I'm sure this is a sentiment that will be oft repeated in the coming months/years, but Cuff the Duke is like Oshawa for your ears. Bluecollar music from bluecollar boys from a bluecollar town. Word. Rossland Square makes me think of my childhood in a way that seems strange since I only went to Oshawa to visit family... but it captures it in a way that is so very close to my childhood impressions of the city that it makes me feel even more at home than when I visit there now.
Openers The John Henrys were a last minute substitution who were surprisingly very up to the task, paving the way for Cuff the Duke to do their thing, and make us feel like we should all be working for GM. in a good way. Man that compliment really got away from me there...
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
The Apparent Finality of Finally Seeing One of Your Favourite Bands...
I've been to a lot of concerts. Actually really a lot. I've been to so many, I've started to forget what bands I've seen (seriously, who forgets whether or not they've seen Green Day?), or how many times I've seen them (is Sam Roberts up to eighteen or twenty...?) so there aren't many of my favourite musicians I have not seen. Even fewer when you narrow it down to my absolute favourites. In fact, the Decemberists were almost alone on that list. Until yesterday!
I used to live out east. the Decemberists are from out west. They don't go out east, especially not Canada's out east... when I lived in Vancouver I almost went to see them in Seattle- then didn't. I almost went to see them in Maine- then didn't. Then i was planning on moving to Ontario. and they were playing in Montreal. January 31st. So I decided I'd better be moved in by January 31st, because there was no way I was going to miss them a third time...
The show was amazing. It was magical and loverly weirdly melancholy just like they are. they even played the Mariner's Revenge Song, one I have been wanting to see live since I first saw a video of them play it at a concert (the video below, actually! and I'm not ashamed to say it inspired a living-room puppet show complete with sets, sock puppets, and paper cut-outs...). I sang myself hoarse and danced my feet sore and had the time of my life. Then it was all done. Apparently for a very long time.
The Decemberists are taking a break. Its due to sad circumstances as one of their members has cancer and needs the time off to get well again. I didn't know this when I bought the tickets, I didn't know this when I rearranged my moving-house so that I could go see them. I didn't know this might be my only ever chance. I didn't know I would have such a fantastic time. alright I had a sneaking suspicison about that last one, but anyways...
Its great when you discover a band through a live show, its great when the first time you see them is the first time you've ever heard of them. the first time i saw Arcade Fire no one knew who they were, and it was weird and magical and invigorating, just like their music. So maybe its fitting that the first time I saw The Decemberists in concert it was beautiful and haunting and happy and just a little bit sad, just like their music. Maybe that's how it always goes. Maybe that's just how it works.
I used to live out east. the Decemberists are from out west. They don't go out east, especially not Canada's out east... when I lived in Vancouver I almost went to see them in Seattle- then didn't. I almost went to see them in Maine- then didn't. Then i was planning on moving to Ontario. and they were playing in Montreal. January 31st. So I decided I'd better be moved in by January 31st, because there was no way I was going to miss them a third time...
The show was amazing. It was magical and loverly weirdly melancholy just like they are. they even played the Mariner's Revenge Song, one I have been wanting to see live since I first saw a video of them play it at a concert (the video below, actually! and I'm not ashamed to say it inspired a living-room puppet show complete with sets, sock puppets, and paper cut-outs...). I sang myself hoarse and danced my feet sore and had the time of my life. Then it was all done. Apparently for a very long time.
The Decemberists are taking a break. Its due to sad circumstances as one of their members has cancer and needs the time off to get well again. I didn't know this when I bought the tickets, I didn't know this when I rearranged my moving-house so that I could go see them. I didn't know this might be my only ever chance. I didn't know I would have such a fantastic time. alright I had a sneaking suspicison about that last one, but anyways...
Its great when you discover a band through a live show, its great when the first time you see them is the first time you've ever heard of them. the first time i saw Arcade Fire no one knew who they were, and it was weird and magical and invigorating, just like their music. So maybe its fitting that the first time I saw The Decemberists in concert it was beautiful and haunting and happy and just a little bit sad, just like their music. Maybe that's how it always goes. Maybe that's just how it works.
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