Canadian Music Week night 1
I have to admit, at the beginning of this crazy week of musical exploration I didn’t expect to find any act that would reignite the auditory fire. But that was then.
I walked to The Central in the deliciously warm March air. The CMW lanyards and wristbands were everywhere on the streets; quiet exclamation marks of the festival gearing up. As I walked towards the front door I could feel the upbeat sounds of guitar subtly lifting my spirits.
I arrived just in time to see Eriksen gracing the stage. This talented 3 piece based in Toronto brought their brand of acoustic Indie to the stage, minus the stereotypical plaid shirts and beards (Although I have no proof there weren’t drinking PBR all night). Showcasing smooth melodic vocals and a solid rhythm section, the crowd swayed and bopped along with pleasure. Incorporating unique elements like an Electric Kalimba added some great texture to the tracks and enhances the intimate feel of The Centrals performance space.
You would have never known that earlier that day Eriksen and had to make a quick substitution for a new drummer. This would be enough to make any band squirm, but bassist Liam Montgomery didn’t let on to any pre-show panic. “We found a drummer [and said] this is what we want to play…go out and do it.”
Curious to know why Liam started playing base? How about what they think of The Central? Listen to the full interview here and find out!
Audiolust interview with Liam of Eriksen
From The Central I wandered down to The Garrison just in time to see The British Columbians finishing up their set. While I only heard two minutes of their last song, I knew instantly that this was a band I wanted to hear more from. Their rough garage rock sound was absolutely appealing.
I capped off the first night of Canadian Music Week in a room with a whole lot of love. Few bands can bond together a crowd as smoothly as Amos the Transparent. It happens so fast you don’t even realize it, until you’re arm in arm with the person beside you singing and dancing along with enough joy to vanquish Lord Noheart.
I sat down with guitarist Daniel Hay and asked him about the family band feel that is so apparent. “We’ve all grown up together, most of these guys I’ve known since elementary school. The vibe comes across ‘cuz we feel that close as a band.” Their songs uplift as surely as they connect, and all I want to do is learn every word so I can sing along.
Wish six people in a band there is potential for every song to be one cacophony of sound, but Amos the Transparent have a great sense of when less is more, and when to go full throttle. Their music is danceable, singable, screamable, cryable; and above all, loveable.
During their set, Dan decided to play his guitar a little bit differently- Want to know how? Or would you like learn how the band writes their songs? Or maybe their true feelings about having their fans jump on stage? You can learn all that and more by listening to the full interview here:
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