Tag: Music festival

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Live music galleries

Live music galleries: Daughter [2013]

(I got the idea for this series while sifting through the ‘piles’ of digital photos on my laptop. It occurred to me to share some of these great pics from some of my favourite concert sets from time to time. Until I get around to the next one, I invite you to peruse my ever-growing list of concerts page.)

Daughter performing at Osheaga 2013

Artist: Daughter
When: August 2nd, 2013
Where: Mountain stage, Osheaga, Jean Drapeau Park, Montreal
Context: Ten years ago this summer, I attended Montreal’s Osheaga arts and music festival with my good friends Tim and Mark. It was an unforgettable weekend and we saw countless amazing performances over the festival’s three days. I’ve already posted photos* from some of the weekend’s sets and plan to share a few more of these in the months leading up to this year’s edition, which I will sadly not be attending. Some of these posts will have fewer photos than my normal galleries, including today’s, but this should not be taken to be indicative of the quality of the performances, but of the difficulty of obtaining quality pics while being so completely in the moment.

I had been listening to Daughter’s debut long player, “If you leave”, pretty much on repeat leading up to and in anticipation of the weekend and it grew on me by leaps and bounds with each listen. Its haunting melodies and soft tones seem perfect for early mornings, especially those accoutred with a thick layer of fog. Indeed, the album is awash in subtleties, the guitars and drums understated, as if played in a vacuous space, and frontwoman Elena Tonra’s delicate vocals exude just the right hint of sadness. Tonra was all smiles that afternoon, however, apparently not expecting such a large crowd so early in the afternoon. Listening, you could have floated away on the breeze, like the bubbles someone in the crowd kept blowing. They finished with their excellent single, “Youth” (see below), to crashing crescendos on a gathering wind. Tim likened them to a cross between Florence and the Machine and shoegazey type music and Mark described it as “Lovely, ethereal yummy.”
Point of reference song: “Youth”

Elena Tonra and Remi Aguilella of Daughter
Igor Haefeli and touring member Luke Saunders
Elena flashing another one of those smiles

*Past galleries from this festival weekend have included the following:

Categories
Live music galleries

Live music galleries: Hey Rosetta! [2012]

(I got the idea for this series while sifting through the ‘piles’ of digital photos on my laptop. It occurred to me to share some of these great pics from some of my favourite concert sets from time to time. Until I get around to the next one, I invite you to peruse my ever-growing list of concerts page.)

Hey Rosetta! wowing the crowds at Bluesfest 2012

Artist: Hey Rosetta!
When: July 13th, 2012
Where: Claridge Homes stage, Ottawa Bluesfest, Lebreton Flats Park, Ottawa
Context: Friday the 13th was perhaps the hottest evening at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012. While waiting for the first band at the Claridge Homes stage with not a lick of shade to be found, all the crowd could do was hope for a breeze or the next droplet of perspiration. A couple of drunkards behind me started shouting at those setting up the stage, “Come out early and I’ll give you eight bucks!” When Hey Rosetta! burst on to the stage in a blaze of multi-colored maple leafs (shot from cannons), it was made apparent that the wait was worth it. Newfoundland flags were proudly waving to the sweet sounds made by the St. John’s exports in an impressive crowd for an early 6:00pm set time. And I think the whole crowd was fancying themselves honourary Newfoundlanders throughout the duration of the one hour set. For my part, I wasn’t disappointed at all. Hey Rosetta! sported an energetic indie rock sound made immense by a combination of violin and cello embellishments and by throwing in some mandolin and glockenspiel for good measure. Unfortunately, their set ran long and they were cut off before they could play their last song. While setting out for another stage, I could hear the honourary Newfoundlanders still shouting for “one more song”.
Point of reference song: “Seeds”

Tim Baker of Hey Rosetta!
Kinley Dowling of Hey Rosetta!
Romesh Thavanathan of Hey Rosetta
Phil Maloney of Hey Rosetta!
Josh Ward and Tim Baker
The string section of Kinley and Romesh
Tim Baker, Adam Hogan, and Phil Maloney banging the drums

Categories
Live music galleries

Live music galleries: Interpol [2015]

(I got the idea for this series while sifting through the ‘piles’ of digital photos on my laptop. It occurred to me to share some of these great pics from some of my favourite concert sets from time to time. Until I get around to the next one, I invite you to peruse my ever-growing list of concerts page.)

Interpol live at Bluesfest 2015

Artist: Interpol
When: July 18, 2015
Where: Claridge Homes stage, Ottawa Bluesfest, Lebreton Flats Park, Ottawa
Context: I had been following this New York-based indie rock band for well over a decade by the time 2015 rolled around. Interpol were easily my preferred out of all the post-punk revivalists and their first two records are still among my favourite of the 2000s. Founding bassist, Carlos Dengler had left the band five years prior (in 2010) but the remaining trio of Paul Banks (vocals, guitar), Daniel Kessler (guitars), and Sam Fogarino (drums)* were still (and still are) very much a going concern. In fact, they had just put out “El pintor” the previous year, perhaps their best album in a decade. After initial a wave here and a smile there, pleasantries dispensed, they started in like gangbusters, a sonic assault of angular guitars and booming basslines, and Paul Banks’ iconic deep vocals, often lying in wait in the weeds and layers of synths. It was a powerful set and loud, mixing new and old seamlessly. Interestingly, they went to the well of 2004’s “Antics” quite often, digging out favourites like “Narc”, “Evil”, “Take you on a cruise”, “C’mere”, “Not even jail”, and finishing off the whole works with “Slow hands”. I especially appreciated the passionate and crazed rendition of recent single, “All the rage back home”, a personal favourite. I think my only critique of the set was that at around fifty minutes, partially due to an act finishing up late on the other stage, it all felt way too short. Still, Interpol!!!!

Point of reference song: “All the rage back home”

Sam Fogarino of Interpol
Daniel Kessler of Interpol
Paul Banks of Interpol
Brandon Curtis and Brad Truax, touring members
Paul Banks, Daniel Kessler, and Sam Fogarino

*They were joined on stage by touring bassist Brad Truax and Brandon Curtis (formerly of Secret Machines) on keys.