jam band" category. If you ask me he does, and it's not just because of who he's friends with or what festivals he's played. Right at the heart of the debate is what exactly a "jam band" is, and for me it's any group that creates spontaneously on stage, going beyond the sheet music, so to speak. Considering that i once saw Dave do a 30+ minute version of #42, among the many 10+ minute ants marching jams ive seen both live and on video, thats good enough for me. The guy just flat out jams. If your convinced, watch The Dave Matthews Live from Radio City Music Hall dvd with Tim Reynolds, then get back to me.

Or better yet - to bring this tangent back to its point - go see Dave live. He has just announced plans for his winter tour, which features 15 shows in the mostly US Northeast, and ONE SHOW IN TORONTO at the Air Canada Centre on December 7. Tickets go on sale October 19 and the supporting act is blues rocker Jimmy Cliff. In other exciting news, indie darlings the Lumineers will also be supporting DMB for the second half of the tour, which is unfortunate for Canadian fans as they recently cancelled a show at Ottawa Folkfest and now look to be occupied for the immediate future.

Get DMB show deets and tix here.

Jim James says Obama for Prez

Just in case you were wondering where My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James stands on the upcoming presidential election, check out this link - he's actually a pretty good writer, it seems.

NOTE: This is not an indication of my political leanings or my support for Obama - I just think it's interesting and well written and i dont really care who Yim wants to vote for, as long as he keeps making amazing music. Enjoy!

The Little Festival That Could

Now that the Ottawa folk festival has had a chance to digest in my system, far from passing right through me, it’s been stuck in my stomach like a good comfort food, warming my bones and lulling me into a contented sleepiness.

Set up in a quiet little green space enclosed by towering maples and evergreens, the festival grounds was large enough to accommodate its biggest crowds, but intimate enough to create an atmosphere for even the sparsely attended performances.

The best thing about Folkfest, perhaps, was that it was true to its name – unlike so many other festivals out there (ahem, “Blues” fest, ahem). It was folky from start to finish, and while many of the 1965 Newport Folk Festival crowd would cringe at the electric guitars and amps many of the performers used, the weekend never pretended to be anything other than what it was.

I have to admit, when I first saw the lineup for Folkfest, I thought, “That’s it?” My expectations were low. Headlining performances by Bon Iver, Ben Harper, Dan Mangan, Great Big Sea and Lyndsey Buckingham at first glance left something to be desired. There was even a day when there were more stages set up than bands performing.

Somehow – perhaps, right according to plan – Folkfest organizers pulled off their most successful showing to date. Now brought to you by the same people who run Ottawa Bluesfest, Folkfest’s scope and ambitions have grown. This year had the sense of a prelude of greater things to come, both from the standpoint of the musical talent and from the capitalist, sponsorship and profit-generating potential. You know what I mean.

Back to the music. To reiterate, my expectations were low. Beyond the headliners, I found myself unimpressed with the rest of the bands in the sparsely populated lineup, with some exceptions. Matthew Good, Matt Mays, Hey! Rosetta, Great Lake Swimmers, Kathleen Edwards, LP, Said the Whale and Alberta Cross are all talented bands, don’t get me wrong, but they wont make me spend $100 on a festival pass.

Or so I thought. As it turned out, the only two shows I was disappointed by were two of the three I was anticipating: Hooded Fang and Ben Harper. I wont say too much about the Ben Harper show because everyone, across the board, seemed to love it, but I found it to be self-indulgent and lacking focus. I mean, who opens a show with a five-minute, meandering xylophone solo? And while Ben did appear to be opening up emotionally to the crowd, I found myself uninspired. For example, he played Burn One Down just a few songs in, almost as if to get it out the way, and sounded more whiny and warbly than he usual does. He did NOT play Burn to Shine, which surprised me, but at least I got my favourite, Excuse Me Mr.

Canadian indie darlings Hooded Fang – whose lead singer, Dan Lee, I interviewed before the fest – appeared nervous. Their on-stage banter was forced and unnatural, and they didn’t have enough material to fill their one-hour time slot. I know that because they told the crowd there was a timer at the side of the stage, and then kept telling us exactly how much time was left. And then they said they had no more material, and the crowd started yelling for them to play everyone’s favourite cover, Brown Eyed Girl. Gotta love a folk festival…

Meanwhile, Matt Mays, Hey! Rosetta and Said the Whale all put on good performances, but the standouts of the fest, for me, fell into two categories: Those who I didn’t know anything about and wasn’t expecting much of; and those I thought I wouldn’t like and who, as a result, blew me away. Examples.

Exhibit A: Whitehorse. This spunky Canadian husband-and-wife duo has that blistering blues-rock guitar sound the Black Keys have built a career around. Plus Melissa McLelland is much more attractive than Dan Auerbach. I was quite impressed with the wall of sound they were able to produce as just two people on stage, with Luke Doucet playing guitar while stomping on drum pedals. A very entertaining performance.

Exhibit B: the headliners. I realize this may be a minority opinion, but i was bored by Dan Mangan’s latest album (the blue one with the Queen on it), and I thought Bon Iver was like a male version of Enya. Well, I don’t know if fest organizers told those guys, “Listen – you’re headliners, you gotta, y’know, bring it.” – well, they did.

Bon Iver, playing under a drapery of canvas canopies that looked to me like a pirate ship, played a very entertaining set. His show is filled with climactic highs and somber lows, with long, philosophical harmonies that feel more like soliloquies than musical notes – it was almost as though I was watching a Disney movie turned into a classic opera, combined with the Eagles. Think about that.

As for Dan Mangan, he didn’t bore me. His set was upbeat and rocked enough that I didn’t leave. That’s a victory for him, because I was going to.

Before I get into my real surprise and highlight of the fest, I would be remiss if I did not mention Yukon Blonde. My third anticipated show (and third time seeing them this summer) was the best, simply because they didn’t even bring a setlist on stage – they just came out and did their thing, played their music, and they tore the roof off. I really like these guys. During the show it began to rain softly and, with the wind kicking up a bit, you could see the drops blowing across the stage and toward the crowd. It was a really cool natural lighting effect and a great festival moment.  

But for me, what was worth the price of admission was Patrick Watson. This Canadian indie band – somewhat pretentiously named after the lead singer/pianist for a group with four-plus members – had a really interesting style I haven’t heard since Supertramp created it. Watson, setting himself up behind an actual piano (by that I mean not a keyboard) is a natural and talented performer, and beautifully combines the softness of his piano with his band’s rock and indie elements, as well as some really interesting, Pink Floyd-esque musical forays into classical and operatic territory. Guitarist Simon Angell has a very David-Gilmour style. I did think, at times, they sacrificed their desire to play a heavier rock sound on the altar of soaring harmonies – but hey, it’s a folk fest, after all.

And so, on the strength of free tickets given away to all the first-year frosh students at Ottawa’s universities to pack the crowd, the Ottawa Folk Festival’s most successful year is in the books. We’re left with more rockin’ memories than we would have anticipated, a satisfying warmth in our hearts and a catchy sing-along tune in our heads. Until next year, when Metallica and Snoop Dogg headline.   

BREAKING NEWS: Sheepdogs announce Canadian tour

I havent posted in almost two weeks because ive been so busy with my new job, but when i saw this update on my phone just now i had to immediately stop what i was doing and check it out - deadlines be damned.

Very exciting news for this enterprising concert-goer - The Sheepdogs have announced a slew of Canadian dates to close out the year. It's the second half of their winter tour through the US, their first real foray south of the border, and they should return to Canada as conquering heroes!

In case it's not clear by the opening paragraph, i LOVE this band. Up till a couple months ago id hardly given them a second thought, but seeing them at Bluesfest was a revelation. They sound just like the Guess Who and they jam like any of the best, with a very Allman Bros/Govt Mule style.

I know what some of you are probably thinking - "ive heard them on the radio and they dont sound that great, just some hard-rockin prairie dudes playing beer-drinkin music." Wrong. Their albums dont do justice to how entertaining and tight their sound is when you see them live. They are so spontaneous and raucous on stage it's impossible not to have a good time.

So check out their new album, which is phenomenal, check out these tour dates, and go to a show. They're still pretty unknown so tix tend to be cheap, but that's gonna change real soon. Im telling you. Ill be at several of these shows, for sure.

November 1 - Peterborough, Ontario
November 3 - Barrie, Ontario
November 15 - Chatham, Ontario
November 16 - Ottawa, Ontario
November 17 - Ottawa, Ontario
November 20 - Halifax, NS
November 21 - St. John, NFLD
November 22 - St. John, NFLD
November 23 - Moncton, NB
November 24 - Fredericton, NB
November 25 - Quebec City, Quebec
November 26 - Montreal, Quebec
November 28 - Kingston, Ontario
November 29 - Guelph, Ontario
November 30 - London, Ontario
December 5 - Sarnia, Ontario
December 6 - Hamilton, Ontario
December 7 - Sudbury, Ontario
December 10 - Thunder Bay, Ontario
December 11 - Winnipeg, Manitoba
December 12 - Saskatoon, Sask ------HOMETOWN SHOW!
December 14 - Edmonton, AB
December 16 - Calgary, AB
December 18 - Kelowna, BC
December 20 - Vancouver, BC
December 21 - Victoria, BC

Whew. Had to type them all out just to get the excitement out of my system.

Guest Review: All Glory, No Consequence for Ben Harper

Ben Harper headlined the first night of the Ottawa Folk Festival and played in front of one of the largest crowds in folkfest history. While I reserve my thoughts for a review piece ill be putting together the fest, my good friend Sam was at the show and enjoyed it so much he was willing to write a review for me! Enjoy.

Last night was, in a few words, a journey into the heart and soul of a musical genius. Having had the privilege of seeing Ben Harper perform several times over the past 10-plus years, it was a pure joy to see him solo on stage. It truly was a special treat to listen and experience Ben in his element. His set list included songs from each of his albums, spanning his entire musical career, as well as some great jams on his slide guitar and piano.  

Each song was played with such bravado and care, emphasizing the importance of emotion and expression when performing. Those of us that were in the front of the crowd could hear a common expression being spoken, “this is Ben Harper exposed.”  

From the very onset of the show, great respect and admiration was shown towards some of Ben’s musical influences including Marvin Gaye, performing his all time classic, Trouble Man, on the xylophone and, later, paying homage to one of his heroes, Jeff Buckley (often referring back to him during the performance. 

The songs performed throughout the night carried an incredible amount of emotion and expression which captivated the audience and kept us wanting more. There is undoubtedly more that can be said about the show last night but words truly can’t do it justice. I am so thankful that I had the chance to share in the music of Ben and the artists that inspired him.

Thank you to the Ottawa Folk Festival for providing a venue that allows musicians to truly share their passion for music.

Sam 

Breaking News: Wood Bros Tame Winwood!

Or something like that. My sources informed me this morning that Steve Winwood has announced a Canadian date in November, his first and only one of the this current tour, at Vancouver's Orpheum Theatre on November 13. Making this show even more special is the support of the Wood Bros, whose Chris Wood shares his name with one of Winwood's fellow founders of Traffic (but it's not the same guy - THAT Chris Wood died in 1983). It's also the last date on the Woods' current round of touring.

From Britain to Australia we turn, as Tame Impala, those colourful psych rockers who made a great impression on me at Montreal's Osheaga Festival in August, return to Canada for a show in Toronto at the Phoenix Concert Hall on November 12. Support has not been announced yet, but this will no doubt be a fun, energetic show.

Stay Tuned for more!

Breaking News - The Killers to Slay Toronto

Las Vegas rockers the Killers have announced a show in Toronto on September 22, sandwiched in between slices of a their tour dates in the US and Australia. Currently performing shows in venues across Europe, the guys will be back in North America for a quick stop in New York's Paradise Theatre and the newly added date at Toronto's Sound Academy, before heading back to Australia, where people seem to really love them. Pre-sale tix are on sale now for the Toronto show, and should go on sale to the general public soon.

As an aside, if you've never been to the Killers website, it's one of the coolest sites ive ever seen, so check it out.

Guest Review: MMJ is Wonderful in Toronto

It was finally here - my most anticipated concert of the summer. My favorite band making a pit-stop up north for one show, before finishing the rest of their tour in the US. My Morning Jacket showing us all how amazing and powerful and enjoyable live music can be. Expecting the Molson Amphitheater to be the venue, which has given me nothing but amazing concerts, my friends and I were met with a very pleasant surprise… the concert was on Echo Beach, right beside the Amphitheater. So far we have: favorite band, beautiful summer night and a concert on the beach. Recipe for a great time if you ask me! The vibe was just right.

The show itself was unreal. It began with a powerful and energetic "Outta My System" and continued into a great mixture of old classics and newer material. For the hardcore fans it was a pleasure to hear "O Is The One That Is Real," "Phone Went West" (best version I’ve ever heard) and "Master Plan"… amazing! For me, it was especially awesome when I heard "Wonderful" off the latest album, Circuital. I went to several shows last summer for the Circuital tour and "Wonderful" was the only song I had yet to see and hear live. Check. It did not disappoint, I was smiling ear to ear the whole time!

I have since done all in my power to find the bootleg because I want to re-live this show again and again…and again! If you have never seen MMJ live you really are missing out. One of the best hidden gems going - you wont have a bad experience unless you a) drink too much (always a possibility) b) don’t like live music c) are a total square d) all of the above. (Editor's Note: do total squares ever drink too much?) Aside from that, if you are a normal, functioning music fan who loves a good time and soul tingling jams, MMJ is definitely for you. Involve yourself with them immediately. 

by Matt Simonovich

Canadian Concert Round-Up

It's been a while so let's get back to everyone's favourite segment, the (sometimes) oft-bi-weekly Canadian Concert Round-Up. This one's a mixture of whats coming up soon and also a rundown of some exciting new tour dates north of the border announced for this fall by jam bands who dont make it up here very often, and a couple who do.

- The Barr Brothers, whose base of operations is in Montreal, have announced a series of shows in small-town Quebec venues, starting October 18 in Val-David. They will also hit such music meccas as Lotbiniere, Pont-Rouge, Saguenay, and Sorel-Tracy. Bet those small town shows will rock!

 - Howlin Rain has announced what will be, as far as i can tell, their first ever gig in Canada - on Sunday, October 21 in Vancouver's Rickshaw Theatre. This show is not yet posted on their website and details are sketchy at this point, however they are going to be on tour in the mid-west with Tea Leaf Green, so cross your fingers TLG will make the trip back up to BC to headline the show!

- Montreal jammers Plants and Animals has released dates for a fall/winter tour, starting with a Halloween night show (October 31 - duh) in Victoria, BC , and hitting Nelson, BC, Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal.

If your really itching for some P&A - i know im looking for an excuse to see these guys again and catching them at Ottawa Bluesfest and Osheaga - the guys will be racking up some frequent flyer miles in Canada starting in a couple days. They play this Friday, August 24 at the Squamish Festival in BC, then fly almost as far across the country as you can, to L'Assomption, Quebec (where?) for August 28, then Rouyn-Noranda August 31. There's some good music this year in rural Quebec, no? Check out the guys' website for the rest of the tour dates, including St. Johns and Halifax dates. 

- great lineup for the aforementioned Live at Squamish 2012, beginning this Friday: The Sheepdogs, Plants and Animals, Tragically Hip, Wintersleep, the Pack A.D., Current Swell, Kathleen Edwards, Airborne Toxic Event, City and Colour, and more. How come i never heard of this fest before?

- Trampled by Turtles will race to Winnipeg for Thursday, August 30 for a sold out show at the West End Cultural Centre. Good on you, 'Peg. If you had your set on seeing TBT, they'll also be in Saskatoon August 31, Calgary September 1 and Whitefish, Montana just over the border September 2.

- Young the Giant is heading to Vancouver for a sold-out gig at the Commodore Ballroom on August 31. There are tix still available for their performances at Calgary's X-Fest on Sept 1 (headliners Incubus, Linkin Park, Silversun Pickups, fun., Pack A.D. and others) and September 2 at Edmonton's Sonic Boom Festival (same lineup, different name).

 

Echos of My Morning Jacket

MMJ played a show Wednesday night in Toronto that was, by all accounts, SICK. The universe decided to punish me for having such a good time at Osheaga by making the show on the same night as my newspaper's submission deadline, meaning there was no way in hell i was gonna be able to be there, but fortunately (tortuously!) a carload of my buddies were there...and im not bitter at all. The show, at Toronto's Echo Beach next door the Molson Amphitheater, featured a diverse set list of new tracks from Circuital, and all the way back to material from the early albums. Band of Horses opened and was apparently pretty groovin' as well. By the end of the weekend i should have a full concert review posted, with some photos and videos as well. Stay Tuned!

Osheaga Opinions - A Festival Review

Every music festival has a question. Sometimes, it’s an obvious one that develops a theme for the fest – “When will it stop raining,” “Who’s going to play the Superjam,” “What’s the deal with those mascots,” or “How many artists will get stopped at the border?” Other times, it’s a total mystery – as was the case this weekend (Aug. 3-5) at Montreal’s seventh annual Osheaga Music Festival, when people were walking around and wondering aloud, “What do you think that giant crane is for?”

For three days, a huge, industrial crane stood directly behind the main stage, like an unfinished London Olympic venue waiting for the finishing touch, until it became a part of the background scenery of Jean Drapeau Park.

Until, that is, the BlackKeys put that question to rest.

Closing the festival on Sunday night, August 5, the Keys once again proved they can throw as good a party as any band. During their third-last song, Everlasting Light (which always features a special effect), the slumbering crane awoke into action and swung a platform over the crowd, from which a rain of purple, blue and white sparks showered down. It was the defining moment of the festival and, of course, the raucous crowd went even more nuts.

It was a fitting end to the biggest and best Osheaga yet. In the shadow of the geodesic dome built for the 1967 World’s Fair, the event drew a sellout crowd of 120,000 people and – trust me – it was obvious there were A LOT of people there. 

The only place that wasnt packed...

The only hiccups to the fest were logistical, not musical – the layout featured a long, winding path that funneled tens of thousands of inebriated concert-goers up a narrow staircase and walkway constructed over a road that remained open during the event, causing major backlogs and making it very difficult to hop from stage to stage. You basically had to pick a side and commit to it for a whole show. There were also huge lineups for concession stands, water stations and bathrooms, and not nearly enough beer tents for all the people, but that is all part of the festival experience.  

In terms of the music, I was extremely impressed. There were very few disappointments and several bands with whom I was pleasantly surprised. Some of my lesser highlights included GaryClark Jr., who absolutely shredded his guitar Friday afternoon and showed that the future of blues rock is in good hands; British DJ SBTRKT, whose mixture of classical, rock and electronic sounds was refreshingly groovy compared to some of the other DJs on the electronic stage (and his delightfully British quips to the crowd were quite charming); the Black Angels, who I didn’t know anything about but are really an explosion of hard rock and up-tempo rhythm; and Little Dragon, a Swedish electronic group that was much more funky and rockin’ than their description as “electronic” led me to believe. Great visuals, too.

The first day of the festival got off to a bit of a slow start as 80,000 people tried to figure out where all the stages and beer tents were, so many fans missed the first few hours of shows by bands like fun., Hey Ocean!, Yukon Blonde, Freelance Whales and the Bombay Bicycle Club. Folk-rock band Of Monsters and Men really kicked off the fest with the first huge crowd, turning up their rock-factor to get people moving. Their decision not to close their set with Little Talks, their biggest song, I thought was unusual, but allowed people to leave early to catch Franz Ferdinand. I decided to skip those quintessential indie-rockers in favour of Austin, Texas’ Gary Clark Jr., and was not disappointed. 

Florence & the Machine was the biggest act of opening night, though curiously they did not get the headlining spot, which went to Justice, one of the most self-serving and overblown electronic performances I’ve ever seen. The DJ spent at least five minutes of his show walking out from behind his turntables and holding his hand up for applause, in front of a giant light-up cross. Talk about ego.

Florence, for her part, sounded great after recovering from her vocal chord injury of a few weeks ago and had some good banter for the massive crowd that formed to watch her, at one point proclaiming, “We need human sacrifices! I want to see as many people on shoulders as possible.”

Later that night, MGMT took the stage and promptly blew me away. Ive seen the New York duo several times at festivals over the years, and always felt they were a little too electronic-disco for my tastes. This, I have since come to understand, is why so many people like them. However, tonight, they played a much more psychedelic, meandering, jammy set that was reminiscent of Pink Floyd, especially in their lighting and artwork, which was like an hour-long trip to the cover of Floyd’s More album. Their version of the Rolling Stones’ Angie was also really well done and perfect for the vibe of their set. “They can’t say we never tried to cover that song,” teased co-frontman Andrew VanWyngarden after strumming the last chords.

They were easily one of the highlights of my festival, though many people I talked to were disappointed it wasn’t more of a dance party. I’d say, if MGMT used to be a rebellious, end-of-the-year high-school party, now they’ve become a third-year college frat party.  

Saturday’s 35-degree heat (that’s about 95 for you Americans) was no deterrent for the Osheagans, as Canadian trio Plants and Animals took their self-described “post-rock” sound to the next level, making lots of new fans with an extremely soulful and resonant, but up-tempo set. They have a very “quarter-life-crisis” vibe to them, with existential yet down-to-earth, contemporary lyrics that seemed to click with many in that age group. During the song Good Friend, with the lyrics, “It takes a good friend to say you’ve got your head up your ass,” people were looking around at each other, nodding their heads and going, “That’s true,” and “Ya, for sure!” It was a fun moment in which the band really seemed to connect.

The water canons also came out for the first time during this set, and that’s when people really started having fun at Osheaga. There’s something about a sea of mud at a music fest that really turns things up a notch, Woodstock-style.

Young the Giant kept the ball rolling after Plants and Animals on the adjacent stage (the two big stages were set up side-by-side and alternated bands all weekend, while the three smaller stages were on the other side of the park over the staircase). After a more melodic, trippy My Morning Jacket-esque evening set at Ottawa Bluesfest a few weeks ago, this one was all energy and rockin’ in the sunshine, allowing the guys in this California outfit to really showcase the Wilco-style simplicity and catchiness of their music and focus less on their visuals.

Canadian rockers the Arkells were one of the highlights of the festival, making a ton of new fans with their easy-to-love rock and roll. After seeing these guys several times over the past few years they are definitely on the list of bands I’ll always see live, along with fellow Canadian artists Wintersleep, who performed on Friday, and the Sheepdogs.

Hilarious high five for the Arkells!

While Snoop Dogg (or Lion, pardon me) closed out the main stage Saturday night, the Sheepdogs, from rural Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, opened many peoples’ eyes. They are a revelation. They’re easily the best jam band to come out of Canada since the Guess Who (if you can even put them in that category), and at times on Saturday it felt like I was listening to the Allman Brothers. In fact, wearing one of my Grateful Dead t-shirts, someone came up to me during the show and asked if the set was giving me my “Dead fix,” which it definitely was. It actually sounded like they were teasing Jessica several times throughout the set, though it may have just been a similar riff. Either way, remember the Sheepdogs, and see them now while they’re still playing small stages. I’m excited these guys are Canadian.

I did manage to continue my ongoing dub-ducation at Osheaga, with SBTRKT, Little Dragon, Canadian duo Zeds Dead, Huoratron and the Zombie Disco Party. I’ve said it before and ill say it again: it’s not quite “music,” but there is something to dub-step I can get behind. It’s like a series of lights, sounds and noises that mimic the electrical impulses my brain sends to my muscles and forces them to juke and jive and dance and move in all directions. Just go with it.

See the Sheepdogs now, while they still cant afford a printer.

Which is exactly what most people did on Sunday, as the heat subsided and the skies opened up during the Shins fabulous afternoon set that had me thinking, “These guys sound like a young R.E.M. combined with that trippy, meandering Beatles-Revolver-era sound, like Tomorrow Never Knows.” Throw in a little Queen-style pop, to taste. I had a lot of fun watching the Shins, and was definitely glad I brought my poncho – “I’m almost as wet as you guys!” teased lead singer James Mercer. Note to the Osheaga organizers – you don’t need water canons after a torrential downpour. Just sayin’.

While City and Colour droned on and on, Bloc Party and the Black Angels brought the funk and the rock, respectively. Canadian favourite Metric, who were once based in Montreal and have a huge following there, continue to cement themselves as one of the most popular bands in the nation. They did a good job warming up the crowd for the Black Keys, who pulled out all the stops and left pretty much everyone hoarse and jello-legged from jumping up and down and belting out their highly sing-able tunes. They actually played 19 songs from their whole catalogue, old and new, and virtually everyone in the crowd heard the tune they wanted. 

I would be remiss if i did not mention the incredible showcase of Canadian talent displayed at Osheaga, and congratulate both the festival organizers for their faith in Can-con and the bands, for putting on such a great show. Metric, Feist (who put on a very bluesy and entertaining show, in which someone brought a palm tree that managed to crowd-surf all the way onto the stage beside her), City and Colour, The Weeknd, Plants and Animals, Zeds Dead, Radio Radio, the Sheepdogs, Classified, Down With Webster, the Arkells, Kathleen Edwards, Wintersleep, Yukon Blonde, Dan Mangan, Young Galaxy, and many more. The future of Canadian music is in good hands.   

All in all, it was a fantastic weekend of music and was extremely successful, to boot. There are a few things event organizers should take from this experience, and perhaps limit the tickets to 100,000 next year, while opening that road would do wonders. There could also be three or four times as many concession stands, beer tents and water stations. After all, you want all those out-of-towners to try poutine, right? But no cranes next year – give us a new question and keep the surprises coming.   

Overheard at Osheaga

 

It’s time for one of my favourite ongoing segments: things overheard at music festivals. Enjoy!

- “You’re washing your feet in that?”

- “Who do you have to bribe to get a street closed around here?”

- “You’re gonne be here for a long time – longer than City and Colour played for.”

- “It’s 2012! The Apocalypse is coming!”

- “We’ve been saying it’s 2012 since before it was 2012, and we’ll be saying it after.”

- “It’s Montreal, everywhere serves till 3 o’clock!”

- “Maybe I should get cash, I have like zero dollars…”

          - “I have at least twenty.”

- “Gilles Du-ceppe, charged me 10 dollars for a ci-ga-rette...” (drunken singing)

- “I didn’t go to Bluesfest this year, that was my identical twin sister.”

- “He’s doing the slow walk…”

          - “He knows the slow walk well…”

- “There are some people doing the robot near me.”

- “That shirt is really rad, man – I didn’t know the bears could board!”

- “You’re not going to Snoop Dogg?”

          - “Bah, no, and it’s Snoop LION now…”

          - “Snoop Lion…”

          - “Sheep Lion!”

- “They want to get rid of our health care!”

          - “We should all just fuckin’ use gold, anyway.”