The great concert conundrum of March 30, 2012...

I know, I know, it is super lame of me to get all in a kerfuffle about a problem so small as having to choose between two concerts on at the same time, but when those two concerts arre Library Voices (at Casa Del Popolo no less!) and Northcote (at Raw Sugar and on their last tour for a while...) its a dilemma for the ages- or at least one to make me have a major John-Green-style hands-in-hair-frustration session...

To be fair, I AM seeing Library Voices in two weeks when they come through town with Yukon Blonde, but I was really looking  forward to seeing them twice in a month (yes, they are THAT GOOD live), but when I heard Northcote was going to be playing the same night, I knew the choice I had to make... and it was definitely the right one.

The show was a part of the Junofest weekend here in Ottawa, and the first two performers were local fellas of the guy-with-guitar persuasion. The first performer (The Coastline aka the drummer from Sparrows) is just barely seventeen and a clear fan of Dashboard Confessional. That's not really a good or a bad thing, but its an inescapable comparison that just has to be made. In fact when a friend of mine asked him after the show "Hey did anyone ever tell you you sound just like Dashboard?" his face lit up and he gleefully responded "Really? They're like my favourite band! Thanks!"

Sometimes you get the odd experience of seeing someone in the midst of their creative development- that was exactly what it was like watching The Coastline perform. What do I mean by that? His songs are well written but all super short. His lyrics are perfectly 'that age' (When a friend becomes too cool to be friends with you anymore, when that girl moves away, when you're trying to decide what to do with your life...). And while his banter started off promisingly, it was clear he is used to being behind the drum kit, and not the main focus. Though embarrassing earnest, it was also increasingly entertaining- case in point: "So I asked her out, y'know just for coffee or whatever, but she didn't respond to my facebook message... oh man I am such a seventeen year old!" Definitely one of those acts I'd be really interested in seeing again in three or four years and remembering when I saw him play 'back in the day'

Next up was Cory Leveque, a bit older than seventeen, but also from Ottawa. Besides the excessive swearing (not offensive, just at odds with the rest of the evening- "Sorry 'bout all the swearing guys- I'm a construction worker, I can't help it!" he quipped) it felt like sitting around in someone's living room listening to the friend of a friend strummin' on his guitar and singin' about gals he'd lost and stuff he had to get off his chest. I'm sure this was helped along by our comfortable seats on the ancient corner-couch (Raw Sugar offers nothing if not eclectic and conformable seating!) but it was a nice relaxing sort of set, a good middle-of-the show, and chance to lean back and drink a pint before the always-energetic Northcote.

There was some discussion about whether we would maintain our comfy-couch seats for the entire evening, but all that went out the window when Matt, JJ and John took the stage. Yeah, we pretty much leapt over the table to stand in front with the rest of the small but very excited crowd.

Actually this one is from last time Northcote was in town (by blurasis)

Seeing Northcote perform live is an incomparable experience. The energy, the pervasive happiness, the raspy voice, enthusiastic drumming, and entertaining bass playing (I beat my previous record at Raw Sugar, this time getting hit with the bass guitar a total of three times) are tough to top.  The last time I saw Northcote perform, I had never heard of them, didn't know any of the songs, and still had an amazing time (one of my top five concerts of the year). We sat right up front. I got to play the tambourine. We bought both cds because we couldn't decide on one... This time was just as enjoyable, only we looked forward to it for weeks, we already knew all the lyrics, and we chatted with Matt afterward about bands from Regina, life in Victoria and Library Voices playing in Montreal. I love Elliott Brood live, I really do. They're my favourite band, they're incredibly talented, and they are some of the nicest guys I've ever met, but I'm not sure that any performer can ever remotely hope to compare to the combination of talent and friendliness that is Matt Goud.

Overall the show was fine, but Northcote's performance alone was well worth the admission price. the only bad part was that they were only able to play for an hour. I look forward to their next tour, whenever that may be, and if you happen to be lucky enough to catch them at one of their next stops or live in Victoria, you should definitely check them out. Definitely.

Top Five Performances of 2011 (#1)

Top five concerts of 2011- the wrap up!

Coming up with the top five concerts wasn't that difficult (though I could have very easily made a top eight...) but it was pretty difficult trying to rank them! there have been so many great shows this year, and I have only been to handful of those put on, and only ones in Ottawa, Guelph and Montreal! It makes me happy to think of all the other amazing shows other people got to go see (even the ones I missed out on because I found out about them too late- like Northcote and Library Voices back in April- man that concert would have been awesome!). If you didn't get out to many live shows, consider making it one of your resolutions for 2012, or even better, one of the resolutions you actually keep!

Twenty twelve is looking good so far as I've already got a good ten or eleven shows to look forward to in the next few months. I've also recently become a contributor to Canadian Indie Music website Grayowl Point so you can catch my Ottawa-Montreal area concert reviews there starting mid-January.

But for now...

1

Library Voices - Summer of Lust - Casa Del Popolo, Montreal, October 26, 2011

So my sister Krista will be absolutely thrilled to see these guys topping my list (her favourite band to the moon and back...) but beyond being introduced to them through her, their subsequent place in my heart was fully earned by their well-read lyrics, piano/drum led melodies and energetic live performance. Library Voices are one of those bands you see live and think to yourself "How are they not super famous!?!"

Hailing from Regina, Saskatchewan, this seven piece multi- keyboard, multi-guitar, multi-awesome outfit is virtually unstoppable on-stage. If you've ever heard the expression "they left it all out on the stage" this is who it was invented to describe. I have been to a lot of concerts in my time, but it only took me about ten seconds into my first Library Voices show to realise it would be one of my top five concerts of all time.

The venue (Casa Del Popolo) is a small bar tucked secretly behind a restaurant, and its difficult to not feel like you're involved in some kind of back-door dealings as you snake through the tables and through a back door. The cider was cheap and tasty and the crowd was enthusiastic, if somewhat small, but you never would have known it once LV took to the stage. The next night I would go to my first stadium concert in years and be impressed with how Mumford and Sons made a huge crowd seem like an intimate gathering- but Library Voices did the exact opposite, making the small crowd feel like a packed house. And an amazing one at that. The sweat was flying, the band members teetering on the edge of the stage and often venturing out into the crowd.  Seriously, but seriously, you could not have felt more a part of things if you were up on the stage.

Fantastic show. Really really. And not that it bears much weight on their music, but this band is also incapable of taking an un-awesome photograph. Whether its a picture of the band, or one taken by them, every image is beautifully framed, coloured, composed and anything else you can think of.

So check them out at libraryvoices.ca and tell all your friends. The best band you've never heard of. For Serious Yo.

Top Five Performances of 2011 (#4)

4

Northcote - Gather No Dust - Raw Sugar Cafe, Ottawa ON, October 22, 2011

This one was a surprise for me- one of those times when you go to see a band and (not that they're not excellent) but the opener totally steals the show. This was Northcote opening for The Wooden Sky at Ottawa'a Raw Sugar Cafe.

This was the first time I had been to Raw Sugar as a concert venue and it was simply wonderful. I know that sounds Victorian-ish, but it really is the best way to describe it. A quirky yet homey indie cafe nestled just barely into Chinatown, you always feel comfortable when lounging on their couches or old kitchen tables. Normally the music is a little repetitive (how many times can you listen to Tom Waits? apparently many many many...) but that is of little concern during a concert...

So we sat on the floor. We were tired from standing in line, and it was cold outside, and frankly the floor was pretty damn comfortable... when singer Matt Goud took the stage (aka area of the floor covered in mics and cables) he laughed good naturedly at our choice of seats and kept the jovial attitude throughout the performance. An adorably bearded ginger, who is as friendly as he is talented, Matt Goud hails from originally from Regina and is currently trying out a solo project, accompanied by two friends on guitar and bass/melodica, both of whom are equally good-natured and good-skilled. They breezed through a too-short [only because it was awesome, I'm sure it was actually regular-lengthed] set and finished off with a few older songs (one of which I got to play the tambourine for ;o), punctuating the whole thing with cheerful banter, gigantic smiles, and genuine mirth. Their music was beautiful, they were wonderful, and it made the whole evening just vibrate with happiness.

We ended the night by buying all of his albums and having a nice chat about my excellent (ha) tambourine skills.  Fingers crossed he returns to Ontario soon as I would jump at the chance to see him play again. Seeing as he was this great when I'd never even heard of him, I am greatly looking forward to hearing the songs live after listening to them non-stop for about three months...!

Top Five Performances of 2011 (#5)

So I already know that as you're reading that title you're thinking "Top five? Shouldn't that be top ten?" Unless of course you know me personally in which case you're likely thinking "Oh gawd, not another top five list..." you're welcome dear readers for not regularly inflicting these on you... Either way, I am a fan of the top five list over the top ten because I find it more challenging. And more reflective of actual 'best of's. And just better. So yeah.

I should perhaps start off by mentioning that this is not the top five CANADIAN bands of 2011, even though it pretty much looks that way... What can I say, I love Canadian music! Can I help it if we have awesome bands up here? No. No I cannot help that. I can, however, revel in the fact and enjoy every minute of music listening joy. Also I am not a "Top Five Albums" kind of gal- sure all of these bands released albums in 2011, and sure I absolutely love all of them (and may or may not have done several weeks of chain-listening), but it is too difficult for me to separate a band's on-album work from their live performances. Plus live performances are just awesome. Seriously. So without further ado:

5

Said the Whale - New Brighton - The Live Lounge, Ottawa, ON, September 14, 2011 

One of the many bands my sister introduced be to this year who I have since fallen totally in love with- their combination of clever-lyric riddled short songs, cheery attitudes, and wonderful music/voices make listening to their music on headphones or in the car a joy and even better in person. The venue (the live lounge in Ottawa's Bytown Market) made it even better, with some of the best pre-show music I have heard in a long time (perhaps ever actually! Ele will back me up on that) the perfect size (big enough but not too big) a great crowd (enthusiastic, but devoted enough to manage complete silence during the beautifully performed Curse of the Currents), good sound and even a free cd at the door!

As with all good concerts, it has to be at least partially described by saying (cheesy at it always sounds) the vibe was great- everyone was excited to be there, especially the band. Impromptu sing-alongs, acoustic jamming, and cheerful banter abounded. They played all their hits (not difficult for a band with only two full length albums and only maybe three songs clocking in at over two minutes, but still appreciated!) and a slew of new ones which were well received, albeit skeptically at first.

Its always nice to be at a show where you really get the feeling that no one in the room would wish to be anywhere else. This was that show. Excellent.

When they are good they are very very good, and when they are bad...

As you have likely gathered, I enjoy discovering new bands through live music. Of course there's the radio (mostly CBC, cuz I'm a Canadian, and a dork ;o) and recommendations from friends, but there's nothing like that feeling of being captured by someone onstage who you've never heard of before, picking up their cd and then listening to it in the car non-stop for the next three weeks... Festivals are great spots for this to happen, but the more common (read non-summer) experience of live-band-discovery happens during openers.

Mostly openers are so-so. Come ci Come ca. Fine. sometimes they're awesome and you want to take them home in your pocket (Rah Rah opening for Said the Whale, The Daredevil Christopher Wright opening for Dan Mangan), and every once in a while they just make you mad. because they're wrecking the vibe. seriously. wrecking. it. I went to two shows last weekend covering both ends of the spectrum. And here they are:

Wrecking-the-vibe: One Hundred Dollars opening for Elliot Brood
I love Elliot Brood. I really Really do. And there is nothing that could wreck an Elliot Brood show for me, but One Hundred Dollars came pretty 'effin close. They were alright at first, a little intense but the lead singer's voice was excellent and the guitarist was entertaining, but it was just so.... well weird really. The band members didn't actually seem to like each other very much and the singer acted like she was on heroin. It was like she was starting into your soul, and not in a good way. We were creeped out. And by 'we' I mean we alllllll were creeped out. Every single person around me turned to their friends at least once and literally said "Man, she is creepin' me ouuuuut!" And it just. kept. going. It didn't get less creepy, it just got more so. For almost an hour. A creepy opener for almost an hour. not cool. Thank goodness I love the Brood boys or this might have been an all out wash. Close save.

So-awesome-you-want-to-take-them-home-in-your-pocket: Northcote opening for The Wooden Sky
the following night, on the COMPLETE opposite end of the spectrum... The Wooden Sky were great (though I had my first experience of actually feeling too close as I almost got hit with the guitar neck a few times...), but I had seen them a few times on youtube and was expecting said greatness. Still great, but expected. Northcote was phenomenal and unexpected. Singer Matt Goud is an adorably bearded ginger, who is as friendly as he is talented, and the guitarist and bassist/melodica-ist are equally good-natured and good-skilled. They breezed through a too-short [only because it was awesome, I'm sure it was actually regular-lengthed] set and finished off with a few older songs (one of which I got to play the tambourine for ;o), punctuating the whole thing with cheerful banter, gigantic smiles, and genuine mirth. Their music was beautiful, they were wonderful, and it made the whole evening just vibrate with happiness.

This is what an opening band should be. Heck this is what all bands should be. Thanks Northcote for undoing the momentary disillusionment created by One Hundred Dollars. And thanks for just being generally fantastic.