First and foremost, I just want you to know that the title of this post is NOT one show (but wouldn't that have been cool...and yet...the strangest thing ever?).
Wednesday night was supposed to be my only concert this week, part of the trying-to-cut-back plan. You'll find out in a minute how that plan went spiraling out of control over the following few days.
Anyway, Wednesday night came, and with it the early show featuring Said the Whale and guests, Sarah Lowe and Rah Rah. Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to see Sarah Lowe at all, but was able to catch the last few Rah Rah songs. This band out of Regina (seems like a great surge of talent coming out of this Saskatchewan city lately) were great, considering I had no idea what I should have been expected. They were more danceable than StW, and came with their own inflatable silver balloons that circulated throughout the outstretched hands of the crowd. There were quite a few of them on stage, and hopefully they'll one day make their way back through the city, so I have a proper chance to see their full set.
Said the Whale played their part of the set well, and I wouldn't have expected any less. However the fact that this was an All Ages show kind of put a damper on things. I don't want to discriminate against those under 18, since I was there not too long ago, but it's painfully clear that these kids (and I use the word "kids" purposefully here) have a thing or two to learn about concert etiquette. I hope I wasn't as obnoxious when I was in their shoes. StW played a range of songs from their short but powerful discography (including one EP and one full length album). What threw me off though was the fact that they also played quite a few new songs, from their upcoming album (with release date not yet revealed). Not that I pay only to hear what is familiar and comforting...but...well...I kind of do. It makes me happy to hear that they'll be coming out with a new album soon though! And I have to give credit to one of their members who broke an important string on his acoustic guitar, and forged on with the song on his electric anyway (it was a bit too rock-ish for me, and for the song, but of course they were able to make a joke about it and afters say that they'll still stick with being Said the Whale instead of Shred the Whale)
Thursday night I was able to catch the new and short-released film Pearl Jam Twenty by director Cameron Crowe. The film is done in the style of the Foo Fighters "Back and Forth" movie, however the narrative from the band's perspective is a bit more jumbled up than in a complete chronological order. I won't pretend that I was the biggest PJ fan beforehand, but it definitely gave me an idea of where they band came from, how they formed their sound, and where the grunge movement came from all those years ago. It touched on the former band of Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament (Mother Love Bone), the death of their singer Andy Wood, and how, with shy, new singer Eddie Vedder, they continued on through the low times to eventually become one of the most well-known bands in the world. I would definitely recommend the film if you even remotely like the band, or music documentaries!
As for Friday. Well this night turned out to be better than I could've imagined when I woke up that morning. (When I turned on the radio, I had found out that Eddie Vedder make a surprise appearance at a local bar, New City Legion, where friends and opening band for their 20th Anniversary tour, Mudhoney, were playing that night). After watching the film the previous night I started to think of how iconic a PJ show would be, and went about my day half-assedly trying to get a ticket sitting anywhere. I decided to admit my luck had run out and stay home when I got one of the best tweets/phone calls. A friend of a friend was selling floor seats, face value. It was 6pm, Mudhoney went on around 7. I'd have been stupid NOT to go! So, I did. And since if you haven't seen PJ yet, you have to go yourself to undersand, I won't go into detail. All I'll say is this: Mudhoney's sound was a bit fuzzy unfortuantley (apparently they were amazing at New City though), Eddie Vedder and co. can still play and headbang with the best of them, and the crowd at this particular show was one of the loudest I've ever heard. They were relentless in their quest for "One More Song" and we were fortunate to get TWO encores, including a finale of "Rockin' in the Free World". Their set list here apparently played more "hits" than at their previous shows in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, and Calgary, which I have to admit makes me a teensy bit boastful.
Saturday was also an unplanned musical experience, but not to the scale of Friday's however. I was off to see the Wet Secrets at the ARTery Noiselab, one of my favourite venues in the city. The night was full of unexpected future anecdotes, including getting stuck in an elevator for 40 minutes with 9 people....Our fault really, it was clearly meant for only 4 people. Another surprise was that the band the Wet Secrets had "doors at 8:30pm", and though we were constantly warned to get there early...the band didn't actually start until 11:30pm. Also, all 6 members of the band dress in marching band uniform, for the entire set. They were entirely entertaining with songs like "Grow your own f*cking mustache, a**hole", and "Mr Rimjob, 1999", and three members of the band constantly changing instruments. Apparently the band started off as a "one-week joke" and sprouted into something that the members just seem to have fun doing. It's too bad that last night also happened to be the final send off for member Donna Ball Ball, who will be moving to Scotland shortly. For $5 cover, the band was definitely worth it, and hopefully can keep the creative juices flowing when cut down to 5 members.
PS.Just listening to Dan Mangan's new album, "Oh Fortune", as I type this post. When purchasing a ticket for his upcoming show (Nov 3, at McDougall United Church. Tickets available through his website link), you had the option to pay for the new CD. Even though I got the ticket last month, CD's weren't sent out until last week. I didn't get the same "I love this song, no wait, I love THIS song" feeling as when listening to previous recordings, but hopefully it's one of those grow-to-appreciate it deals. Now. I'm off to listen repeatedly.
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