Field was... well, it was last weekend already.
Because of the monsoon-like conditions I left my camera locked in the trunk of a car for the entire weekend. So, no pictures from this event, but a few thoughts.
Interesting:
1) Lily's On Mars.
This band came out of nowhere. This group makes the strangest music, but that's what makes them incredibly interesting. Five word description? Punk Rock Albertan Gypsy Music. Girl-wonder Duck sang in Cree, Spanish and French, and singer Dusty Ross counterbalanced with his strange 1950s movie-star style. Combined with hula hoop performance, it's clear they do whatever they want to. It's on the verge of working seamlessly.
2) Emaline Delapaix and the Delistocracy.
Who is she? What does she do? I have no idea, but she did sing some ABBA. Didn't really get the crowd going, but she has a very pretty voice.
3) Birds are Dinosaurs.
Not content to be crazy with just a horn section alone, this Regina octet has an oboe. Trippy, transcendental or whatever they were going for. Late at night in a grove of trees, it worked.
Tried and True:
Also saw some good local acts who are always fun to watch and/or heckle. Paul Kuzbik is now a trio, and a good-sounding one. Featuring former Despitado members, Regina lads Geronimo are doing some good things. Saw the Deep Dark Woods play a ramblin', old-time rockin' set, and Volcanoless in Canada destroyed a box of macaroni.
Oh, and The Weakerthans were there. They played some new songs, which were nice, and some old songs, which were nice to sing along to. John K. Samson is cute.
Field Festival has some promise. In bridging the distance between the province's two largest cities, it definitely has the potential to be a truly Saskatchewan festival. If they continue to think about showcasing local acts, along with bringing in a few solid headliners, there is room for this event to grow in the next few years. Kudos to the organizers for making an attempt, and to the community of Craik for getting into it as well, letting a couple hundred people trample all over their nice little regional park.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Friday, August 17, 2007
Field Music Festival
Field Music Festival is this weekend. The weather network is predicting cold, I'm bringing a toque and mitts, and I'll dance to keep warm.
With two stages going all night and camping it should be fun if the cold doesn't get us down.
The line-up this year is pretty impressive. The festival had a number of applicants from as far away as England, but they've kept the focus mainly on artists from the Prairies. While it might have something to do with cost, it's also acting as a way for local artists to get some exposure up next to The Weakerthans, who in their first Saskatchewan show in a long time, are likely to bring a sizeable crowd.
Check out this article for more about the band.
Check out this link for more about Field Festival.
Line Up
Friday:
MAIN STAGE
4:00-5:00 PM Joelle Fuller Band
5:30-6:30 PM The Nancy Ray-guns
7:00-7:30 PM Emaline Delapaix & The Delistocracy
8:30-9:30 PM Volcanoless in Canada
10:00-11:00 PM IBO & Kindread
11:30-12:30 AM DEF 3
1:00-2:00 AM Grand Analog
SECOND STAGE
4:45-5:45 PM TBA
6:15-7:15 PM John Fettes
7:45-8:45 PM Birds are Dinosaurs
9:15-10:15 PM Tribal Vibes
10:45-11:45 PM Bunnyhug
12:15-1:30 AM DJ Neon
1:45-300 AM The Gaff
3:15-4:30 Record Playing Grant
DAY 1 ENDS
Saturday:
MAIN STAGE
1:30-2:30 PM The Deep Dark Woods
3:00-4:00 PM Paul Kuzbik
4:30-5:30 PM Arms Up
6:00-7:00 PM The Wheatmonkeys
7:30-8:30 PM The Rebellion
9:00-10:00 PM Geronimo
10:30-11:30 PM The Weakerthans
SECOND STAGE
2:15-3:15 PM Lily's On Mars
3:45-4:45 PM John Powers
5:15-6:15 PM Li'l Andy
6:45-7:45 PM Slowdown Molasses
8:15-9:15 PM These Hands
9:45-10:45 PM Adverse Vital Signs
12:00-1:30 AM Square Sound Round Body
1:30-300 AM Hard Toe
3:00-4:30 Mikhail
DAY 2 ENDS
Immaculate Machine
WHO: Immaculate Machine
WHERE: Amigo's
WHEN: Aug. 16
I've been listening to Immaculate Machine's Fables albums since slightly before it came out this June (just had to assert my street cred).
Sometimes it really helps to get to know songs really well before shows, which is admittedly something I don't always do. I liked that the Victoria-based trio mixed up their old ones with the new, although the new really did seem fresher, sparklier, and strangely more youthful.
I would have loved to hear Kathryn Calder (who does some time with The New Pornographers) sing more ballads from the new album. I was waiting for the Regina line — "I've never been so glad to see Regina before" — in the song Northeastern Wind, but I think I may have missed it. Her voice is such a treasure, so quiet and unassuming, yet enchanting and incredibly nuanced. At times fellow vocalist and guitarist Brooke Gallupe's voice overpowered hers, as he puts a lot more push behind it, but some of the best moments vocally were when the pair listened carefully to each other in their harmonies.
Immaculate Machine did play C'mon Sea Legs, which was redemption for me. I didn't realize it but that song has infected my brain on several occasions, and served as a rallying cry for any scary thing I've had to do during the past few months.
The group is just about done their summer tour behind the album, then according to drummer Luke Kozlowski, the hard-working band is travelling up and down the west coast, then over to the east coast, then perhaps overseas in the new year. It might be all work and no play, but the unmistakable joy I detected on Kozlowski's face as they locked tightly into their up-tempo songs shows that it's worth it. And it was worth it for me, so they should know their hard work isn't wasted on these ears. Cheers.
Pictures coming soon.
WHERE: Amigo's
WHEN: Aug. 16
I've been listening to Immaculate Machine's Fables albums since slightly before it came out this June (just had to assert my street cred).
Sometimes it really helps to get to know songs really well before shows, which is admittedly something I don't always do. I liked that the Victoria-based trio mixed up their old ones with the new, although the new really did seem fresher, sparklier, and strangely more youthful.
I would have loved to hear Kathryn Calder (who does some time with The New Pornographers) sing more ballads from the new album. I was waiting for the Regina line — "I've never been so glad to see Regina before" — in the song Northeastern Wind, but I think I may have missed it. Her voice is such a treasure, so quiet and unassuming, yet enchanting and incredibly nuanced. At times fellow vocalist and guitarist Brooke Gallupe's voice overpowered hers, as he puts a lot more push behind it, but some of the best moments vocally were when the pair listened carefully to each other in their harmonies.
Immaculate Machine did play C'mon Sea Legs, which was redemption for me. I didn't realize it but that song has infected my brain on several occasions, and served as a rallying cry for any scary thing I've had to do during the past few months.
The group is just about done their summer tour behind the album, then according to drummer Luke Kozlowski, the hard-working band is travelling up and down the west coast, then over to the east coast, then perhaps overseas in the new year. It might be all work and no play, but the unmistakable joy I detected on Kozlowski's face as they locked tightly into their up-tempo songs shows that it's worth it. And it was worth it for me, so they should know their hard work isn't wasted on these ears. Cheers.
Pictures coming soon.
Spiral Beach
WHO: Spiral Beach
WHERE: Amigo's
WHEN: Aug. 16/07
Spiral Beach blew my mind.
"How old are these guys?" I heard from audience members over and over.
What I was focused intently on was their aesthetic. They decorated the stage with rope lights and pylons before the show. They had a sign with their names on it up behind them, just in case we couldn't remember who they are. Their merch table was illuminated, with a shining, rotating disco ball and black light glowing on the prices for their stuff.
The skinny foursome is travelling around the country on their own, like a rag-tag band of orphans, societal misfits, Oliver Twists. Two of them are brothers, their parents are folk singers. On one hand I feel like someone should just take them in for the evening and mother this Toronto-based foursome, but on the other hand it takes astounding gumption and maturity to hit the road as a Toronto-based indie-band when you are just barely old enough to buy cigarettes.
It's not their first tour either. Definitely more is to be expected from these young, ambitious upstarts, with their keyboard based pop. They put so much energy into the show, and creating not just a perfunctory performance, but actually trying to entertain their audience.
I was too transfixed to take pictures, which is unfortunate, because their frizzed hair and matching outfits added greatly to the neon horror-movie vibe. So cool.
Check out their myspace: www.myspace.com/spiralbeach
WHERE: Amigo's
WHEN: Aug. 16/07
Spiral Beach blew my mind.
"How old are these guys?" I heard from audience members over and over.
What I was focused intently on was their aesthetic. They decorated the stage with rope lights and pylons before the show. They had a sign with their names on it up behind them, just in case we couldn't remember who they are. Their merch table was illuminated, with a shining, rotating disco ball and black light glowing on the prices for their stuff.
The skinny foursome is travelling around the country on their own, like a rag-tag band of orphans, societal misfits, Oliver Twists. Two of them are brothers, their parents are folk singers. On one hand I feel like someone should just take them in for the evening and mother this Toronto-based foursome, but on the other hand it takes astounding gumption and maturity to hit the road as a Toronto-based indie-band when you are just barely old enough to buy cigarettes.
It's not their first tour either. Definitely more is to be expected from these young, ambitious upstarts, with their keyboard based pop. They put so much energy into the show, and creating not just a perfunctory performance, but actually trying to entertain their audience.
I was too transfixed to take pictures, which is unfortunate, because their frizzed hair and matching outfits added greatly to the neon horror-movie vibe. So cool.
Check out their myspace: www.myspace.com/spiralbeach
Monday, August 13, 2007
Regina Folk Fest
WHEN: Last weekend.
WHERE: Regina
WHAT: Photos. Because I'm slightly lacking in verbosity these days.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
REGINA FOLK FEST
WHO: Dallas Green (City and Colour)
WHERE: The Legion, Regina
WHEN: Aug. 10
Dallas Green played a show at the Legion after the Folk Fest got rained out by a torrential downpour that basically came out of nowhere.
I was bar tending, but he sounded pretty good to me, and the place was fairly packed. I love his music, and his voice. Managed to sing along to Coming Home in between popping beer cans and rye and cokes. I wish I could have paid more attention to Mr. Green, but such is life. I'm sure he would have liked to not have played the Legion instead of the Folk Fest stage, but kudos to being a good sport anyways, I guess. Those that did focus on the show were not impressed with his lack of stage banter and what-not, but I liked what I heard.
WHERE: The Legion, Regina
WHEN: Aug. 10
Dallas Green played a show at the Legion after the Folk Fest got rained out by a torrential downpour that basically came out of nowhere.
I was bar tending, but he sounded pretty good to me, and the place was fairly packed. I love his music, and his voice. Managed to sing along to Coming Home in between popping beer cans and rye and cokes. I wish I could have paid more attention to Mr. Green, but such is life. I'm sure he would have liked to not have played the Legion instead of the Folk Fest stage, but kudos to being a good sport anyways, I guess. Those that did focus on the show were not impressed with his lack of stage banter and what-not, but I liked what I heard.
Friday, August 10, 2007
REGINA FOLK FEST
WHO: Sarah Slean
WHEN: 7 p.m.
I made it for half of her show. She's amazing. (said with breathless voice)
Dressed in a floaty fuschia dress, she looked like she might drift away as she unleashed her powerfully enchanting voice. From breathy vixen to French chanteuse, she drifted between moods and sounds. Her best stuff was her new material - particularly a song written while alone in Paris, and her all-out finale. I'm not sure what it was called. Her piano playing is also incredible although went unnoticed as I stood rapt in her voice.
WHO: LOS DE ABAJO
WHEN: 8 p.m.
Like a Mexican mariache band with a taste of heavy metal. This show was unexpected. It always seems to be the bands don't expect to be good that are. This was a dance party and a half, culminating in a conga line.
WHO: The Hylozoists
WHEN: 9:30 p.m. (ish)
Xylophone fever. Or actually "vibraphone." Like a symphonic dreamscape with no lyrics. Drifting. This would be much better... on weed.
WHO: Buck 65
WHEN: 10 p.m. (ish)
Between trying to figure out where to go for volunteering and taking a few photos (all of which will appear soon) I didn't get to see much of this show, to my great disappointment. He's a great, theatrical performer with a serious appreciation for formative hip hop music. A little bit funny for an East-Coast Canadian dude, but hey, that's the beauty of the unexpected. I will try hard to see him again at some point in my life. Which might be hard, because I believe he now lives in Europe, where I'm sure he's huge.
WHEN: 7 p.m.
I made it for half of her show. She's amazing. (said with breathless voice)
Dressed in a floaty fuschia dress, she looked like she might drift away as she unleashed her powerfully enchanting voice. From breathy vixen to French chanteuse, she drifted between moods and sounds. Her best stuff was her new material - particularly a song written while alone in Paris, and her all-out finale. I'm not sure what it was called. Her piano playing is also incredible although went unnoticed as I stood rapt in her voice.
WHO: LOS DE ABAJO
WHEN: 8 p.m.
Like a Mexican mariache band with a taste of heavy metal. This show was unexpected. It always seems to be the bands don't expect to be good that are. This was a dance party and a half, culminating in a conga line.
WHO: The Hylozoists
WHEN: 9:30 p.m. (ish)
Xylophone fever. Or actually "vibraphone." Like a symphonic dreamscape with no lyrics. Drifting. This would be much better... on weed.
WHO: Buck 65
WHEN: 10 p.m. (ish)
Between trying to figure out where to go for volunteering and taking a few photos (all of which will appear soon) I didn't get to see much of this show, to my great disappointment. He's a great, theatrical performer with a serious appreciation for formative hip hop music. A little bit funny for an East-Coast Canadian dude, but hey, that's the beauty of the unexpected. I will try hard to see him again at some point in my life. Which might be hard, because I believe he now lives in Europe, where I'm sure he's huge.
Corb Lund
WHO: Corb Lund
WHERE: Saskatoon Exhibition
WHEN: Aug. 9/07
Corb Lund is an artist who I think deserves a ton of respect. The crowd at this show ranged from Amigo's goers to legitimate cowboys. It was a great performance, and although I left to write this review — I am very excited to hear what he has to say on his new album, and to see how many CCMA awards he picks up this year in Regina.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings
WHO: Black and the Rodeo Kings
WHERE: Broadway Theatre
WHEN: Aug. 8/07
So many shows, so few days. Read this review here to get a sense of what this show was like. Perhaps I'll write more later.
WHERE: Broadway Theatre
WHEN: Aug. 8/07
So many shows, so few days. Read this review here to get a sense of what this show was like. Perhaps I'll write more later.
Nickelback
WHO: Nickelback
WHERE: The Saskatoon Exhibition
WHEN: Aug. 7/07
I went to the Nickelback show. Read my approximation of it here.
From what I can tell, Chad Kroeger really, really wants people to like him.
* photo by Gord Waldner/The StarPhoenix
Arms Up
WHO: Arms Up
WHERE: Amigo's
WHEN: Aug. 4/07
After winning Louis' Battle of the Band, Saskatoon band makes CD, gives it away for free at CD Release party. Lots of harmonies. Lead singer reading from The Life of Pii while wearing a cape. This band is evolving and finding itself. Perhaps in time for Pop Montreal, where they will play this October.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Jiminy
WHO: Jiminy
WHERE: Lydia's
WHEN: Aug. 2/07
Jiminy is a new band on the scene, a funk-ska-plus turntables fusion that instantly brings to mind thoughts of other funk-band-in-town The Huxtabulls.
First performing at open-mic a couple months ago, the group went straight to headlining a show, albeit the open-mic-champion night at Lydia's. How they became open mic champions is unclear. The band members didn't know.
Either way, the bar was packed. The first evening of Fringe helped to draw the crowd, plus the sizeable number of friends the band members have.
Notably missing was jazz guitarist Andrew Dickson who played with the group in their first performance. Notables were Enver Hampton on guitar and Kayleigh Smith on keys. Other than that... If I were a grade-school teacher I'd write, "needs improvement" or some other perfunctory keep-trying type of remark. Oh wait. I just did. Seriously though, there is a lot of potential here, but that's the beauty of open mic.
WHERE: Lydia's
WHEN: Aug. 2/07
Jiminy is a new band on the scene, a funk-ska-plus turntables fusion that instantly brings to mind thoughts of other funk-band-in-town The Huxtabulls.
First performing at open-mic a couple months ago, the group went straight to headlining a show, albeit the open-mic-champion night at Lydia's. How they became open mic champions is unclear. The band members didn't know.
Either way, the bar was packed. The first evening of Fringe helped to draw the crowd, plus the sizeable number of friends the band members have.
Notably missing was jazz guitarist Andrew Dickson who played with the group in their first performance. Notables were Enver Hampton on guitar and Kayleigh Smith on keys. Other than that... If I were a grade-school teacher I'd write, "needs improvement" or some other perfunctory keep-trying type of remark. Oh wait. I just did. Seriously though, there is a lot of potential here, but that's the beauty of open mic.
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