Venturing to the Deep Dark Woods

I'm not quite sure how to describe the Saskatoon based band, The Deep Dark Woods...They're not just folk, they're not just country, they're not just "alternative", and they're not just typical. I had never actually heard this band before, but had heard good things from quite a few different people. They had recently been in Edmonton in August to perform at Folk Fest, which I was unfortunately out of the country for. But this was the perfect opportunity to see them, and see a new venue at the Royal Alberta Musuem.

I had never had the chance, or even known that the museum had a facility to accommodate music, but  the band fit the venue just right. It was a smaller theatre within the museum, that fits 417 people (yes, I went to their website to check...), with three seating sections and a stage that easily held two different 6 piece bands.

It took longer than usual to have the opening band start, about 1 1/2 hour after doors opened. I hadn't been to this venue before, but it seemed like everyone was just starting to get a bit impatient with how long it was taking, especially since it was 1/2 that we were made to wait in the foyer after doors opened, but before we could actually get into the theatre.



The Secretaries opened for DDW, and when I first heard the name it sounded vaguely familiar, but I couldn't tell from when/where/how I had heard of them. Once they started playing I was impressed with their take on folk, that had a slightly pop-tone to it. As band members were introduced to the audience, and I found out that Colleen Brown was their bassist and part vocalist, I realized where I recognized the name from; I had watched Colleen Brown perform her solo songs at The Works festival in summer. The band is made up of Brown, along with a female guitarist and vocalist, a three memebr brass section, and a dummer. The brass section, made up of two trumpets and a euphonium (it looks like a smaller version of the tuba) was actually quite entertaining, making up different dances while they weren't playing. They definitely added an entertainment value to a band that was otherwise lacking in that department. However with the audience that was present, they didn't really need to play up forced witty chit-chat in between songs; the majority of people were there just to hear the music. I don't think that the band plays shows all together very often, but do when they are all available (I think that most are like Colleen Brown, and have solo projects that they work on as well). They're worth looking into if you're into the more upbeat folk rock.

Once Deep Dark Woods started their set the entire theatre seemed to change it's mood. After the band started their first song, there was all of a sudden a different powerful presence in the room. It wasn't necessarily anything that they did out of the ordinary, but the deep, booming voice of lead singer, Ryan Boldt, immdiately filled the room. I wasn't able to stay for their entire set, but I was able to see why they do have a following, and a hard to define genre. The songs that I was able to hear all had amazing set up's, instrumental breaks and flowed more than I would've thought from a 6 piece band. I've heard that they're a "you-have-to-be-in-the-right-mood band" and after listening to them it's easy to see why that's said; they would not be a band you'd want to see if you're in a happy, excited etc mood. That sounds like a terrible thing to say, but it's one of the few ways to describe them. They are the type of music I would want to have playing during a dark, winter day at home, while I read and sit with a mug of tea.

NB: I'm becoming increasingly impressed with the music coming out of Saskatchewan lately ie Library Voices, The Deep Dark Woods, and yes, even The Sheepdogs.