Octagon at the Royal Alexandra Hall

Posted on 2015-03-30 by Rod Wilson

When I go to a jazz performance the thought that always crosses my mind is “How do they do that?”. Apart from their instruments the only thing they seem to have on hand is maybe a memorized melody and a lead sheet with some indication of the chord progression. When I go to a chamber music concert a different thought crosses my mind … “I know how they do it but how do they do it with such control and ellegant precision?”. Of course they have the composer’s score with lots of detail about the notes to be played, when to played and even symbols on how to be played. Of course there is more to it than that. Still, somewhat like my response to a jazz performance a chamber music performance leaves me with a sense of awe. It’s some form of magic and the musicians are the magicians.

The magic was very much in evidence at Octagon’s performance at the Royal Alexandra Hall on Wednesday night. The musicians were the magicians and the hall added an element that would be difficult to find in another venue. It was perfect match. A world class chamber music ensemble, the music of Ludwig van Beethoven (Septet, Opus 20), the music of Franz Schubert (Octet, Opus 166) and a performance venue that probably had a lot in common with the original venues in Austria when the music was composed in the early 1800’s. From pin drop soft to boisterous bellowing every nuance of the music was there to be savored. My only complaints, and they are very, very minor are that the lighting in the hall is very poor, rather gloomy, one would say and a slightly raised performance area would have improved the sight lines. Because of the nature of the music and the available light it was not appropriate to take photos during the performance. However, during the sound check and the brief rehearsal I managed to document some of the action.

The members of OCTAGON are:

Mark Fewer – Violin
Martin Beaver – Violin
James Campbell – clarinet
Joseph Phillips – Bass
Rivka Golani – Viola
Kenneth MacDonald – French Horn
Kathleen McLean – Bassoon
Rachel Mercer – Cello

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Here is a little YouTube video treat of a performance of two movements of the Beethoven Septet by The New Israel ensemble. It is not OCTAGON but we can’t have everything.

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“Nobody likes to be bullied, but………..”

Posted on 2015-03-27 by Rod Wilson

The First Concert in the Centre 64 Spring Series – The Love Bullies: Saturday March 21, 2015.

I didn’t really know what to expect. The Love Bullies – Shantal Vitals (guitar, vocals), Kevin Herring (Telecaster guitar), Joni Brent (Bass guitar, vocals), Caroline Connolly (lead vocals and flute) and Paul Jahn (drums) were completely unknown to me. When I interviewed them in the Green Room my first thought was “they have to be kidding”. The big hair, boots, and the polyester fashion statements from a bye gone era were enough to prompt that thought. Well, of course, to some extent they were kidding but once on stage their vintage pop music persona and musical chops were enough to make one sit up and take notice. On appearances alone I thought they were going to be a girl vocal trio doing frothy pop stuff and I suppose that’s what they did except there was a lot more musical muscle in their performance than I expected. Until they launched into the the old Peggy Lee standard Fever I didn’t realize what a musical treat we were in for. Caroline Connolly’s lead vocal was spot on, Joni Brent’s bass guitar was rock solid, and guitar duo of Shantal Vitalis (well brought up ladies are not supposed to be able to play like that) and Kevin Herring were a solid team. Tucked away in the back Paul Jahn on drums played a superb supporting role for all the action up front. They were not too far into their first set before they had the audience up dancing. The night was a mix of vintage popular music from an era that slightly predates what we know as Classic Rock. Classic covers of the era included These Boots Were Made for Walking (Nancy Sinatra), Shakin’ All Over (the original Canadian cover was by The Guess Who), Stupid Cupid (the Connie Francis hit of 1958), Mr. Perfect, I Love You Baby (covered by just about everybody way back when), Cadillac, UFO, plus a number of original songs that included Bomp, Tunnel, Friday Girl, Twang and Sayonara. None of this music was, or is, of great social significance and it is not meant to be. It doesn’t change the world but who cares. It just turns out to be great fun. Once again the Centre 64 team has turned up another winner. The down stairs Cabaret venue was sold out (and then some) and the setup was perfect for the audience and the dancers. The next concert in the series on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 will feature Guy Davis and take my word for it he is the real deal and should not be missed. In the meantime here are some images from a fun filled night ……. just ask the dancers.

St. Patrick’s Day “in” The Oak Republic

Posted on 2015-03-25 by Rod Wilson

The Oak Republic at the Heid Out, Tuesday March 17, 2015 (St. Patrick’s Day) 6:30 to when ever.

St. Patrick is reputed to have converted pagan Ireland to Christianity. If he did that then it is kind of ironic that the life of this Christian Saint is celebrated with a day of bachanalian frivolity. St. Pat never made it to The Oak Republic but given half a chance he would have been right at home. Where is the Oak Republic? Well it isn’t actually a place, maybe it’s more a state of mind that exists in the imagination of a musical collective known as The Oak Republic. OAK REPUBLIC?? Where did that name come from? As it turns out the band’s Bouzouki player Shawn Robertson is a big admirer of the great Canadian guitarist Don Ross. Don is famous for his aggressive finger style playing that has been labelled “Heavy Wood”. Considering the nature of the band’s music “Heavy Wood” would seem an appropriate name for the band but, in deference to Don, the band moved on looking for another name. “What’s a significant heavy wood. Let’s see; say what about Oak? Now that’s a step in the right direction. What’s a name for a collection of citizens? How about a Republic? By George Jay, you’ve got it. The OAK REPUBLIC is what we are.” Under that name Jay Toner (guitar, vocals), Allyson Blake (fiddle and vocals), Shawn Robertson (guitars, mandolin, vocals and Irish Bouzouki), Murph Martin (electric 5-string bass) and John Seiga perform music of both the old and new worlds. It is a folk/rock based ensemble with a touch of “the olde Irish” in the mix. In honor of the day’s celebration the band kicked off the evening with The Wild Rover, Whiskey in the Jar, and the Pogues re-invention of Ewan McColl’s classic Dirty Old Town. And that was just the beginning. It was a night of frivolity, fun and some great old tunes. Here are some images from the night.

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Vested Interest – Polishing Diamonds at BJ’s

Posted on 2015-03-04 by Rod Wilson

Here is a happy band of musicians – Brian Noer (lead guitar, bass & vocals), Dave Prinn (guitars, bass & vocals) Bill Renwick (guitar, vocals and harmonica) and why shouldn’t they be when they get to play the music they love (classic rock and folk/rock). As a group (Vested Interest) they have been working away at their choice of material for maybe a year. Each performer has made his own mark as a solo performer or in many musical configurations around the area. Their music is really coming together as they polish the “diamonds” of the classic rock and folk/rock eras.

Saturday February 28, 2015, 8pm: VESTED INTEREST at BJ’s Creekside Pub – great food and great music.

Generally I am not a fan of pop/rock music but there are certain gems of the classic era that I enjoy. Maybe it’s because that was the music of my youth. My tastes in music may have evolved since then but the music of The Beatles, Crosby Stills and Nash, Neil Young, The Eagles, Bob Seeger and other bands and performers of that era that have an undeniable appeal. Maybe its the vocal harmonies or maybe I think the songs are just better. To come to think of it the only song in recent memory to make it into the “standard classic rock” repertoire is Wagon Wheels.So Vested Interest has been working away at the vocal harmonies, tasty lead guitar breaks, some 12 String guitar guitar riffs, “blues Harp” and clean guitar picking that I am sure will continue to win them a growing audience. Some of the material covered included I’m a Believer (The Beatles), Copperhead Road (Steve Earle), Dead or Alive, Everybody’s Talkin’ About Me (from the Movie Midnight Cowboy), Truckin’ (The Grateful Dead), Hollywood Nights (Bob Seeger and the Silver Bullet Band), Turn, Turn, Turn (with some marvelous 12 String guitar from Dave Prinn a la Pete Seeger), Yankee Lady (Jessie Winchester), City in the Grass (a Dave Prinn Original), Free Falling (Tom Petty), Helplessly Hoping (Crosby Stills and Nash), Heart of Gold (Bill Renwick out does Neil Young on this song), I’m Gone Gone Gone (I think this is a Bill Renwick original), The Weight, It Ain’t Easy, Can’t You See, and many more. It was a great night of “acoustic music” (no screaming guitar work or over the top drums) played by a trio who enjoy performing for an audience who obviously appreciates the music. Here are some images from the evening —–

oh! I forgot to mention “Brian sure looks handsome with his new haircut”

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Canadien eh! – Le Vent du Nord

Posted on 2015-02-13 by Rod Wilson

THE PRELUDE: THE DEAN SMITH TRIO IN THE FOYER OF THE THEATRE

I can’t think of a better way to start a musical evening than to hear a Duke Ellington tune drifting out through the main doors of the Key City Theatre. This musical prelude to the evening was provided by Dean Smith on piano, Ben Smith on bass and the very youthful (grade 9) Micah on drums – The Dean Smith Trio.

THEME AND VARIATIONS: THE MUSIC OF QUEBEC

As presented by Le Vent du Nord – Nicholas Boulerice (piano, accordion, hurdy gurdy & vocals); Olivier Demers (fiddle, Quebecois foot percussion, guitar, vocals); Simon Baudry (Irish bouzouki, guitar & vocals); Bejean Brunet (accordions, jew’s harp, fret-less bass guitar & vocals). From the first number the band ripped into music that literally rocked the room. The foot stamping Quebecois foot percussion delivered the unmistakable sound that could only be French Canadian. For the average non-francophone this music probably came as a surprise. It is so lively and vibrant and so unlike any other north American pop/rock/roots music that it is truly unique. As Canadians we tend to look south for our musical inspiration from the world of rock/pop, Bluegrass, jazz, Cajun, folk and what ever. We forget that within Canada there are enough unique vibrant regional musical styles to inspire any generation of musicians. We seemed to be too hung up on being second-rate Americans to notice. Well Le Vent du Nord certainly served notice with their entertaining evening of great instrumentals, songs, vocal harmonies, humor and unique collection of instruments. Fiddles we know; accordions we know (perhaps not the variety played this evening); bass guitar we know; piano we know; guitar we know; the Irish Bouzouki we sort of know from the band Great Big Sea and the many Celtic bands that have played in the area; Jews Harp, although an ancient instrument is probably new to us; If you have ever listened to Quebecois music in the past the foot percussion, that is pretty distinctive, would be instantly recognizable; Now, the Hurdy Gurdy is probably from way out in left field. When was the last time (or the first time) you actually heard a Hurdy Gurdy.The name, for me, conjures up images of the Swedish Chef on the old Muppets TV shows chattering away in that fake Swedish accent “dis here is de huuurdy guuurdy”). Nicolas teased the audience about the instrument before he risked arrest and incarceration for “indecently exposing his Hurdy Gurdy”. He removed the cover to reveal the crank operated rotating wheel that rested against the drone strings that ran along both sides of the instrument. He then next flipped open the cover to reveal the inner workings of the instrument. The main melodies are played on what appear to be violin strings that react to levers to produced the individual melody notes. The player rotates the crank with his right hand, the wheel rubs against the strings to produce the required drone and melody notes while the left hand manipulates the levels that change the pitch of the melody notes. It is easy to see why the instrument has been called a wheel-violin. The Swedes have a very similar instrument called a Nykelharpa that is played with a bow rather than by cranking a wheel. Some much for the esoteric part of the show. Here are some more images from a very memorable night of unique Canadian (or is it Canadien?) music. (click on the images for a larger view)

So ends a spectacular night of “REEL” music.

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Here is a special treat – a YouTube clip of the band

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A Night at the Movies – SOTK in rehearsal

Posted on 2015-02-11 by Rod Wilson

It was by pure coincidence that over the Christmas break the family sat through the entire eight Harry Potter movies. Not exactly kid stuff to my mind, particularly late in the series where the content becomes some what dark. But good does triumph over evil and that was probably the whole point. Through out the movies I was not completely oblivious to the music. It was there and it enhanced the movie without becoming a distraction. That, in itself, is an indication of the quality of the music score. However, at the Symphony of the Kootenays rehearsal on Saturday the true scope and magnificence of the movie scores positively leapt out at the audience. It was big music and it required a big orchestra. The program listed nearly 50 musicians that included the string orchestra, 6 percussionists and a big horn section. To hear the music unimpeded with visual distraction was to become aware of the magnificent orchestrations and its modern musical language. I don’t mean modern in a rock/pop sense. I mean it in an academic scholarly sense. That may sound kind of dry and dull with a possibly teeth on edge sensibility. The music of John Williams is none of that. It is startling and entrancing at the same time with lots of melody and dramatic effects. Here is the program from the concert and some images from the rehearsal.

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60 Hertz – The Trio

Posted on 2015-02-06 by Rod Wilson

60 HERTZ – THE TRIO at BJs Creekside Pub, Saturday January 24, 2015, 8pm

These three musicians, Rob Young (lead guitar, backup vocals), James Neve (singer / songwriter, 6 and 12 string guitars) and Dave Birch (backup vocals and bass guitar) have been playing music together for more years than our adult children have had birthdays. From time to time they have been joined by fine drummers (Gerry Bird, John Seiga or Marty Musser) to perform as your standard folk/rock band. The format may be standard but the music is more than a notch above the run of a mill folk/rock band. The most recent drummer, Marty Musser, who was an exceptionally fine fit for the band, has moved onto other “Pastures of Plenty” and 60 Hertz is back to performing as a trio. Not to worry! On Saturday night at Bj’s Creekside Pub they delivered James Neve’s signature songs with the same tight ensemble performances with Rob Young’s very tasteful guitar leads, Dave Birch’s dancing bass lines and James Neve’s vocals. As always their music on this evening was a cut above almost any other live band you are likely to encounter in the area. Here are some images from another exceptional night of music at BJs Creek side pub.

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Kitchen Party at the Heid Out – “The lads are back”

Posted on 2014-12-24 by Rod Wilson

The Kitchen Party at the Heidout, hosted by Angus MacDonald and Angus Liedtke, Sunday December 21, 2014, 5pm.

Angus MacDonald (fiddle) and Angus Liedtke (vocals, guitar, harmonica) are two young Cranbrook musicians who, in the fall, headed down east to Holland College in Prince Edward island. Their quest was for more education and work related skills for a career in music and business. Naturally at Christmas they wanted to be back here it town to celebrate the season amongst friends and family. Part of the planned celebrations was a KITCHEN PARTY at the Heidout in Cranbrook. That was just an excuse to gather together their musical friends and have some fun. The night was kicked off by LEATHER BRITCHES (Angus MacDonald – fiddle; Will Nicholson – guitar and Rod Wilson – Irish Bouzouki) reprising some of their standard repertoire that included The Dr Shaw Set, and The Graduation Set. Angus Liedtke had spent the last four months polishing his song writing skills and judging from his first set it has been time well spent . What a Sorrow – a song about an old couple who lived in the woods and one day the wife dies and the old man has to bury her and deal with his grief; Pack of Cigarettes – a friend’s experience with heartbreak; You gave it your Best – a song about Louis Riel that started out as a song writing challenge by a friend. From there on the music just flowed from Steven Knowles (guitar and vocals), Blake Nowicki (electric guitar and vocals) and Justice Jones (guitar and vocals).

Angus Mac and Angus L were not the only lads back in town. Young country musician Connor Foote has been away for a while and he was back in town to hook up with his his musical compadre Clayton Parsons. They played a bracket of tunes from the good ol’ days in their band Gold Creek. Clayton had recently turned his hand to building guitars and now has also started playing the dobro (such a sweet sound).

After the young lads it was time for the “old” guys to add some of their solo performances to the evening. Tom Bungay, (guitar and vocals) pulled some songs from his immense standard repertoire; Mark Casey (guitar and vocals) obliged with some songs that included a special request for a Kinks song. Rod Wilson (cittern and vocals) obliges with some new tunes fresh from the press (so to speak) that included the Malachi Set (Malachi / Bondi Junction / The Heid Out), some older tunes (The Train Set – Come by Chance / The Train Stops Here / Sad Arrival on the Orient Express) and for good measure and old Irish ballad The Nightingale.

The two hosts returned to the stage to round out the evening. Angus Liedtke cruised though one song, Dressed in Red, in an imaginative Mexican scenario with his girlfriend before finishing up his set with with Hearts of Fire and This Old Bed (an ode to high school days in Cranbrook). Angus MacDonald set the place on fire with a bracket of extended tunes that he has gleaned from the traditional music sessions in PEI. The first set included Gordon Duncan’s Tune / Christy Crowley’s / Superfly; the second set Marie Hughes Jig (from Tim Chaisson) / Dan Collins Farther’s Jig / Don MacKinnon’s Reel / and a reel from Brenda Stubbert. The not too gentle rhythmic stamp of feet that accompanied this bracket of tunes was a real joy to hear.

Here are the money shots from the evening – Angus MacDonald and Mark Casey.

Before he leaves town Angus MacDonald will be back with more down east fiddle music with Leather Britches at the Heid Out on January 9, 2015 6:30 pm.

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ONCE MORE WITH FEELING

As promised Leather Britches returned to the Heid Out on January 9, 2015, 6:30 – 9:30 pm for some more down- east fiddle music prior to Angus MacDonald’s return to PEI for the spring semester at Holland College. Here a couple of images of William Nicholson and Angus from the evening:

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Vested Interests in The Heid Out

Posted on 2014-09-20 by Rod Wilson

No, this is not a financial report. Vested Interests is the folk/rock (or something like that) group who performs regularly at The Heid Out in Cranbrook. I suppose, true to their name, they do have a vested interest in the place. The better they perform the more likely patrons will be happy and the band will continue to be invited back. The original Vested Interests was Dave Prinn on vocals and guitars, and Bill Renwick, also on vocals and guitars. Brian Noer has joined to group to fill out the vocal harmonies and add some tasty licks on lead guitar.

Vested Interests at the Heid Out in Cranbrook, September 12, 2014, live music until 11pm.

What can I say that I haven’t said before. I arrived late after taking in the Daniel Champagne show at the Studio / Stage Door but I was amply rewarded with some great sounds as the group played right through to 11pm. Always keep the Heid Out in mind for great food, great beer and great music. This coming Friday (September 26, 2014 6:30pm) will feature OUT OF MIND – THE MUSIC OF JAMES NEVE with Lonesome Jim on vocals, guitars and effects and percussionist Juan Havana…… Be there. Here are some images from the Heid Out’s Friday show.

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Continuing the Tradition

Posted on 2014-09-13 by Rod Wilson

Daniel Champagne at the Studio/Stage Door, September 12, 2014 8pm.

There is a whole cadre of musicians who are out of the musical mainstream and under the radar. There are performers who are a cut above the run of the mill. We have been very fortunate over the years in having local impresarios like Gord and Jill Johnston and Terry Miller who have extended themselves to present these unsung heroes of the music scene. The list of legends who have performed in the area include Martin Simpson, Kelly Joe Phelps, Andy Irvine, Garnet Rodgers, Steven Fearing and many, many others. Gord and Jill have moved on to other fields of endeavor and Michael and Corianna Robinson have stepped up to the plate to keep the tradition going. Some months back they brought in Old Man Leudecke and this past Friday they presented Daniel Champagne. Daniel is a young Australian guitarist and vocalist who is not (yet) a household name. The best way to describe his music is that it is a cross between Tommy Emmanuel (another Australian who is a household name), and Michael Hedges with a dash of Van Halen thrown into the mix. He is a dramatic performer who uses the open tunings and the percussive possibilities of his guitar. It goes without saying that his guitar has taken a lot of beatings in its short life (check the duct tape that seems to be holding it together). He has an endorsement agreement with Australian Cole Clark Guitars and maybe it is just as well. I can’t see his instrument lasting more than a couple of years. Despite his aggressive playing style and on stage athleticism he has a finely developed sense of dynamics that can take his playing from whisper soft to outrageous shouting. The shouter of the evening was Willie Dixon’s blues classic Spoonful. It was an extended performance that could easily match the many other cover versions that are out there. Apart from a number of original tunes, The Pendulum, I Grew Up Where I Could See the Stars, Wrecking Ball, Gypsy Moon, Renegade’s Rule there were a couple of covers tunes as well. They included Don MacLean’s Vincent. This was a masterpiece of deconstruction in which he took the melody apart and put it back together with wonderful instrumental shadings. For the guitarists in the audience here is a hint …. he plays the piece in the key of G using Dropped D / Dropped G tuning (the bottom E string is tuned down to D, and the bottom A is tuned down G ie DGDGBE). Daniel credits Chet Atkins with this arrangement

This was an especially fine concert and the second in this new series. For the purpose of this blog I have decided to “brand” the series by calling it the IN THE TRADITION CONCERT SERIES. The next concert will be the magnificent Freddie Eaglesmith at the Studio / Stage Door October 14, 2014 followed by Bow Thayer on November 7, 2014. CONTACT Mike for tickets at music@lotic.co.

Special Thanks to Mike and Corrina Robinson, Ben Blomander (on sound) and the other volunteers lurking in the background.

Here is special treat from Youtube

Rod Wilson's Blog

Tag Archives: live music

Octagon at the Royal Alexandra Hall

“Nobody likes to be bullied, but………..”

St. Patrick’s Day “in” The Oak Republic

Vested Interest – Polishing Diamonds at BJ’s

oh! I forgot to mention “Brian sure looks handsome with his new haircut”

Canadien eh! – Le Vent du Nord

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A Night at the Movies – SOTK in rehearsal

60 Hertz – The Trio

Kitchen Party at the Heid Out – “The lads are back”

Vested Interests in The Heid Out

Continuing the Tradition

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