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.

2013 Osheaga Lineup Announced

After weeks of anticipation and speculation, the 2013 Osheaga lineup was announced this evening. And people are excited!

The acts that I am most excited to see include:

10) The Lumineers
9) Tegan and Sara
8) Jimmy Eat World
7) Ben Howard
6) Vampire Weekend
5) Alt-J
4) Two Door Cinema Club
3) Phoenix
2) Ellie Goulding
1) Mumford & Sons

I'm most excited to see Mumford & Sons. I was considering traveling to Simcoe (Ontario) to see them play the Northfolk County Festival. However, this show will be closer and (possibly) more convenient for me. The only downside to seeing Mumford & Sons play Osheaga as opposed to the Northfolk County Festival is that Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros are not scheduled to play.

Although there are a few acts that I'm excited to see, I am not overly impressed with the lineup. I was expecting more bigger acts. Last year, I only attended the last day of the festival. This year, I was planning on attending all three days of the festival. However, I am thinking that I might not get the full festival pass, after all. I might just stick with last year's plan and attend the one day where the most bands I want to see are playing.

What are you excited to see at this year's Osheaga?

Review: Tegan and Sara "Heartthrob"

Last week-end, I was finally able to listen to Tegan and Sara's latest album "Heartthrob". Although it was released in late January, I didn't get a chance to give it a go 'til now.

I've been a casual fan of Tegan and Sara for a few years. However, when I heard the new album's first single, I knew they were onto something with the direction of "Heartthrob". The song entitled "Closer" has been doing very well on the charts and I suspect the duo has gained many new fans due to its success.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

The themes of this album are quite obvious:  love, breakups and relationships. Although these sound generic and possibly boring, we can all relate to them. Many songs on the album stand out for me, including "Goodbye, Goodbye", "I Was A Fool", and "Closer". The sound of this album reminds me of old school Roxette and I love it!

However, I do understand why some Tegan and Sara fans are critical of this album. In comparison to their other albums, "Heartthrob" is pure pop music. It is unapologetic, in your face pop with a strong electronic influence (with a hint of the 80's). The album is well produced and the harmonies are fantastic. Overall, I believe this is a strong album for the duo.

I can't wait to see these gals live at the Ottawa Bluesfest this summer. In the meantime, check out the video for "Closer", which is fabulous! I love everything about this music video. Enjoy!