A fascinating thing happened on the night of March 28, 2009: I went to a great concert where the lineup consisted of local bands. Sure, that might not sound very interesting, but I was so excited for it that I invited everyone I knew. This meant that instead of going alone or with one other person, I risked tarnishing my reputation as someone who thinks she knows good music when she hears it. At one point, it crossed my mind that my expectations may have been poorly founded since I based them on various songs posted on MySpace. The result? Let's just say MySpace came through for me.
There was no formal introduction before the music started; the concert began with Great Bloomers playing a chord reminiscent of Thornley which progressed into a song that felt inspired by Thom Yorke. Combining the hopeful melancholy with a disconnected ambient feel was inspiring considering how well I relate to those two types of music.
Great Bloomers was the least polished group out of the three, however this does not mean their arrangements were in any way messy – this just refers back to the fact that they simply don’t have as much experience. Their endings, while sometimes abrupt, were effective and appropriate, and I cannot recall a moment where certain instruments seem to overpower others.
Also, their set list was well arranged with natural highs and lows in tempo and keys, and so were their songs, with little accents in perfect moments. During “Black Rising Fire” (from their EP Reel Cod), guitarist Nate Hindle, whistled live a la Andrew Bird. When Great Bloomers' leader, Lowell Sostomi, was singing during certain pieces, there were moments that I envisioned Rufus Wainwright up front on guitar instead of sitting at a piano; specifically during one of my favorite songs, “The Young Ones Slept”. His image, though, is much different than Rufus – tall and lanky with a slight farmboy charm, his red hair mop and plaid shirt contributing greatly, along with an unassuming humble attitude giving genuine thanks to fans for being there.
After becoming a bit more country-folk with “Dark Horse”, Great Bloomers closed their set with “Honey Blanket”, a sweet, upbeat finale to a well-rounded showcase of who they are.
Some of my friends enjoyed the different style of rock that Cancel Winter brought to the stage; however, from where we were sitting, it felt like the instruments were competing with, and trying to overpower one another. At first, I couldn’t tell that there was a keyboard player on stage. The songs that they were playing, even the ones I recognized from their website, seemed a lot heavier than what I expected. When I moved to the dance floor though, the balance and details emerged with the different listening angle, and the keyboard appeared to my ears. I loved the push and pull within a few of their songs; their ability to cleanly and effortlessly transition between sections and speeds was impressive, and sometimes unexpected which always heightens my listening experience. While Cancel Winter's set didn’t blow me away, I have a feeling that seeing them play acoustically will be a much better experience as that is the kind of music I am drawn to, as opposed to the heavy pop-rock offering of this show.
After a quick stage change, in came SUNRiSER. I had the opportunity to speak with lead singer, Darryl Webster, about two weeks before the show and during that conversation there was no pride or boast whatsoever. This concerned me a little, because I didn’t know whether to interpret that as a lack of confidence or an effort to stay humble. Well, as they began to play, it was clear there was no lack of confidence. These guys were good; they looked comfortable on the stage, and filled the dance floor with their fans.
SUNRiSER is one of those bands that upon hearing a small recorded clip, you can agree to see their live act, and during the first song it becomes clear how much better the live show is, and will continue to be.
Webster has a strong, soft voice, and his tone conveyed qualities similar to Matt Nathanson at some moments, and at others, Gin Blossom’s lead Robin Wilson. Webster is a great storyteller and crowd heckler – engaging the audience made the experience more personal and attention-grabbing. The entire band had great chemistry, and seeing them laughing and smiling in between songs showed how much fun they were having together. The energy and music were so well-balanced and full of excitement that one of my friends commented on how I couldn’t stop smiling, and only after a few songs I had to get up and start dancing.
The night was an excellent showcase of Toronto talent, with Great Bloomers, Cancel Winter, and Sunriser giving an honest representation of their capability in a live setting. It's a nice feeling when expectations are met, but an amazing one when they are exceeded. On the way home I had Great Bloomers’ lyrics, “Lay this honey blanket down on me…,” repeating over and over in my head – a very good indication of how much this concert satisfied my ears, and the happy sleep that was about to follow.
In the Toronto area? Don't miss these acts at the following dates and loactions:
Great Bloomers
April 18th @ Criminal Records
May 2 @ The Horseshoe - CD Release
Cancel Winter
May 7th@Horseshoe-Arietta cd release 10$
Sunriser
April 23rd @ Buddies In Bad Times Theatre (Charity for Dreams Take Flight)$15
April 27th@ Horseshoe-opening for French Kicks from NYC 10$
myspace.com/greatbloomers
myspace.com/cancelwinter
myspace.com/sunriser
