Tag: show

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Music

An intimate night in the world of Red

Photo by Jonathan Vivaas Kise.

girl in red was impressive from the moment she got settled on stage

The first time I experienced Marie Ulven – who goes by the artist name ‘girl in red’ – was in the early spring when she played at the Scandinavian showcase festival by:Larm, in Oslo. At her home field show, we were being introduced to a young and fairly confused girl serving us heartbreaking stories with the attitude of Joan Jett and the humour of Will Ferrell. I was excited to see how 2019 had formed the up-and-coming artist, and I must say that at the end of the night I was very pleased by her progress.

Ulven is 20 years old, and produces all of her charming lo-fi pop songs from her room. Her bedroom-pop reaches out to all of the misfits of the competitive generation Z, and tells us it’s okay to be more into girls than boys or vice versa, and that you are allowed to feel down or depressed, even though the sun is shining outside.

Thursday evening, Le Ministère on St-Laurent St. was completely packed with young fans with sparkling eyes and lots of excitement. As girl in red entered the stage, the crowd exploded in high pitched cries and shrieks from the female-dominated crowd.

The show opened with the latest released single “bad idea.” Even though people were ecstatic by her appearance, it was a bit of a wobbly start for Ulven and the band – an unbalanced sound level made it almost impossible to hear the detail-oriented production, especially because of the dominating lead vocals volume being way too high.

You could tell that Ulven was affected by the technical bothers, stuttering through the introduction. She told us she had a sore throat and couldn’t hear anything through her in-ear monitors. A lot of warning signs made it a bit hard for me to believe that she would be able to deliver as convincing of a performance as she had the first time I saw her.

Luckily, I was wrong.

Even though Ulven didn’t seem to be catching either her breath or foothold until the fourth song of the gig, “summer depression,” the crowd was positive and uplifting. Ulven and the band were finally past the sound difficulties, and they could finally open their eyes towards the big and warm Quebecois welcome that was facing them. This included both pick up-lines from the girls in the front rows, and a beautifully handmade fan art portrait.

Last but not least, the whole crowd singing “O Canada” at the top of their voices when Ulven complimented them for speaking French, which according to her is “the most sexy language ever.”

The national anthem really reached both Ulven and the audience, and hearts were being stolen from both sides of the stage.

The show reached new heights when “forget her” was flowing out of the speakers. Ulven was finally ready for takeoff.

We were already halfway through the show, but Ulven was relaxed and actually present with the packed venue. A lot of chit-chatting with the front row and storytelling came between absolutely banging and impressive versions of “we fell in love in october,” “watch you sleep,” and “girls.”

Finally, we got to see Ulven in her element. She demonstrated the perfect balance between being an absolute performer on stage, with her long hair surrounding her like a blond tornado, and a charming conferencier in the breaks, with blushed cheeks caused by the compliments and cheering from the “woo girl” crowd.

The show ended with a singalong of “say anything,” closed by the debut single “i wanna be your girlfriend,” when the band was playing in all their glory. All in all, girl in red was just as adorable and vulnerable as I remembered her; but this time, she was a little more hyped, although cold-infected, and professional. It took her a while to reach people’s hearts, but as she got comfortable and warmed up, she had all of us under her thumb.

 

Photo by Jonathan Vivaas Kise

Categories
Music

A night with Taylor Janzen, Quinn Christopherson, and Lucy Dacus

Photo by Spencer Nafekh

Lucy Dacus and her tour company took on L’Astral this past Monday

On Sept. 16, Lucy Dacus and her tour company drew quite a crowd at L’Astral. This was all to be expected having run off the momentum of her critically-acclaimed 2018 sophomore album Historian, and joined by stellar openers Quinn Christopherson and Taylor Janzen. It made sense that dozens showed up to the venue ready for a night of cold beer, warm synths, and some soft indie-alternative.

Winnipeg-native Janzen began the night at 8 p.m. with a short but sweet piano performance, singing the sad, reflective songs she has become known for across Canada and beyond. After a brief intermission half an hour later, Christopherson took the stage with friend Nick Carpenter by his side on keyboards and guitar.

Being the winners of the 2019 Tiny Desk Contest, it immediately made sense why NPR described Christopherson and Carpenter as “performers loaded with unfettered confidence,” as they sang their emotionally-candid ballads about vulnerability and the struggles of self-acceptance. However, the sadness in their music felt nonexistent when the duo stopped strumming between songs, taking a few seconds to crack jokes with the audience.

“This next song is untitled,” Christopherson said to the crowd midway through his set. “So if anybody has name ideas, feel free to add me on MSN.” The crowd burst out laughing. Carpenter chuckled too, looking over at his friend.

As the headliner and final act of the night, Lucy Dacus and bandmates started off at 9:30 p.m., performing hits from Historian along with recent singles, such as her cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing In The Dark.” Despite an oft-present lyrical theme of facing uncertainty, Dacus had full crowd control throughout her set, transitioning from ambient, meditative songs about death and heartbreak, to getting everyone jumping with the more upbeat rock-inspired songs.

Passion could be felt both inside and outside the performance; when Dacus was not playing a song, she was providing a short backstory for the following one.

Lucy Dacus sings and plays guitar in front of an awestruck crowd. Photo by Spencer Nafekh

“This next song I wrote for my mom,” she said before playing “My Mother & I,” a single released in April. “It still makes me nervous to perform it sometimes. But, preemptively, she [my mom] likes it,” Dacus joked.

By the end of the night, Dacus appeared fully at home in Montreal.

“I’m not usually one for encores and happen to think they’re kind of corny,” she said, returning to the mic. “But I really feel comfortable here right now, so why not?” Dacus went on to play “Historians,” the languid final track off her 2018 album, which turned out to be the perfect slow song to wrap up the night on a peaceful note.

All in all, L’Astral had a Monday evening filled with passionate artists doing what they love and know best. The performances felt refreshingly honest. Taylor Janzen, Quinn Christopherson, and Lucy Dacus provided voracious listeners their indie-fix and gave everybody in the crowd a night to remember.

 

Feature photo by Spencer Nafekh

Categories
Music

Avatar invades Corona Theatre

Vocalist Johannes Eckerström let's it all go at Avatar's show on Sept. 10 at Corona Theatre. Photo by Jacob Carey

Swedish metal/hard rock outfit tour in support of new album Avatar Country

Sweden’s Avatar recently took over Corona Theatre on Notre-Dame Ouest street in Montreal. Armed with punishing songs and vocal bullets, as well as opening invaders Inspector Cluzo, and noise-punk duo ‘68, attendees sure were rocked on the night of Sept. 10.

The Gothenburg-based band’s aforementioned takeover was not only a metaphor for their venture from Scandinavia. Their most recent album, Avatar Country, is a concept release based on a medieval-themed land dominated by a noble kingdom, ruled by The King.

In conjunction with this North American tour, The King, who appears onstage in the form of lead singer Johannes Eckerström, once saved a dry, destitute, and uninhabitable piece of land with the incessant heartbeat of rock and roll. The long-standing tale describes a horse-rider troop who scoured the Earth far and wide in search of a land to call home.

Upon arriving at a group of starving settlers, one horse-rider produced an electric guitar, and strummed a long, bone-vibrating note, which summoned a crash of thunder and lightning. This spell caused nearby land to be infinitely fertile, and henceforth the guitarist was named The King by the now-saved settlers. This is Avatar Country, and The King has arrived in Montreal.

Avatar’s music is crafted for the stage and not for the studio, which is undoubtedly apparent if you’ve ever been to one of their shows. Unsurprisingly, this played out in real time in the Theatre Corona. Emerging dressed in black colonial garb accented with gold highlights, attendees were immediately consumed in Avatar Country as the band began their first song.

While the elaborate costumes were a nice touch, Avatar brought a slew of other stage props to make for a cohesive vibe. From the huge electric flashing band logo which spanned stage-right to stage-left with ease, to the various flags and banners strewn about, I had no difficulty transporting myself to the mythical world of Avatar Country.

The band recently released a live album, The King Live in Paris, to critical acclaim. Lead singer Eckerström stated that he was happy with the result of the release but, ultimately, “Every live show should be worthy of a live recording,” unabashedly citing Deep Purple’s infamous album Made in Japan as inspiration. This sentence resonates within me, especially after seeing The King live in performance, as his claim materialized in front of the audience that night. The energy was unsurpassed once Avatar was present.

Although the group’s sound is hard to define due to the excessive variance between album tracks, they blend elements of groove metal, black metal, melodic death metal, and even country music. One minute the listener is indulged in proper headbanger material, while in another they are subjected to the mellow forces of folk interludes. This translated extremely well to a live setting, as there is an inherent sonic variance present at all times. This ensures that the heavy and melodic portions both hit hard in their own right with a healthy balance between the two.

“The essence of metal music to me is that it needs to be a physical genre,” Eckerström said about the success of live music. “Hence the volume, hence the speed, technical level on many things. It can be slow, simple, a bunch of things. That makes it physical, and our performance needs to be physical as well. When performing metal, you need those moments of being out of breath, it’s a very visceral, physical thing.”

 

Photos by Cecilia Piga

Categories
Music

Bud Rice debuts Piece of Heaven

Montreal singer-songwriter celebrates his second album with a release show at Petit Campus

On Saturday, Sept. 7, fans and local musicians alike gathered at Petit Campus to celebrate the launch of Bud Rice’s second studio album, Piece of Heaven.

Although not yet available on streaming services, the Montreal singer-songwriter hosted his release party to celebrate the completion of his project and perform the track list in its entirety. On stage, the frontman was accompanied by a full band, comprised of a guitarist, bassist, drummer, and keyboardist.

Rice, born Henry Rice-Gossage, is no stranger to the stage, having begun to perform live at 15. Following several years of playing covers, many of which from the great Bob Dylan, Rice began writing his own songs. But like most lyrics written at the tender age of 18, his first songs were self-admittedly awful. Years later at 23, he released his first album, Belfast.

“I’m really proud of Belfast,” Rice told The Concordian. “But I think there are some things I would have done differently and I think going into the second record I had a better head on my shoulders about how I wanted to approach pre-prod and utilizing the time in studio more efficiently- way better than the first time around. On top of that, having constantly played in pubs for that four year span, I think that my chops alone have gotten better.”

Bud Rice strums and sings to his newly released songs at Petit Campus. Photo by Jacob Carey

Rice showcased his improved chops when he started his performance with the first song off the album, “Evergreen,” which he recently released a music video for. Midway through the set, Rice’s father, Dave Gossage, a professional musician, took the stage to perform “St Henri,” “Heron On A Stone” and “Just a Little Grey.” Gossage played the harmonica on the first two songs and ended with a flute on the last one, having displayed his incredible talent and musical versatility.

“Dad inspired me with the concept that there is a craft,” said Rice. “There is art, and there is a spectrum that exists. There’s far-left artsy-fartsy and the far-right business-savvy dude. If this is a career you want to maintain, you have to be somewhere in between. You can’t be too far left or too far right. I think that watching him, who is like a phenom, being able to carry out a career as one of the best musicians I’ve ever met, to have him inspire me to want to do that continuously, was super beneficial for me.”

Being a professional himself, Gossage always pushed Rice to keep a business mentality when it came to playing music.

“[He taught me] the drive, the determination to wake up every day and not feel hungover, or not do anything,” said Rice. “It was like, be hungover and put in the work you need to put in to make something real. It was always ‘It’s a job – do your job,’ not ‘You’re a fucking free spirit, just play music man’. No. This is your fucking job, so be good at your job.”

Rice proved that he is indeed good at his job. Although he had his accompanying band with him for the duration of his performance, the encore of his recent single “Oh My Sweet Rose” was done solo, making it clear that the entertainer needs no back up to put on a great show.

 

Photos by Jacob Carey

Categories
Music

John Jacob Magistery rock out in a sweaty Turbo Haus

Johnny Griffin (right) and Luc Delisle (left) strum their guitars in front of a sold-out Turbo Haus on Aug. 29. Photo by Jacob Carey

Three years after its release, the Montreal natives play their debut album in its entirety

On Aug. 29, Montreal rock band John Jacob Magistery performed the entirety of their debut album Phantom i / Are You Too Sensitive? for the first time ever in front of a sold-out audience at Turbo Haus.

Following an opening set by Montreal’s Frisco Lee, the N.D.G.-born singer-songwriter and frontman Johnny Griffin aptly began the night with the album’s opening track, “Captain of the Sea.” Despite John Jacob Magistery’s main formation containing only three members (Griffin, MacKenzie Myatt on violin/synthesizer, and Anthony Lombardi on drums), the trio was also accompanied by three other musicians; including a guitarist, cellist, and an erhu player (also known as a Chinese violin).

JJM’s hit “Carol,” the second song on their track list, started the night on a high note as everyone in the sardine-packed room sang along to the album’s most recognizable song. Although Phantom i was released over three years ago, the songs felt fresh and improved with the addition of the accompanying band. Griffin interacted with the audience, asking them to dance and move closer to the stage, and thanked them for their hometown support.

John Jacob Magistery’s latest record, Harmoney, was released in 2017. However, Griffin promised new material is coming soon.

“I’m going to be putting out some singles,” Griffin told The Concordian. “I was in the studio [today] finishing up some songs. I’m going to be putting out a video. I have a couple of tunes that’ll be coming out soon, but there’s no release date.”

“[The next project] is kind’ve divided into two,” Griffin continued. “One of the things is going to be very singer-songwriter. Analogue. All live, kind of the way I did the [Narcissism Unto Loneliness] EP, so live off the floor. The way Bob Dylan did shit. Acoustic instruments…That’s one of the things I’m doing, and the other thing is digital, using drum samples and doing everything in my bedroom on Ableton.”

The singer-songwriter genre is all original material from Griffin, while the rest relies on using samples from a music production software.

“[They’re] totally different processes,” Griffin said. “The singer-songwriter stuff is just me and a guitar. The other stuff I make by getting inspired by sounds on Ableton and drumbeats. Clips and samples, and shit like that. So that’s a totally different thing. The Ableton stuff – I could do basically all on a computer.”

The band finished their album’s entirety with their first-ever live performance of the closing track “Are You Too Sensitive?;” While they thanked the crowd and made their way towards the exit, they were urged to come back for more. John Jacob Magistery finished off the night with their biggest track, “Greatest Story Ever,” and “Harmoney.”

The morning following the show, JJM posted to their social media letting fans know that they had to decline people at the door due to capacity, and as a result added a second show date for the following Monday, Sept. 2.

Photos by Jacob Carey

Video by Calvin Cashen

 

Categories
Music

Christian French brings his first headlining tour to Le Ministère

Christian French is gearing up to hit the stage at Le Ministère on Sept. 11. Photos by Angela Kritikos

22-year-old Indiana singer-songwriter Christian French brings his alt-pop sound to Montreal 

Often times, an artist’s biggest dream is to travel around to different cities as the main act on a tour. For Indiana-born singer-songwriter Christian French, that dream is about to become a reality.

For the first time ever, the 22-year-old is going to be headlining his very own tour. After performing in various opening-slot shows on Quinn XCII and Chelsea Cutler’s latest tours, French’s “Bright Side of the Moon” tour is nearing its debut  on Sept. 4, in Michigan.

Set to hit Montreal’s Le Ministère on Sept.11, French couldn’t help but reminisce on some of the earlier parts of the journey that many often overlook when discussing artists and their success. For him, his latest tour is the product of all of the work that came before this, whether it be sleepless nights or awkward shows in front of not-so-stellar crowds.

Speaking with The Concordian, French credits his family with being the origin of much of his musical interest. His family always had music playing – a common thread amongst talented musicians and performers. His sister was a member of a successful band throughout his high school years, another thing he said boosted his understanding of the music industry and how things work in the competitive and sometimes inconsistent profession of a musician. Artists like John Mayer and Eric Clapton also had a heavy influence on him, as he admired their songwriting abilities and deep connection to their music.

He began dabbling in singing even before entering high school, posting acoustic covers of some of his favourite songs to SoundCloud, and teaching himself how to play the piano, his passion truly blossomed at Indiana University, where he studied pre-med, played on the school’s hockey team, and was a member of a fraternity.

“It was really difficult to manage at first, but like with anything, you get into a sort of routine that kind of normalizes everything,” said French. “I tried to keep a healthy balance and not burn out on any of the three, and I think that really helped me. Of course, there were a lot of nights where I didn’t sleep much, but I just knew what was important and what I had to get done every day to continue to elevate.”

Having that many responsibilities in university is demanding, to say the least. French continued to hone his musical skills, with the crucial support of a close group of friends. With their unwavering support from the start, he was able to push through the barrier of uncertainty and shyness that holds many talented musicians back from reaching that next level– one that gets them their very own cross-country tour.

“I’ve had a close group of friends that have been supporting me since I started making covers,” he said. “They didn’t know what to make of it at first, but after they saw me continue to pursue it, they knew how much I cared about it and were behind me. I was in a fraternity, and everyone in the fraternity supported my music, showing their friends across the country, and it allowed for a country-wide awareness a lot faster than it would have been if I wasn’t in college with supportive friends.”

French continued to balance a heavily-filled platter of responsibilities throughout university. Meanwhile, he was continuously uploading music to SoundCloud and was performing at small local venues. Then, he finally got his first big break. 22-year-old American singer and multi-instrumentalist Chelsea Cutler invited him on tour; this was proof that his hard work and perseverance had paid off.

As university students, many of us know what it feels like to have a lot of things to worry about on a day-to-day basis, whether it’s related to school, loved ones, hobbies, or passions. When asked if he had any advice to students going through similarly-demanding situations, French said one thing:

“Do not be scared to take a leap and follow a passion. It’s important to have a plan and to know what you’re going to do, but nothing is going to happen unless you take action. There is no better time to start than now.”

You can catch Christian French’s performance at Le Ministère on his BSOTM tour, on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 10 p.m.

Tickets available online here:

https://fanlink.to/CFMontrealPresale

Categories
Opinions

“Big Mouth” captures the awkwardness of puberty

Graphic by Ana Bilokin

Brutally honest, the Netflix animated sitcom highlights a topic that’s been taboo for too long

There is a prestigious history of animated sitcoms that have proven to be influential on society. From The Simpsons and Rick and Morty to South Park and American Dad, we’ve seen subtle (and not so subtle) social commentary unfold with our favourite four-fingered icons.

Big Mouth is yet another hilarious animated sitcom but with a very taboo focus: puberty. It addresses the uncomfortable, horrible, exciting and confusing time in adolescents’ lives with hilarity and shamelessness. Its range of characters from different backgrounds invokes perspective and empathy. The show examines young boys and girls’ hormonal issues in ways I have never seen before. It is a revolutionary approach to sexual health, and I am convinced it’s a step toward a healthier view of sexuality in our society.

Big Mouth was created by Nick Kroll and Andrew Goldberg. These real life best friends grew up alongside one another as they explored puberty and body changes in very different ways. The character, Andrew (voiced by comedian John Mulaney) was hit by a puberty truck; he grew up with intense hormonal urges that Morty (voiced by Nick Kroll) personifies with his character, the Hormone Monster. The dissonance between Andrew’s awkward, gentle personality and his intense developing sexual desires touches on a huge problem young boys face. The show engages in a conversation surrounding these hormonal impulses, which shines a light on how to properly handle these inevitable urges.

Unlike Andrew, Nick, his best friend (voiced by Nick Kroll) hasn’t hit puberty yet, although he experiences his own anxieties as the show unfolds. Envying his best friend, Nick becomes extremely self-conscious about his underdeveloped body.

Another ingenious character is the Shame Wizard (voiced by David Thewlis). According to Psychology Today, sex induces shame more than anything else in the human condition, in part because of the lack of conversation surrounding it. Many young adults feel alone in their introduction to sexual acts. In the show, the Shame Wizard affects all the students in different ways, and they slowly come to understand that all their peers feel shame in some way or another.

Along with addressing toxic masculinity, it also addresses male bisexuality, an under-discussed topic in today’s society. Male bisexuality is criticized and judged because of false implications about a lack of masculinity. Jay (voiced by Jason Mantzoukas) is a child exploring his intense hormonal impulses with female and male counterparts. In a hilarious and uncomfortable manner, his confusion with this topic unfolds.

Big Mouth also addresses female sexuality, from wearing a bra in public for the first time to exploring masturbation and confusing impulses. It wrestles with consent, communication and contraceptives.

In light of the #MeToo movement and the discussion surrounding sexuality, I think this show pushes boundaries and starts conversations that, for many years, society has been too afraid to discuss. Much like comedian Bo Burnham’s Eighth Grade—a 2018 movie that depicts a girl going through puberty with raw and often uncomfortable detail—Big Mouth starts the conversation that society needs to be having right now.

As I laugh along, I’m simultaneously engaging in the most productive conversation I’ve ever had concerning gender roles, shame and sex. So watch the show and prepare to be grossed out and brought back to an uncomfortable time in your life. Nevertheless, watch it with your eyes and ears open. Tell your friends and parents to watch it. But please, don’t watch it with your parents. Or do—you’d be braver than me!

Graphic by Ana Bilokin

 

Categories
Music

Jump into an alternative world at the The Full Moon Halloween Party

The Witching Hour, don't miss it!

Witching Hour Events throws otherworldly parties that are cool and innovative

“Band, cigarette, beer. Band cigarette, beer.”

The Witching Hour, don’t miss it!

Witching Hour Events’ creator, Michael Noom, describes a lot of people’s night out as pretty drab and redundant. On Oct. 8, possibly the first Halloween party of the year kicks off at the Rialto Theatre under the only full moon of the month. The doors open at 8:30 p.m. and once you step through, you’ll be in a totally different realm that’s nothing like the world outside. The Full Moon Halloween Party is different from what a lot of party planners are throwing — as an attendee, you’ll be making art yourself and participating in “creating an alternative world,” Noom said. All around, various forms of art will be displayed, played, and fabricated which’ll make for an interesting cocktail of creativities to see and experience. To kick-off the evening, a series of local filmmakers will be showing shorts while you crunch on $1 GMO-free popcorn sold at the event. Later, dancing will inevitably ensue when musical acts take to the split stage — electronic DJs on one side, and bands on the other. Musical performances include Marie Davidson, Cosi e Cosi, She Devils, a battle of the Theremins, L’Ħāliġ Orchestre Impérial du QuebékisŤanz, as well as live art from Chang E Ling. Throughout, you can tie your wig back for apple bobbing, go dancing through the mist of fluid lights and multimedia flashes, or create something cool at the activities set-up.

The Rialto Theatre will be riding a new wave  on Oct. 8 — one where event-goers are free to tap into whatever natural impulse drives them to create and learn. It’s a night to feel something different from the regular pumping beats of your favorite bar. “It’s like you’re in a psychic spa, and you’re going to come out of it on a different frequency” Noom said.

Head into the unknown on the full-moon Wednesday night — and you’ll never want to leave.

Want more info? Head over to facebook.com/events/384626255021077/390629144420788/

Categories
Music

Bringing classical music to the forefront

The instrumental concert series Orgue Avenir is officially underway. Every Sunday of November, at 3 p.m., a different musician will perform at the Church of St. John the Evangelist. The entry fee is a voluntary contribution with all proceeds funding the first step of the restoration of the church’s organ.

The artists, some of the best performers in the city, and arguably the province, will present musical pieces from diverse backgrounds and with different themes.

The first week will showcase Austrian and German music from the 18th century to the 1960s, as interpreted by Jonathan Oldengarm. Oldengram is a five-time decorated artist with national and international titles. He has performed in Asia, Europe and North America and is currently the musical director at the Presbyterian Church of St. Andrews since 2008.

In the second week, Patrick Wedd will be presenting a concert on the theme of Toccata, a popular piece of Italian music. Wedd’s passion for music began at the age of 12 when he joined the local church choir. He then earned diplomas in organ performance at both the Universities of British Columbia and Toronto and has played throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and England. The international performer is also the founder of the Musica Orbium choral ensemble. Since 1996, Wedd has served as the music director at the Christ Church Cathedral in Montreal.

The third week will showcase a chronology of German music, from the early Baroque period to the Romantic era, presented by Julie Pinsonneault. Pinsonneault graduated from the Gatineau Conservatory of Music and is currently finishing her Bachelor’s degree in music performance at McGill University.

Despite being only 21 years old, she has acquired experience by participating in the organ marathon Les 24 heures du Banc, The Canadian Music Contest, The Orgue et Couleurs music festival, Lynnwood Farnam Organ Competition, and has taken part in the Mikael Tariverdiev International Organ Competition in Russia. Pinsonneault has even founded her own concert series, Piacevole, in 2010 and is currently working as an organ scholar at the Church of St-John the Evangelist.

During the fourth and final week, organist Yves Préfontaine will perform anniversary selections as tributes to Jean Titelouze, Johann Ludwig Krebs and Robert Alexander Schumann, some of the great classical composers. The tribute will be in honour of the composers’ 450th, 300th, and 350th anniversaries respectively. Préfontaine studied organ and harpsichord at the Montreal Music Conservatory, where he was awarded first prize for both instruments. He continued his musical studies in Amsterdam.

This talented musician also founded the music department at the Marie-Victorin CEGEP, of which he was the director for ten years. To this day, he is the titular organist at the Grand Séminaire and the Marie-Reine-des-Coeurs Sanctuary. He is also the co-leader of Orgues et Cimes, a summer academy in Switzerland.

The amount of variety in the series is astonishing because of the different backgrounds of the artists.

After the one-hour show, music director Federico Andreoni invites everyone to meet the artists with snacks and drinks.

The goal of these concerts is to dissociate the instrument from liturgical ceremonies and to have people appreciate the organ as an instrument. It is also an opportunity to experience the unique acoustic sound and architecture of the church.

There are many other events upcoming at the church of St. John the Evangelist. The second edition of the Bach series will be taking place in January. There will also be a professional choir festival in May.

Categories
Arts

Comedians and booze make for the best of parties

Every episode mixes scripted storylines with real stand-up, and features an exciting lineup of up-and-coming talent. Press photo

Playing the quintessential narcissistic jerk, pushing the buttons of his director, insulting his guests and always trying to play the badass, Adam Devine stars in Comedy Central’s newest TV show, Adam Devine’s House Party.

Every episode mixes scripted storylines with real stand-up, and features an exciting lineup of up-and-coming talent. Press photo

The eight-episode season is expected to wow viewers when Devine (known for his role as Adam DeMamp on Workaholics) gets free rein of a Los Angeles estate and throws massive parties.

Of course, things immediately go awry as Devine’s favourite comedians stop by for a drink (or two) and conduct stand-up performances on stage. It’s your quintessential silly-meets-comedy kind of entertainment show.

In the premiere, aptly titled “Ex-Girlfriend,” any expectation of Devine being that cool/sensitive/awesome party-host is shattered. Devine smashes a beer bottle over his head and welcomes guests with an overbearingly excited attitude. During the rest of the episode, Devine’s head is draped in a bloody bandage as he unsuccessfully hits on his ex-girlfriend who arrives accompanied by one of Devine’s friends.

The premiere sets the tone for the entire series: this show is about wasting money. Big time.

The absurdity of the show is highlighted when Devine tells the camera, “I don’t know how I convinced Comedy Central to give me another show, a Hollywood mansion and a paycheck for hanging out with friends. I hope they have a good lawyer and the fire department on speed dial.”

That said, the comedy is what makes the show work. In a nutshell, this is how the show functions: Between brief episodes where Devine humiliates himself at his frat party, three stand-up comedians take to the mic. All in all, 24 of Devine’s funniest comic friends will be featured on the show.

In the first episode, comedians Ahmed Bharoocha, Andrew Santino and Barry Rothbart take the stand, while Liza Treyger, Josh Rabinowitz and Sean Donnelly draw out laughs in the second episode. Joke themes range from dolphin rape to Chicago accents. Watch out.

Things get interesting as Devine discards (for the moment) his ostentatious attitude and gets a group of ten-year-olds to clean up his house. When he orders them into a file, Devine hands out “badges” made of “trash” (pictures of garbage and the like). It’s hard not to laugh at the expression on the girls’ faces. When the girls request beer, Devine grimaces, exclaiming, “You’re ten years old … and you have never tried beer?” The episode concludes with the girls getting very drunk on beer and smashing bottles over each others’ heads.

The whole thing can at first appear grating and annoying (just how fun is it really to watch people getting drunk, at least when sober?) but chances are the show will thrive thanks to the stand-up comedians and Devine’s sassy attitude. If anything, the show will give you a sound break from studying.

Adam Devine’s House Party premiered on Oct. 24 on Comedy Central, and runs every Thursday night at 12.30 am.

Categories
Music

Fink wows fans at La Sala Rossa

Photo by Tommy N. Lance

Like a good glass of scotch or the ideal piece of chocolate cake, Fink’s voice is smoky, rich and capable of sending any audience to a

Photo by Tommy N. Lance

relaxed but grooving place. Live, his deep melodies and slow rhythms have a greater impact and a very different feel from his studio albums. The notes seem to permeate the very air: a hum that settles deep within your bones as you rock in time to the music.

Accompanied on the drums and guitar by Tim Thornton, Fink played most of the songs off his newest album, Perfect Darkness. The hit single “Yesterday Was Hard On All Of Us” and the album’s final track, “Berlin Sunrise”, received particularly rousing applause from the mostly older crowd.

To spice it up, the duo played the bluesy number “Hush Now” from Fink’s breakout album Biscuits for Breakfast. While changing to his blues guitar, Fink explained, “Every tour I tell myself, ‘This guitar isn’t coming on tour anymore’ and every tour it manages to sneak on board anyway.” Let us hope that it does keep ‘sneaking’ aboard because the slight change in pace and rhythm brought a whole new dimension to the show.

All of this combined with the intimate feel of La Sala Rossa made for a memorable night. After the show a smiling Fink said, “We love playing in Montreal!” However, he confessed that the last time they were here “it was bloody freezing and only twenty people showed up.” Fink’s popularity has been on the rise since the release of Biscuits for Breakfast in 2006. Perfect Darkness reached number 32 on the Dutch charts in 2011 and remains Fink’s biggest claim to fame.

The group are on tour around the Northeastern U.S. and Canada but will be performing at several music festivals in India come December. Whenever they do return to Montreal they are well worth a look-in.

 

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Music

Ben Howard melts hearts in Montreal

Photo courtesy of Victoria McInnis.

Ben Howard, the UK’s as-of-yet hidden gem, played a soul-shattering concert at Metropolis Sunday night. Before Ben Howard took the stage, Louisiana native Gill Landry warmed up the crowd with his sweet melodies and charming southern drawl.

Cheers echoed throughout the venue as Howard and his band took to the stage. A lone yellow spotlight graced the background and mist obscured most of the stage. Howard opened up the show with a new song and followed it with one of my personal favorites, “Black Flies.” He played songs from his debut album Every Kingdom, delivering unforgettable performances of hits like “Only Love” and “Old Pine.” Songs like “Wolves” and “Diamonds” incited heavy audience participation.

The show felt like a private, intense jam session; almost giving the audience an all-access pass to raw, uncut musical brilliance. Howard attempted to converse with the audience in French, but he confessed that his French was quite “abysmal.”

As the band left the stage, an explosive demand for an encore erupted. Shrieks and stubborn foot-stomping called them back to the stage, delivering what was the best performance of the night. Howard started playing “Depth Over Distance,” and soulfully crooning “darling, I’d go blind for you” as he played his guitar, wowing the audience with clawhammer technique. He concluded the evening with “The Fear,” leaving the crowd satisfied and anticipating his next visit to Montreal.

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