Hello Beautiful Life - The Skydiggers
In the Dead of Winter.
It is my humble opinion that most people don't like winter because all they do is stand around and shiver. Maybe it was growing up in the nearly perma-frost city of Thunder Bay that did it, I don't know. But I can say that there are aspects of winter that I like. Snowball fights and lack of summer creepy crawlies being 2 of those things.
Now there is a third thing I like about winter. That is the In The Dead Of Winter Festival (IDOW). Not only was this my first experience with this festival it was my first experience with any music festival. Yeah, I'm old...but better late than never, amiright? This particular festival celebrated it's 10th anniversary this year and boy was I glad I decided to be a part of it.
This festival takes place in Halifax on the last weekend in January (the first weekend in February in Wakefield Quebec). It's not a big festival in that most of the venues are smaller in size but that is right up my alley. I go to concert not for the music but for the experience and the interaction of the musician with the audience. I like to be able to be close enough to see the fingers fly across the keyboard or make the tiny chord changes on the neck of a guitar. It's up close and personal and yes if at all possible I will be front and centre. Feel free to wear earplugs if you attend with me. If you want studio quality sound, stay home and buy Bose speakers. lol!
I bought tickets for 4 events on the schedule. Some choices were based on band preferences but not all. If you bought tickets for one band you got 3 other bonus bands. Each act had about a 50 minute set, with the last headlining act taking a little more. Despite not knowing many of the bands previously, I chose not to YouTube the band before hand to get a feel for their style. I prefer to be surprised - and 99.9% of the time I am blown away. To be fair, some online videos are not of the greatest quality.
My reviews are never based on the audience reaction, likes or dislikes of the band performance. I'm front and centre, it's rare that I look back to see if there is anyone behind me. Nor do I care. When the music starts, it's just me and the musicians - I'm entranced, nay hypnotized. All I can promise you is that if you like the style of music I write about you will probably like the artist.
Thursday Night at the Bus Stop Theatre
This is a new venue for me, being on a well travelled commercial street, I didn't expect it to be a big place. I wasn't disappointed. We got there before the doors opened and tucked ourselves at a corner table where we could oversee the preparations but stay out of the way. The bartender washed the glasses to place near the water jug and sliced her lemons and limes before perching herself on the counter relaxing before the crowds arrived. Behind closed doors we could hear the tail end of the sound checks.
First to take the stage was Alana Yorke. Alana is a singer-songwriter and musician that hails from Halifax. She has a clear voice that she uses to pull you into her stage-world. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire performance which was reminiscent of a 60's folk sound - but maybe the long locks flowing across the face as she played the keyboard that made me think of that...with a little Sarah McLachlan thrown in. In fact she treated us to a version of Sarah's Into The Fire that was as good as the original in a different way - more depth and body in the vocals. Like Red Red Wine, UB40 did it different than Neil Diamond and both were good despite their vast differences musically. Anthem can be found on Alana's debut release and is one of my favourite songs that she played. And for the record (if it matters to you) George Stromboulopoulos agrees as he premiered the song #1 on his Magnificent 7 list in November of 2014.
Well, if you thought you were gonna spend the rest of the night mellowing out with your glass of wine, forget it. Presenting Brinleigh! Gone was the electric guitar and in came a synthesizer. And if you were watching closely you may have noticed that the drummer from the previous act stepped up to take control of that synth - Sean MacGillivray wearing several hats. With the first notes my initial thought was a cross between Phoebe and Ross (from the Friends TV show). They had my attention! It was musically haunting and a little dark, but absolutely adorable when between songs Brinleigh paused to apologize to her mom in the audience for using an expletive in the previous song. I was really taken by the banter between songs which was almost apologetic. "Haunt Me is about missing a ghost, which is really weird." Perhaps the concept is but the song was great!
Greg MacPherson is the artist our table-mate had come to see specifically, he was born in Sydney NS but makes his home in Winnipeg. Greg started his set by commending MacLeans magazine for an article that was published highlighting the maltreatment of Native Americans in the Winnipeg community, particularly the case of missing and murdered aboriginal women like Tina Fontaine. Greg had passion and gave us a good helping of it with his animated on-stage presence. The energy was infectious. I just couldn't get the phrase "like Neil Young on steroids" out of my head. Until that is, Greg sang "Some of us ain't got nobody and some of us don't see how much we have". Powerful!
I love the Skydiggers, one of the most under-rated bands in Canada. For that reason alone they are in good company for sure. I am continually blown away by the people I come across who don't know the Skydiggers. This band has been on the Canadian music scene for more than 20 years and almost everyone knows their song "I Will Give You Everything" when they hear it but don't make the artist connection. So I have been doing my part to educate the masses. I am thrilled when I can add another fan to the Skydigger family. Yeah Debra!
For this performance, there was only Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson on stage - a more unplugged-type performance. And never were truer words spoken when after the first verse of Hello Beautiful Life Joshs' guitar went silent. The sound tech tried to fix the problem from the control board and when that didn't work, headed to the stage to fiddle with the wires. But by then, the duo had begun a true acoustic song. The interruption didn't even phase them, that song over they picked up on the previous song in second verse. Professional and seasoned performers!
There are a lot of musicians who can be quite animated on stage but I don't think that there is anyone quite like Andy Maize. He ripped a page out of the Chubby Checker performance book and turned it up a notch. With no guitar to hide behind or wires holding him still, that man does a twist that has his whole body in motion. He looks like he is enjoying himself...how can you not enjoy it too?
Friday Night at the Company House
Home - The Devin Cuddy Band
The Company House is right across the street from the Bus Stop Theatre and although the bar is bigger the seating area is not. I love this place for its intimacy and friendly bar staff. The story behind the naming of the CoHo is as interesting as the venue itself.
Pat LePoidevin is one of the most unique performers I have ever encountered. Right from the moment he stepped on stage and took off his shoes, you knew it was going to be something different. Pat is a Canadian soul who can call all corners of the country his home, born in BC but having lived on both coasts and the far north of Yukon among other locales. His lyrics have that down home feel that celebrate this great country and his voice is strong and powerful enough to be heard coast to coast. With his clever use of the loop pedal, you quickly get the feel that there is more than just one man on stage giving his calves a work out as he reaches just a little higher by getting on his tippie-toes. Up and down repeatedly...no wonder he takes his shoes off...he puts whole body into his music. I was actually watching his gymnastics on stage when I noticed he almost lassoed his beer - I was poised to jump up and save it, lol. No beer was spilled in course of this musical set. Pat used some serious creativity when he turned the ukulele strings toward his mouth and sing into it and recorded it using the loop pedal to accompany himself during his song You Know Your War. What a unique sound and technique to match the powerful lyrics of this song! Rube and Rake. With a name like that you know it's gonna be different. I don't know which one is Rube and which one is Rake, but I do know that Andrew played the acoustic guitar and a young Alan Alda (Josh) played the banjo. Guess I dated myself a bit when I told him that right down to the headgear he reminded me of Alda as a young surgeon in the M*A*S*H* tv show. He had to Google who it was. Damn I'm old, lol! He related a little more when the younger audience members brought up the Jake Gyllenhaal resemblance.
This duo that call St. John's Newfoundland their home play a mellow, down home music that has the feel of traditional folk. Despite different instruments their sound is like one. Despite different people, their voice is like one. A Simon and Garfunkel only more pure. The sum of both parts equals magic.
I am haunted by the music of Rachel Ries - in a good way. Rachel has a strong, clear voice that invites you into her world. Hailing from a Mennonite community, she joked that not only her dress but her stockings were not appreciated when she visited her family. She may have left the lifestyle but the lifestyle didn't leave her. Many of her songs have a depth that can come from the simple farming and religious creed. Her stage presence and comedic flair really make the show an enjoyable venture. Alternating between the keyboard and guitar she filled the venue with clear and poignant vocals and strong musical accompaniment. I can't even imagine the depth with her whole band behind her. In her words "Am I lost if it's where I choose to be?"
The main event tonight is a band I do my best to promote. I have been following them since their first full length release. I have written about them before and it's always a glowing review. They are The Devin Cuddy Band. They are amazing. You mention the band and the first thing that is asked is about the connection with Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo fame. Yes father and son, but the music is his own. As much as Devin looks much like Jim when he was a young man, the musical diversity is comparable. Don't go expecting to hear the Blue Rodeo sound or Blue Rodeo covers. The talent seeping out of the fingers of these 4 young men is mind-blowing and they aren't all related to famous musicians. They do it their way and it's a good thing.
The most common response I hear from people that I have introduced to this band is surprise that they aren't more well known. The best I can suggest is that this band is not a Top 40/follow the trends kind of band. Radio play can do a lot for a musical career. Lord knows I have tried to get the local station CKUL 96.5 to add the Devin Cuddy Band to their rotation. With a tag line of singers and their songwriters it seems like a logical fit to me. Meanwhile one friend at a time is better than nothing. So share with someone you love and tell me I'm wrong.
A review by Exclaim suggested that the band started off slow and weak with a tired performance. Having seen Devin on his home turf, I can sure see the fatigue in his eyes but when he sweeps his hair back at the end of the song and thanks the audience his eyes light up as bright as his smile. I sense the energy in that and feel the passion. And its not just Devin, it the whole band. With no set list to follow, the song choice is decided on the fly and every song is flawless. No one that I have ever seen on stage rivals the expressiveness of Zach Sutton on drums. What a treat to watch! One of my favourite songs is Dancin' which was not played this night but I find that it is an excellent showcase of the talents of the musicians collectively and individually. From Devin Richardsons' calm demeanour as he puts the Midas touch on the bass strings and adds depth to the vocals, to the magic that Nichol Robertson effortlessly coaxes from the electric guitar.
There is a difference between playing an instrument and bringing an instrument to life. To play like that's all you were ever meant to do. When you play to the audience that has just been listening to an evening of calming folk-ish style music, you don't come in stomping and banging away...you ease into it and showcase your broad spectrum of musical styles. At least that's my opinion.
Part 2 includes more reviews and lots of pictures.
In The Dead of Winter Festival
http://www.inthedeadofwinter.com/
The Bus Stop Theatre
http://www.thebusstoptheatre.org/
Alana Yorke
http://www.alanayorke.com/
Brinleigh
http://www.brinleigh.com/
Greg MacPherson
http://gregmacpherson.com/
Macleans Magazine - Tina Fontaine
http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/welcome-to-winnipeg-where-canadas-racism-problem-is-at-its-worst/
The Skydiggers
http://www.skydiggers.com/
The Company House
http://www.thecompanyhouse.ca/
Pat LePoidevin
http://www.patlepoidevin.com/default.asp?mn=1.2
Rube and Rake
http://www.rubeandrake.com/
Rachel Ries
http://rachelries.com/home
The Devin Cuddy Band
http://www.devincuddy.com/
Blue Rodeo
http://www.bluerodeo.com/
Exclaim.ca Music
http://exclaim.ca/Music/article/devin_cuddy_band-company_house_halifax_ns_january_23
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