Old Crow Medicine Show @ Olympic Hall. Halifax, NS May 31st. 2013
It was hot as hell in Halifax this weekend; the weather
wasn’t bad either. Live music held the hottest
tickets in town and I was one of the devilish denizens to partake. Allow me to share with you my harmonious
adventures.
Friday night, Old Crow Medicine Show rolled into Halifax
for the first time on their tour bus adorned with a makeshift clothes line in
the Olympic Hall’s parking. An American
string band based in Nashville, Tennessee, Old Crow are revered for their
old-time bluegrass slash folk slash alt country flavor. Most know them from the run-away adoration of
‘Wagon Wheel’ – there have been many a night in bars where that song became the
sing-along anthems for beer slugging partiers; every night in fact. But, OCMS are so much more than the vibe of
one beloved song.
In his review in the Chronicle Herald, entertainment
reporter Stephen Cooke said they ‘blow hot like a train whistle’. Boy, do they ever. Friday’s show, the Olympic Hall, decorated in
strung mason jars and low hanging chandeliers, was sold out to an adoring crowd
hell bent on whiskey and having a rip-snorting good time.
The seven piece band complete with banjo, dobro,
mandolin, fiddle, upright bass and harmonies that put you in the stories their
lyrics tell, had music lovers hooting and hollering, stomping and jigging. There wasn’t a bum that wasn’t wiggling, I
kid you not.
They played some of my favorite songs in their
discography including, ‘Humdinger’, ‘Carry Me Back’, ‘Alabama High Test’, ‘Mary’s
Kitchen’ and of course, they ended their infectious show with ‘Wagon Wheel’. It was their encore though that garnered the
most cheers and audience participation.
The boys returned to the stage and broke out into ‘Barrett’s Privateers’,
a hometown staple, a song we’ve heard thousands of times but never as affecting
and as awe-inspiring as their rendition.
They floored the already electrified crowd and for those few minutes we
Maritimers were melded together in musical solidarity. The heat may have been sweltering but the
music was hotter. Just ask anyone who
was there, they’ll back me up.
I didn’t see a lot of the opening act, Shakey
Graves. He, Alejandro Rose Garcia,
entertained the sold out hall, warming us up for the main attraction with bluesy
honky tonk delights. Just one guy, with
an acoustic guitar and a kick drum and what I’m guessing are a lot of really
great songs. I wish I had seen more.
I had a blast getting sweaty, drinking beer, singing and
dancing with my friends. If you missed
it, you missed out on something really special.
A little bit of bluegrassy fun is good for the soul.
The Stanfields, Casino NS. Halifax, NS. June 1st, 2013
If you think my Friday night was a time, you should have
been at Casino NS with me for what may just be my favorite show of the year thus
far. The Stanfields are fast becoming,
in my opinion, one of the best bands to ever
emerge from the East Coast of Canada, right up there with Matt Mays. I’ve seen them play a handful of times and
each time I do they just get better and better and faster and more
fantastic.
The band from ‘up the hill’ sauntered casually on stage, strapped on their
instruments and broke into a thunderous set of raucous rock ‘n’ roll fused
brilliantly and meticulously with a traditional sound that they play
effortlessly. The Stanfields have an
uncanny ability to open their audience up to an experience, to let loose, to
get lost in the sounds and the energy that passes back and forth between the
stage and the floor. Their shows are
interactive and if not for the ear splitting decibel of their rocking I have my
suspicion their hardcore fans would righteously out-sing them.
One of the things I love most about any live show is the
sing-a-long aspect. I love when a room
full of people so in love with a piece of music and the artist(s) who make them
band together and just wail. It gives me
goose bumps because it always reminds me that in music there is much power; healing
power, uniting power, confident power, and religious power. So many shows feel to me what I imagine it
must be like for some to attend church and cull their peace and praise from and
for God. Music is about feeling,
movement of the spirit and contentment of the soul, and is just as easily
derived from a piece of music performed by someone who radiates belief in their
art as it is to attend mass.
The sing-a-long of the night award goes to ‘Crocodile
Tears’ (which I am still humming from my work desk this foggy Monday
morning). The entire Schooner room full
of Stanfield fans joined voices and swayed with their beers raised and their
eyes closed belting out the heartbreaking break-up song with so much feeling I may
or may not have wept a tiny bit. That
power, you know?
I have a lot of respect for The Stanfields. They have worked so hard to achieve the
successes they are currently enjoying and the ones they still readily
deserve. They are true, humble artists
with a passion for music and the essence of rock in their guts. Their show Saturday night left me smiling,
with a happy heart and a ringing in my ears.
And, that I’m still humming this morning is a true reflection of the
stellar time that was had. I can’t wait
see them again and if they roll into your town, go. You won’t be disappointed. They really do rule. They will be world famous.
Opening for them were Town Heroes and Carleton Stone,
excellent bands both. It was my first
time seeing Town Heroes and my second time seeing Carleton Stone. I was quite impressed with the dimpled front
man and his band. I can’t recall my
first impression when I saw them open for The Stanfields last year but they definitely
caught my attention this time. I look
forward to hearing his/their new record.
In short, this weekend was amaze-balls. Music rules. I hope however you spent yours
it was just as inspiring and fulfilling as mine.
Happy Monday, folks.
In propinquity,
Nic
The Stanfields' view of the crowd. Halifax rules.
