DAY 4: Everlast, Shakey Graves, Joy Formidable, Hearts and Mines, Wu-Tang Clan, Rocky Lawrence, Tegan and Sarah, Diamond Rings, Eric Burdon, fun.
GRADE: C+
And then - FINALLY - we had some fun. 'Nuff said.
We'd been anticipating it all day, and we were definitely not dissapointed. Those
guys (fun.) put on an incredible show, and were incredibly caught up in the
moment. Frontman Nate Ruess poured his soul out onstage to the point
where the show almost felt like his autobiography, more like a rock
opera about an insecure, depression-addled musician spending "most
nights" lying awake and wondering if he'll ever become anything more
than he is.
Backed by the Brian May-esque high-pitched
guitar flourishes and interactive drumming of his bandmates, Ruess was
visibly moved almost to tears at several times during the show,
proclaiming this the biggest crowd they had ever played for and often
just stopping to take it all in. There were times when it looked like he
was fighting it all back and was unable to continue for a moment, as though
it was almost too much.
It was a moving display of a musician appreciating the moment and a
poignant reminder of the magic that can happen at any time at a music
festival, for both fans and artist alike. But it took a long, slog of a day to get there. Let me start from the beginning.
I had trouble with this day of the Bluesfest right from the get-go. I knew I had to go see fun., but didnt really have much else that piqued my interest. We arrived early in the afternoon for Everlast, despite the bleak and rainy weather, who always puts on a good show. Sure enough, we got to hear his two big songs, Ends and What It's Like, and had a good time.
And then, we began to wander.
Let me be clear - i love music festivals. They're my favourite place to be. Period. And i love wandering around and discovering new bands, listening to things ive never heard before, enjoying the experience of being outside and drinking beer and listening to music of all kinds. It's just that the offerings at yesterday's Bluesfest were so sparse, and so uninteresting to me, that i actually found myself NOT HAVING A GOOD TIME. And i was very disheartened, because that has literally NEVER happened to me before.
From Austin, Texas' one-man-blues-band Shakey Graves (mildly entertaining), over to vanilla gangsta-rapper Watsky, to the Billy Talent-style rock of Afghan war vets and Ottawa locals Hearts and Mines, to the wall of static sound put up by Joy Formidable, we were looking for something to hook us and nothing ever did.
And then, it was time for Wu-Tang.
Believe me - we tried. We listened as long as we could, but after the 642nd "mother fucker" i could take no more. Twenty minutes or so was enough to confirm that this was, in fact, the opposite of the music i like. Ah well, it happens. There will be other great music to listen to, we figured, as an alternative to Wu-Tang. We went to see aging bluesman Rocky Lawrence, and ended up spending the whole show there just because there was nothing else to go to. He was nothing to write home about but definitely has a lifetime of blues stories to share with the crowd.
Im going to fast-forward through the next 2.5 hours because it was really boring. Not being a fan of Tegan and Sarah (I dont like their radio stuff and their live show lacked a hook or some sort of excitement to keep a non-fan interested), we literally spent 2+ checking out watches and spending money on beer in an effort to have a good time.
Fortunately, fun. saved the day. They turned this day from a total write-off into likely one of the most memorable shows of the festival, and maybe in the recent history of Bluesfest, period.
For the record, it was one of the loudest crowds ive ever heard - not just at Bluefest - and an incredible show, featuring a cover the Rolling Stones You Cant Always Get What You Want and the first real encore of the festival (that went till almost 1130pm!!!!), as well as one of the coolest light and visual displays ive seen in my years of Bluesfest attendance.
It was, really, a special thing to be a part of.
(...dont say it...)
It was a lot of fu-
Monday, July 8, 2013
Ottawa Bluesfest, Day 2: Country rock? Crossover? Yes!
DAY 2: Frank Turner, Dawes, Flogging Molly, She & Him, Zac Brown Band
GRADE: B+
Bluesfest's first Friday kicked off the weekend in rollicking style. England's hiply-accented Frank Turner was my first show of the day, getting the energy flowing, and Dawes set the stage with a hint of the genre-blending that was to come. Their psychedelic country alt-rock was refreshing, laid back, danceable and very enjoyable to listen to. These guys are up-and-coming stars (check out the cover of last month's Relix magazine for the proof) and now i understand why. They're a band ill actively try to see again.
After a catching more than enough of Flogging Molly (a few minutes' worth), we staked out a spot for ZBB and partied for two hours! These guys just straight-up know how to have a good time, whether you call them country, rock, crossover, jam-band, or whatever. They seem to be a country-rock group on the surface, but the beautiful melodies and soaring uplifting jams say otherwise - not to mention a medley cover of Van Morrison's Into the Mystic and, later, an awesome version of Metallica's Enter Sandman (would a country band try THAT???). Not to be outdone, their encore consisted of Led Zeppelin's Kashmir and closed out with Charlie Daniels' The Devil Went Down to Georgia. which had most of the crowd in a frenzy.
Any way you slice it, ZBB puts on a highly entertaining show. Even the die-hard AC/DC fan in front of me was having a good time, which is saying something. Overall, it was a solid B+ of a day with one new discovery for me (Dawes) and one crazy-good-time of headlining show - which is really all you can ask for out of a fest.
GRADE: B+
Bluesfest's first Friday kicked off the weekend in rollicking style. England's hiply-accented Frank Turner was my first show of the day, getting the energy flowing, and Dawes set the stage with a hint of the genre-blending that was to come. Their psychedelic country alt-rock was refreshing, laid back, danceable and very enjoyable to listen to. These guys are up-and-coming stars (check out the cover of last month's Relix magazine for the proof) and now i understand why. They're a band ill actively try to see again.
After a catching more than enough of Flogging Molly (a few minutes' worth), we staked out a spot for ZBB and partied for two hours! These guys just straight-up know how to have a good time, whether you call them country, rock, crossover, jam-band, or whatever. They seem to be a country-rock group on the surface, but the beautiful melodies and soaring uplifting jams say otherwise - not to mention a medley cover of Van Morrison's Into the Mystic and, later, an awesome version of Metallica's Enter Sandman (would a country band try THAT???). Not to be outdone, their encore consisted of Led Zeppelin's Kashmir and closed out with Charlie Daniels' The Devil Went Down to Georgia. which had most of the crowd in a frenzy.
Any way you slice it, ZBB puts on a highly entertaining show. Even the die-hard AC/DC fan in front of me was having a good time, which is saying something. Overall, it was a solid B+ of a day with one new discovery for me (Dawes) and one crazy-good-time of headlining show - which is really all you can ask for out of a fest.
Friday, July 5, 2013
Ottawa Bluesfest, Day 1: The Black Keys, Redux
DAY 1: Femi Kuti, Jimmy Eat World, Cat Empire, Grand Funk Railroad, Black Keys
GRADE: B-
Two years ago, the Black Keys came to Ottawa Bluesfest and were nearly drowned/swept away in a torrential downpour that postponed their show for nearly an hour. Chanting fans finally got their gig away after a furious stage-squeegee-ing, and they proceeded to rock our socks off with a concentrated hour of sound of fury, Black Keys style.
As a result, there was a lot of anticipation for there return to Bluesfest, and the chance to see the Akron, Ohio due with a more diverse setlist. Well, as Thursday broke, the black sky and humidity threatened thunderstorms yet again - "it wouldnt be the Keys at Bluesfest without a thunderstorm," I may have remarked - but we were spared. Weather on Day 1 was fantastic. The sound, unfortunately, wasnt.
Nobody could hear what Dan Auerbach was saying through the first four songs, except for the blasts of feedback and volume as someone presumably fiddled with some knobs somewhere. It was an unacceptable mishap for a veteran band and world-class festival. Even once the sound was sorted out, it never seemed to get loud enough - chants of "Turn it up!" continued throughout the show, and it was a more tense crowd as people talked through the show or sang along loudly, to the chagrin of the surrounding people who COULD ACTUALLY HEAR IT ALL because the band wasnt loud enough.
With that said, it was a great show - despite the audio problems. I expect more, though.
Perhaps something on the lines of the show that ended 15 minutes earlier, when the Cat Empire threw a party for a few hundred people at the small River Stage, their reggae/klezmer/big band/funk style creating much revelry and festivity in the crowd. This show was a lot of fun and sold me on this band as a future live show destination. These Australians (like all Aussies, it seems) know how to have a good time.
Femi Kuti was my festival opener, and his son-of-Africa's-Bob-Marley schtick was both familiar and fresh, with his simple messages of peaceful revolution and taking politics back for the people backed up by three flamboyant dancers and a hint of a Caribbean-style fiesta.
Other shows on this included quintessential rockers Grand Funk Railroad (hearing American Band was a bit of a thrill, thought that's ALL I needed to hear), Bahamas, Jimmy Eat World (I didnt really like them when i was in high school, so...), Alex Clare and Adventure Club, for the E crowd.
GRADE: B-
Two years ago, the Black Keys came to Ottawa Bluesfest and were nearly drowned/swept away in a torrential downpour that postponed their show for nearly an hour. Chanting fans finally got their gig away after a furious stage-squeegee-ing, and they proceeded to rock our socks off with a concentrated hour of sound of fury, Black Keys style.
As a result, there was a lot of anticipation for there return to Bluesfest, and the chance to see the Akron, Ohio due with a more diverse setlist. Well, as Thursday broke, the black sky and humidity threatened thunderstorms yet again - "it wouldnt be the Keys at Bluesfest without a thunderstorm," I may have remarked - but we were spared. Weather on Day 1 was fantastic. The sound, unfortunately, wasnt.
Nobody could hear what Dan Auerbach was saying through the first four songs, except for the blasts of feedback and volume as someone presumably fiddled with some knobs somewhere. It was an unacceptable mishap for a veteran band and world-class festival. Even once the sound was sorted out, it never seemed to get loud enough - chants of "Turn it up!" continued throughout the show, and it was a more tense crowd as people talked through the show or sang along loudly, to the chagrin of the surrounding people who COULD ACTUALLY HEAR IT ALL because the band wasnt loud enough.
With that said, it was a great show - despite the audio problems. I expect more, though.
Perhaps something on the lines of the show that ended 15 minutes earlier, when the Cat Empire threw a party for a few hundred people at the small River Stage, their reggae/klezmer/big band/funk style creating much revelry and festivity in the crowd. This show was a lot of fun and sold me on this band as a future live show destination. These Australians (like all Aussies, it seems) know how to have a good time.
Femi Kuti was my festival opener, and his son-of-Africa's-Bob-Marley schtick was both familiar and fresh, with his simple messages of peaceful revolution and taking politics back for the people backed up by three flamboyant dancers and a hint of a Caribbean-style fiesta.
Other shows on this included quintessential rockers Grand Funk Railroad (hearing American Band was a bit of a thrill, thought that's ALL I needed to hear), Bahamas, Jimmy Eat World (I didnt really like them when i was in high school, so...), Alex Clare and Adventure Club, for the E crowd.
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