Top 10 Shows of 2013

2013 was quite a busy year, but an awesome one as well. I saw lots of shows and had a lot of fun. However, it wasn't exactly an easy year. There were many big changes that I needed to adjust to, such as a new job, the death of a friend and the birth of my nephew. Despite this, I made it my mission to take advantage of life, and do what makes me happy.

Thus, just like every other blog, I've compiled a list of my most memorable shows of the year. Here are my top 10 shows of 2013:

10) Nine Inch Nails @ Bell Centre
This show makes my top 10 because I didn't think I would ever have the opportunity to see NIN again. The tour was in support of the group's latest album "Hesitation Marks". The album is really good, although some die-hard NIN fans are not too thrilled about it. The show included a lot of new material, which many fans did not like. However, the show was impressive both visually and sonically. Although I really enjoyed the show, it was nowhere near as good as the first time I saw NIN play in Ottawa in support of "Year Zero" (at least I think it was around that time).

9) Plants and Animals @ Ritual
Although I had seen the group a few times, I was particularly excited about this show, which was in support of their third album "The End of That". In addition, I had only seen the band play outdoor venues so this was quite different. The show was great and the venue was packed. There was really great energy in the room. I also really enjoyed the setlist, which features a great mix of new and older material. To top it all off, I had the opportunity to interview drummer Matthew Woodley before the show for Couch Assassin. This was a great opportunity for me, so I was over the moon! In case you missed it, check out my interview here.

8) Ben Caplan @ Mavericks
If you haven't heard of Ben Caplan yet, then you are missing out! I had heard great things about this musician from Halifax, and unfortunately I wasn't able to make it to his show at Raw Sugar Cafe last year. So when he came back to Ottawa to play Mavericks in February, I didn't want to miss my opportunity. Caplan isn't just a great songwriter, he is an all-out entertainer! His voice is out of this world (and so is his beard)! Caplan is also quite charming and loves to interact with the audience. Take my word for it: You will never forget a Ben Caplan show!

7) Heathers @ Cafe Dekcuf
I decided to go check out Heathers' live show because of the poster. Yep. I saw the poster, and thought to myself: I'd probably like that. And did I ever! Their music is catchy... I was hooked after the first song! These Irish twins are impressive musicians, singers and lyricists. Not only are they beautiful and talented, they are so nice! Next time they play a show near you, don't miss them!

6) Rush @ Ottawa Bluesfest
The show at this year's Bluesfest that I was most exciting about seeing was Rush. And they did not disappoint! The sound, the lights, the visuals... Everything was big and over the top! They did play mostly material from their latest record "Clockwork Angels". I wasn't familiar with the group's new material but it was a great introduction. To me, Rush is the ultimate musical representation of Canadiana, so seeing them live was great! Also, I've loved them ever since I started watching Trailer Park Boys (haha). The only con to the overall experience was the really, REALLY drunk middle-aged men in attendance that were loud, rowdy and annoying.

5) Feist @ Arts & Craft Field Trip
My summer began on a high note with the Arts & Craft Field Trip concert in Toronto. Although there were tons of artists/groups that I was excited to check out, the one that stood out the most for me was Feist. I've been a fan of hers for years, but I had never seen her perform live solo. I did see her perform with Broken Social Scene a long, long time ago but that didn't really count for me. There were thousands of people in attendance, and I could barely see the stage. Still, Feist took over the stage and put on quite a show! The energy was fantastic, and the setlist was great, including a good mix of songs from all of her albums (all of which are superb). I really enjoyed how every song was altered and sounded completely different than the original. Although there were so many people around, I felt like I was in my own little world and that Feist was performing just for me. Unforgettable!

4) Avett Brothers @ Ottawa Folkest
There was a few artists that I wanted to check out at Folkfest, although the lineup wasn't stellar, in my opinion. A friend of mine asked me to check out the Avett Brothers. I had never heard of the group but I rarely decline an invitation to go check out a band, especially one that I don't know. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised! First, I assumed that the Avett Brothers were a rock group from the '60s or '70s. That couldn't be farther from the truth. These young, bearded Southern rockers blend many musical genres, including country, bluegrass, folk and rock. I have never in my life seen a live show with so much energy. It was surreal! You could tell that everyone in attendance was having a blast. The only downside to an amazing like show like this: listening to the Avett Brothers on CD is not nearly as good. I can safely say that I am now a fan of the Avett Brothers.

3) Megadeth @ Heavy MTL
In August, I went to the Heavy MTL festival for the very first time. I was quite excited to check out all of the bands that were on the bill. The biggest surprise of the festival was the band that I had been avoiding for years: Megadeth. My partner has been listening to Megadeth since we've started dating, and since then, I've flat out refused to give them a chance... mostly because I'm not a fan of frontman Dave Mustaine. While at Heavy MTL, I decided to finally shut up and give them a chance. Wow! I never expected to actually enjoy their show... but I did! The energy at this show was insane, and seeing all the hardcore fans of all ages sing all of the words to all of the songs was really touching. I never in a million years imagined that I would enjoy this show. Since then, I can now say that I like listening to Megadeth and would love to see them live again.

2) Alt-J @ Osheaga
This past summer, I headed to Montreal to catch the first day of Osheaga. There were many shows that I was excited to check out, but none more than Alt-J. I had been obsessing over their album "An Awesome Wave" for months, and I couldn't wait to see them live. They did not disappoint! Although they only played for 45 minutes, the show was great. The band sounded great, and had lots of energy on stage. I was standing really close to the front of the stage, which was fun being in the mist of the crowd. The highlight of the show was definitely when they played "Blood Flood", my favourite song of the album.

1) Woodkid @ Metropolis
Hands down, the best show I went to in 2013. Seriously. It's hard to describe the experience of that show... On July 1st, the Metropolis was sold out. Woodkid played a show as part of the Montreal Jazz Festival. I've seen many shows at this venue, including metal shows, and no show ever came close to the intensity of this show. The Metropolis was literally shaking. At times, I was legitimately scared that the venue would collapse. The crowd was so intense... which is a bit odd, considering the type of majestic, epic sound of Woodkid. However, that evening was just that... epic! His album "The Golden Age" had officially been released earlier that year, and it is absolutely sublime. Yoann Lemoine was joined on stage by various musicians, including a brass ensemble and two drummers. In the background, a giant screen showed videos and images during the performance. This added an amazing visual element to the performance, and definitely made it more grandiose. There was lots of talk surrounding this show, and with good reason. You gotta experience it to believe it! Woodkid's performance exceeded all of my expectations and that show is definitely my top show of the year.

 

Bluesfest: Day 11

Sunday, the last day of Bluesfest. Finally! As much as I enjoyed seeing the many live shows, I was ready to get back to my real life and rest up.

After my very last volunteer shift, I headed to the River Stage to catch Monkey Junk. The Ottawa group won a Juno last year for Blues Album of the Year and have been getting lots of praise in the Canadian music scene.

Afterwards, we walked back to the Claridge Stage where J.W. Jones was playing. We only stayed for 3 or 4 songs before we headed back to the main stage for a prime spot for the next show: Alice in Chains.

Now, I wouldn't call myself a fan of Alice in Chains. The only reason I went to check out the show was because of my partner, who is a big fan. I did know some of their material but I hadn't given the band much of a chance. Well, that definitely changed after seeing them live. Wow!

The group put on a great show with lots of energy. They played a lot of older material, especially from their second album "Dirt". They also played songs from their latest album "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here", released back in May.

Then I hurried back to the Claridge stage for the lovely Serena Ryder. As you know, I am a huge fan of her latest album "Harmony". I was really bummed to have missed her show last Winter at Mavericks so this was time for redemption.

Ryder was in a great mood and seemed genuinely excited to be playing. She interacted a lot with the crowd, and shared many of her experiences with the audience, including her battle of depression. I really appreciate when artists allow themselves to be vulnerable and share some of their struggles with the world, especially mental health issues.

Her setlist including many songs off "Harmony", including "Fall", "For You", "Heavy Love", "Baby Come Back", "Mary Go Round" and "What I Wouldn't Do", my favourite song of the album. She finished her set with "Stompa", which the crowd really enjoyed.

Afterwards, Yukon Blonde was playing at the main stage. I had seen these guys at last year's Folkfest and they are really good. I checked out a few songs, before venturing to the River Stage to catch Los Lonely Boys. They started their set with a wicked cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Child". Unfortunately, we decided not to stay there long, and headed towards the Claridge Stage in an attempt to see B.B. King.

The keyword here is attempt. We attempted to get to the Claridge Stage. However, no one could get to the Claridge Stage because there were so many people squeezed into a significantly small space. First, not putting a legendary blues artist on  the main stage was a huge mistake. All of the entrances and exits were blocked, and people were not moving. A huge safety hazard!

I was starting to feel claustrophobic so we (eventually) left and stood behind the gates. We stayed for one or two songs but then we just left. The show was already ruined in our minds so there was no need to stick around. 

***

Overall, I think that this year's Bluesfest ended on more of a sour note. As a event planner, I absolutely hate when important logistical details are overlooked. I hate it even more when they are not addressed afterwards. However, this year's festival had some great shows but a lot of technical issues (especially sound issues), which really unfortunately for one of North America's best music festival.

Bluesfest: Day 10

The last week-end of Bluesfest! I thought it would never come... Believe me when I say that working full-time, going to shows and blogging about it (all while battling a cold) is exhausting.

Saturday, I completed a volunteer shift then hurried over to the main stage to catch Half Moon Run. I had heard great things about the group, but never had the opportunity to listen to their material. I also knew of them because they supported Metric on their tour last year. Man, was I ever blown away! These guys are beyond energetic and sounded fantastic. The crowd absolutely loved them and with good reason. I can't wait to catch these guys in action again.

Then it was time for Imaginary Cities on the Claridge Stage. I had heard of the group before, and I was expecting some electronic music. The sound was not quite what I was expecting but the group was good. It was more indie pop than electro. The group, from Winnipeg, is just starting out but is doing very well. I expect we'll be hearing more about this band in no time.

Seeing as I was flying solo at the time, I decided to venture to other stages to see what was happening. I was lucky to stop by the River Stage and see the Dardanelles. These musicians are from Newfoundland and their music has a very traditional East Coast sound. I love it! It reminds me of home. The crowd gathered at the stage was having a blast and dancing in the sun.

One of my most anticipated shows of the festival was Austra. I saw the group perform at last year's Osheaga (and later ran into lead singer Katie Stelmanis on St. Catherine Street) and I absolutely love their music. I am a huge fan of their first album "Feel It Break" and their second album "Olympia" is getting a lot of buzz since its release in June.

The group played a mix of new and old songs, including "Lose it", "The Choke", "The Beat and the Pulse", "Forgive Me", "Home" and "Painful Like". The crowd was having a blast!

Check out Austra's latest video for the song "Painful Like".

Then Death Grips took over the main stage, and it was like being hit by a train. A loud, aggressive train. The group is comprised of one DJ and one MC. Both look scary and terrifying. At some point, I was frightened. A friend of mine described the sound as "Dubstep Death Metal", which I think is very fitting for what it was. I didn't dislike the music. I found the concept interesting. However, it was way too loud, and the group was not a good fit for the festival (in my opinion).

Then, it was back at the Claridge Stage for Stars, who I had missed at the Arts & Craft Field Trip. I wouldn't consider myself a huge fan of the group, but I do enjoy their music. Their performance was fantastic and I think I may have become a bigger fan after their set. Seriously, these guys put everything into their live shows. You can't help but love them!

Ra Ra Riot is another band that I missed at Field Trip so I definitely wanted to catch part of their set at Bluesfest. Before I headed home, I stopped by the River Stage where they were playing. Their sound totally surprised me. I was thinking it would be a much sound but it was . Also, I was not expecting a violin and a cello on stage.

The headliner of the evening was Bjork. Honestly, I never really listened to her music so I had no intention of seeing the show. I did stop by the main stage for 2-3 songs. Bjork sounded absolutely amazing! Based on what I heard, she put on a great performance and her set was one of the festival highlights this year.

Bluesfest: Day 9

Friday night was a beautiful day. The weather was perfect for an evening at Bluesfest. First thing we did when we arrived to Lebreton Flats was head over to the River stage to catch Loon Choir. The Ottawa group has been making waves in the city, especially within the last year. I've seen them perform a handful of times, and they are great. I was lucky enough to interview the band for a piece I wrote for Couch Assassin last Winter.

Me, G & our lovely nieces at the River Stage

My main reason for attending Bluesfest that night was to check out Matthew Good. Those who follow my blog know how much I love Matt Good. I've seen him live probably close to 8 times (so far...), and his music has played a huge role in my life. One of his live shows even inspired me to get a huge tattoo last summer.

His setlist was almost exactly the same as his performance at Bluesfest in 2010 but I didn't care. One song I did not expect to hear was "Non Populous" from his last album "Lights of Endangered Species". Such a beautiful song, and it lasts over 8 minutes. He also played two new songs that he released  on his website last May. His new album "Arrows of Desire" will be released on September 24th. I can't wait! You can check out my French review of the show here.

After Matt Good, my partner and I met up with a friend of mine and her two adorable kids. We walked around Bluesfest, and made our way to the River Stage, where the little one danced to the music of TJ Wheeler and Friends. Adorable!  

Great Big Sea was the big headliner of the evening. However, I wasn't interested in seeing them play so we went to the Barney Danson Theatre to check out Trampled Under Foot. I'm so happy we did.

These three siblings are from Kansas City, and play straight up blues and rock music. They are phenomenal! Seriously... The sister, who plays bass and guitar, has an amazing voice and great stage presence. The two brothers (one plays guitar, the other the drums) are also talented as well. I really love the idea of sibblings playing music together. Also, their band name is based on a Led Zeppelin song. How badass is that! Check them out below.

Bluesfest: Day 8

On Thursday, I was officially on assignment for Sors-tu and I had a lot of bands to cover at Bluesfest.

When we arrived on site, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion was rocking out on the main stage. Although the band has the word "blues" in its name, it sounded more hard rock to me. The group was somewhat entertaining, and it seems like frontman Jon Spencer had a bit of A.D.D. I applaud his dedication to this music, but after a while, it just became a bit too much. Also, screaming the word "blues" in the mic does not make your music more blues!

Then we headed to the Claridge Stage to check out LP. I discovered this singer/songwriter at last year's Folkfest and I absolutely love her! A tiny Bob Dylan lookalike, she came out on stage, rocking the ukulele. Not only is she super adorable, her voice is out of this world! Definitely worth checking out. The crowd was showing her lots of love. A fan even gave her a painting and a bouquet of flowers.

LP was playing for four other musicians, and she said this was their first time playing together as a band, which was quite surprising. These guys have such a great synergy and they seem to really enjoy playing together. She played some of her older material as well as some new songs. If you ever get the chance,

Finally, it was time for the Tragically Hip, whom I had never seen live before. I wasn't sure what to expect but these guys were on fire. There was so much energy coming from the stage! Gordon Downie was a madman. His stage presence is so weird and corky... I honestly thought he was intoxicated. Nope... Turns out that's just his thing. It was really entertaining!

The group played hits like "Poets", "Bobcageon", "Ahead by a Century" and "Courage". The crowd was energetic and happy, and the weather was perfect.

Before we left, we stopped by the River Stage to see Kenny Wayne Shepherd, an up and coming blues guitarist. I had never heard of him but my partner had. This guy is amazing! There's a lot of hype around this guy, and for good reason. Apparently, this guy has played on stage with Stevie Ray Vaughan and people have said he's the next B.B. King or Eric Clapton. Pretty remarkable accolades.
He did perform a wicked cover of Jimi Hendrix "Voodoo Child".

See my French review of the shows here.

Bluesfest: Day 7

There was no programming on Day 6 of Bluesfest, which was a much-needed break for everyone. The next day, I returned to Lebreton Flats for my most anticipated day of Bluesfest.

First, I was able to catch a bit of Animal Collective on the main stage. I was really impressed! I really enjoyed the experimental/psychedelic sound of the group and the crowd was really into it! There was even a bunch of people dressed up in animal costumes. Love it!

** It was announced the next day that Animal Collective had cancelled the remaining of their July tour dates due to an illness. Therefore, Ottawa was pretty lucky to get to see the group!

Afterwards, it was time for Solange, who was playing to a nice crowd at the River Stage. The singer looked stunning in lovely red dress, giant hat and long braids. From the beginning, you could tell the sound was way off. Everyone could tell, especially Solange. Many times during her set, she apologized for the sound. A source told me that she told the audience that this was the worst sound guy she had ever worked with. She was apparently so fed up, she finished her set earlier than scheduled.

Passion Pit was playing at the River Stage, which I was excited about, seeing as that stage is my favourite. However, with the sound issues during Solange's performance, I was really hoping that the techs would have figured out the issue. Unfortunately, the sound wasn't much better for Passion Pit.

The show started off strong with "The Reeling". The group played songs from their latest album, including "I'll be Alright", "Carried Away", "Take a Walk", "Constant Conversations" and "It's Not My Fault, I'm Happy". 

This was my fourth time seeing Passion Pit, and I am a huge fan. However, this was my least favourite performance of them that I've seen (out of the four shows I've seen). Not that the group didn't give a good performance (because they did), but the sound and the crowd weren't great, and that counts for a lot. Also, their show at Osheaga last year was so fantastic, it's hard to beat.

I was hoping to catch a bit of A Tribe Called Red, but I was only able to catch one song. However, there was a big crowd gathered at the Blacksheep Stage to catch the hometown boys in action.

Overall, Wednesday was more of a disappointment for me, although I'm happy I discovered Animal Collective.

Bluesfest: Day 5

Bluesfest Day 5: Rush

One word: Epic.

Bluesfest: Day 4

Sunday was a big day for me at Bluesfest. At least it was supposed to be until I got sick.

I headed out to Bluefest early Sunday morning for my volunteer shift. I wasn't feeling well, but I assumed it would pass. After an hour, it became clear that I wasn't going to feel better anytime soon.

After my volunteer shift, I headed home and slept for about three hours. I woke up, ate some soup, then put on my rain boots, and headed back to Bluesfest. I probably should have stayed in bed but nothing was going to prevent me from seeing Tegan and Sara. Their latest album "Heartthrob" is fantastic and I've been listening to it obsessively for months.

The ladies started their set with "Drove me Wild" followed by "Goodbye, Goodbye", one of my favourite songs off the latest album.

They played many songs from "Heartthrob", including "How Come You Don't Want Me", "I Was a Fool", "Shock to Your System" and "I Couldn't Be Your Friend".  They also played some of their older material, including "Call It Off" and "Back in Your Head".

They finished their set with "I Feel it in My Bones" and "Closer".

The twin sisters are absolutely charming and they interacted with the audience a lot. They seemed happy to be playing at Bluesfest.

Overall, a great performance that was worth getting out of bed for.

Some of the acts I missed include Everlast, the Joy Formidable and Hannah Georgas. I was also looking forward to checking out Her Harbour and Dynamite Motel, who were both playing in the afternoon in the Barney Danson Theatre.

Bluesfest - Day 2 + Day 3

On Day 2 of Bluesfest, I did some volunteering and went home. There was nothing on the schedule that particularly interested me so I decided to catch up on some much-needed sleep.

On Day 3, after two volunteer shifts, I headed to the Claridge Stage to check out Fitz & the Tantrum. Usual scenario: I had heard of the band yet I had not previously heard their music. Despite not knowing what to expect, I was really looking forward to seeing the band. Verdict: I was really impressed! The group sounded fantastic. Frontman Michael Fitzpatrick and frontwoman Noelle Scaggs are electric on stage; they have great chemistry. Their music is a great blend of pop and soul.

Then, it was time to see Neko Case at the Bell Stage. This is one of the performances I was most looking forward to. However, it was a big disappointment. Case sounded great except the sound overall was terrible. You could hear way too much feedback, and it was really frustrating, especially since the American singer/songwriter has such a lovely voice. Despite this, I stayed for the whole performance.

After on the Claridge Stage, Belle & Sebastian took the stage. Although I wasn't quite sure what to expect, they delivered a good performance. It was definitely hard for them to follow Fitz & the Tantrum (especially in terms of stage presence and energy) but they still managed.

Having heard their soundcheck earlier that day, I knew I wanted to see the Dixie Chicks. Judge me all you want, but I went to see the Dixie Chicks and I LOVED their performance! They started their set with "Goodbye Earl". They played all the songs I really enjoy, including "Traveling Soldier", "Cowboy Take Me Away" and "Not Ready to Make Nice". They also performed their cover of "Landslide" from Fleetwood Mac. Overall, a fantastic performance and the ladies sounded fantastic!

Bluesfest: Day 1

On Thursday, I headed out to Lebreton Flats bright and early for Day 1 of RBC Ottawa Bluesfest.

First, I headed to the River Stage to check out Femi Kuti. I had heard of Femi Kuti but did not know much about him. Apparently, he is the oldest son of Fela Kuti, who was the pioneer of the afrobeat genre. The sound wasn't great at the River Stage but the group of musicians and the dancers were entertaining. I really enjoyed the style of music.

I slowly made my way to the Bell Stage to catch a bit of Jimmy Eat World. I'm not necessarily a fan of the band, but I do like some of their songs ("Drugs or Me" and "23" are both fantastic). I was quite surprised; the band looks and sounds exactly like they did 10-15 years ago! A good crowd had gathered at the stage and you could tell a lot of hardcore fans were back to their 12-year old selves that afternoon.

At 8pm sharp, I went back to the River Stage to check out the Cat Empire. I had heard lots about the group, and I couldn't wait to experience them for myself. All I can say is wow! Not sure what I was expecting, but I wasn't expecting them to blow me away like they did. The group was so energetic, and their sound was rock, ska, and funk all mixed together. A perfect fusion! People in the crowd were happy and dancing. It was perfect summer music.

Finally, the headliners of the evening, the Black Keys. I had attempted to see them at Bluesfest two years ago, and after waiting in the rain for over an hour, I decided to go home. This time, I thought I would check them out and see what all the fuss is about. I like some of their songs but I would not necessarily call myself a fan. As soon as the set began, I just knew this wasn't going to go well. The sound was atrocious... You seriously couldn't hear anything! I couldn't even tell what song they were playing (apparently it was "Howlin' for You"). Many people in the crowd were pissed off (myself included). After three songs, the sound didn't get better so I just left. What a waste!

In the mean time, Alex Clare was playing at the River Stage. I stopped by to check him out although I had never heard of him. Turns out I had heard his song "Too Close" before. Alex Clare has an amazing voice. He reminds me of David Gray. His performance was good, the people seemed happy. His blend of R&B was soothing and relaxing... And with the view at the River Stage, you can't go wrong.

On my way out, I dropped by Adventure Club at the Blacksheep Stage (former Electro Stage), who had create a giant sea of dancing people. The energy at this show was absolutely insane! I stayed for 1-2 songs then headed home but I was really impressed. The dubstep duo, based in Montreal, seemed to have taken the crowd on a high, and they appeared happy to stay there! I hope I get to check out these guys again in the future.

Overall, a strong first day at Bluesfest, with the Cat Empire definitely stealing the show!