Saturday, July 6, 2013
Sleeping in just slightly too much to catch first band Larry & His Flask, we arrived in time for Vancouver’s Hannah Georgas.
Hannah Georgas (East Stage, 12:20PM)
Originally from Newmarket, the laidback flair of now-Vancouver resident, Hannah Georgas got our day off to an easy start. Georgas’ voice can err on the thinner side, however it stood tall and melded well with the throbbing beats that often backed it. She proved herself, putting the mighty range of her vocals on full display on the extended higher notes of “Somebody.” With a synthy flavour and electronic drum beat added to some of the dancier tracks on her setlist, such as “Shortie,” she also showed that she could let loose and move a little.
Toasting the audience, Georgas enjoyed her beer – hey, it was afternoon after all! – but encouraged the crowd to stay hydrated with the free water refills offered by Environmental Defense, and to visit their booth to learn more about their efforts. She ended her early set by pulling out the ukulele for “The Deep End,” providing a final reason why more people need to know the name Hannah Georgas.
The Felice Brothers (West Stage, 1:10PM)
Five-piece New York band The Felice Brothers is indeed led by the brothers Felice: Ian (vocals, guitar) and James (vocals, accordion). The addition of fiddle and keys gave their low-tempo country folk styling an interesting sound. While often downtrodden and forlorn, they gained some enthusiastic momentum with James taking the lead on vocals for the thigh-slapping “Whiskey in My Whiskey.” Thanks to its humorous lyrics, another really entertaining song was “Run Chicken Run.” This energy continued to be let loose on hoe-down happy tracks that gave the fiddle it’s proper place centre stage and provided pretty epic accordion solos (how often do you get to write the words “epic accordion solos”?). While “Frankie’s Gun!” began all dark and angrily moody, it soon exploded into boisterous “shanananana”s that couldn’t help but make you smile at this still-early afternoon hour.
The band has been around since 2006, but this was our first real encounter with them – and it was a good one!
Skydiggers (East Stage, 2:10PM)
Longstanding Toronto roots band Skydiggers celebrated their 25th anniversary this year and while they’ve managed to fly under the radar for much of their career, they’ve become well-known for the special annual Christmas shows they put on at The Horseshoe. Led by Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson, the folk collaborative was also joined by Jeff Heisholt (The Trews) on keys.
Singing songs like “Pull Me Down” and “I Will Give You Everything,” there was something special about getting to sit back in the afternoon sun and enjoy the gift of legendary Canadian music sandwiched between two contemporary American bands.
Dawes (West Stage, 3:10PM)
L.A. band Dawes could be labeled as “dad-rock,” but only the cool/hip-dad variety. The keys provided by Tay Strathairn added something a little extra special to their overall easy folk rock Americana sound. Playing songs primarily from both 2011’s Nothing is Wrong and 2013’s Stories Don’t End, it was the down-to-earth and storytelling lyrics – especially on songs like “Most People” – that really left the greatest impression on me.
Frontman Taylor Goldsmith called on longtime fans to sing along to “When My Time Comes” from their 2009 record North Hills. He must not have expected there to be too many out there familiar with their older material because there was a look of sheer joy on his face when he turned the mic over to the crowd, it seemed as if nearly everyone knew the words. Further set highlights included the string of melancholy yet hopeful and heartfelt ballads: “Someone Will,” “Time Spent in Los Angeles” and “A Little Bit of Everything.” Seeing the band for the first time, we could only wish that their set wouldn’t end!
Matt Mays (East Stage, 4:20PM)
East Coast rocker Matt Mays kicked things off on an easy note with “Indio” from last year’s Coyote, but it got appropriately loud by the time second song “Take It On Faith” arrived. Maintaining the insane level of energy he is known for, Mays indicated that you would get kicked if caught slow dancing to “Loveless.” While only one song – “Rock Ranger Record” – was specifically dedicated to dearly departed friend and guitarist Jay Smith, so much of their set felt like a tribute to his energy and memory. It felt like Mays and company were channeling all of their pain and leaving it all out there on the stage. From the lyrics to the emotionally-laden 5+ minute rock interlude, “Dull Knife” had me nearly in tears. And the raw passion and scorching sweat that emanated from Mays during the near-epic “Stand Down at Sundown” had us all believing that the sun really would come out tomorrow. That’s the power of live music.
Mays came out onto the risers for the last song, which just sent the crowd into that much more of a frenzy. While photos technically weren’t allowed to be taken in the pit at this time, you better believe that every phone came out to capture the man and the moment up close.
Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls (West Stage, 5:30PM)
Playing folk-tinged punk, English boy Frank Turner and his band of Sleeping Souls wanted to dance – and wanted everyone in the audience to join them. Immediately from the start of their set, which began appropriately with “Four Simple Words,” they got their wish. There is a rebellious yet unrestrained feel-good quality to Turner’s music and this was only reinforced in his live performance of “Losing Days,” and “Reasons To Not Be An Idiot”. Huge fans of crowd participation, Turner encouraged – no, demanded – that all were involved in the show as one, getting everyone to clap and jump along to “Glory Hallelujah,” among others. The audience seemed fully willing to worship at the altar of Frank Turner.
Taking things down just a couple of notches, the band left the stage for Turner to perform “Wisdom Teeth” on his own, as well as a cover of Canadian band The Weakerthans’ “Plea From A Cat Named Virtue.” Proving that he had the entirety of the audience fully and completely under his spell, when the band returned Turner suggested that while the crowd had already successfully clapped, sang, and jumped, this time they would combine the three for a “crowd participation triathlon” – which turned out to be jumping jacks during the chorus of “Recovery.” And yep, the crowd did exactly what he told them. Adding to this, Turner also somehow convinced everyone to sit down on the ground and then collectively jump during “Photosynthesis.” And in those few fleeting seconds that we were all airborne together, it was as if we were all a part of something so much bigger than merely one person in a sea of individuals. Who’d have thought that after all, something as simple as a Frank Turner set would save us all?
Being allowed one more song, Turner returned for a cover Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road.”
The Lowest of the Low (East Stage, 6:50PM)
Toronto’s The Lowest of the Low kicked off their jangly pop-rock set with “Bleed A Little While Tonight.” A pretty big band amongst the 1990’s Canadian rock scene with a Blue Rodeo feel to them, the older members of the crowd were heavily into the set as they were transported back in time with many songs off 1991’s Shakespeare My Butt. Claiming to be playing later on in the day than expected, frontman Ron Hawkins made tongue-in-cheek remark that they were too “pasty” to play earlier on in the afternoon and luckily the festival promoters were kind enough to schedule them in later. Not necessarily the most exciting to watch live – especially not after having just experienced Frank Turner – the band proved that they deserved their time slot, and not just for throwback purposes.
Hawkins sent out “Under the Carlaw Bridge” to the city’s east end before they ended with the summery “Rosy and Grey,” which successfully made us all feel young again and as if we were on the cusp of an epic teenage summer romance.
The Hold Steady (West Stage, 8:10PM)
Having won a contest for being The Hold Steady’s biggest fan, Frank Turner came out on stage to introduce the band. “every once in awhile a band comes around and reminds you why you love rock and roll; The Hold Steady are that band, the best band.” The crowd didn’t need any convincing – they already knew this to be a fact.
One of the happiest individuals to grace the stage, frontman Craig Finn often uses his hands to elaborate the stories about drug-infused bar nights, adventures and general life events that he tells through his songs and half-spoken vocals. An average-joe in his general appearance, Finn is so animated in his gestures and facial expressions, you can’t help but be just as excited as him. Starting with “Constructive Summer” from 2008’s Stay Positive, there was the heady feeling in the air that together we could honestly “build something this summer.”
Giving themselves completely over to the music, this was the first point in the day that the crowd-surfing really began. Finn mentioned that the band had begun starting work on a new record and they previewed a couple of new tracks to the crowd of longtime fans. While songs like “Hurricane J” and “Chips Ahoy” drove everyone’s energy into high gear, slower songs, like set-closer “Southtown Girls” still managed to hold the crowd’s full attention.
Even festival organizer Jeff Cohen recognized the special moment transpiring on stage and wanted the band to keep on playing. As the last band on this stage, he therefore allowed them to come back out for an encore. For an even greater treat, Turner came back out to sing along with his idol Finn for “Stay Positive.” Two of the most positive people in the music industry, this pairing was nothing short of Perfect with a capital “P.”
Flogging Molly (East Stage, 9:30PM)
The night ended with headlining Irish-American party band Flogging Molly. The upbeat Celtic nature of the band provided a kick-up-your-heels feel to the summer night. Seemingly taken aback by the attention and size of the crowd, frontman Dave King commented that he had had never seen so many photographers in the pit for them – “they must think we’re a different band!”
With a breeze gently blowing, soon all arms were swaying to “Whistles the Wind.” Scattered throughout the raucous energy were real and soberingly sombre moments, such as the performance of “Tobacco Islands,” which was sent out to the people of Ireland who were shipped off to Barbados to be slaves, working the sugar cane fields; as well as King’s story about visiting Johnny Cash’s house on a trip down to Tennessee before launching into “If I Ever Leave This World Alive.” Further highlights of their set included “The Kilburn High Road” featuring King’s wife on the piccolo, and “This Present State of Grace” on which guitarist Dennis Casey managed to raise hell on a twelve string acoustic.
Hands in the air for the majority of what felt like a never-ending set, it was big ol’ party the entire time and the rowdy audience was definitely into the opportunity to drink and dance right until the 11PM curfew! | CD
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