One second. Sometimes that’s all a photographer gets – and hardly in ideal conditions. At worst (and most likely), a photographer may be squeezed between 15 others in the pit, mere feet away from pyrotechnics, finding support from stress-rattled knees, while focusing on a spastic frontman and sheltering oneself from a downpour, which may or may not involve a hailstorm. Truth: A great photographer handles the unenviable task of capturing that one moment everyone goes home thinking about. Half-truth: There’s probably a statistic somewhere that discusses what the job does to the heart. If not, there should be a study. Double-truth: It’s just a sweaty, life-threatening task.

Hi, I’m Michael Roffman, President and Editor-in-Chief of Consequence of Sound. You may know me from such stories as “Look Out! The Gaslight Anthem is Coming!” or “Scratch that… Brian Wilson is not returning to The Beach Boys.” This year, I sent out dozens of writers and photographers to hundreds of shows and just about every major music festival this side of the Atlantic (some even overseas). Without a doubt, our eyes were everywhere.

More specifically, our photographers’ multiple weighty lenses. In the past 12 months, we’ve published countless, fully-stocked galleries, featuring some of the most awe-inspiring shots on the ‘net, all thanks to our brave and inordinately talented photographers. Actually, that’s an understatement. These artists bleed talent – to get somewhat histrionic. Look, we value words, but as Fred R. Barnard so famously wrote, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Cliche, but you spend over four years putting these live and festival reviews together. You’ll quickly see how true that statement is. To date, I still feel like I’ve attended Bonnaroo.*

For our annual report, we put together our 100 favorite photos of the year. Lots of colors, lots of locales, and plenty of popular mugs to savor. So, throw on some tunes, grab a bag of chips, and enjoy the trip. You’ll go places, kiddo.

-Michael Roffman
President/Editor-in-Chief

* Would never happen. This guy in mud? Nah.

Weezer

Event: Weezer at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom
Date: 1/7/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

The Walkmen

Event: The Walkmen at Atlanta’s Variety Playhouse
Date: 1/13/2011
Photographer: Max Blau

Girl Talk

Event: Girl Talk at Atlanta’s Tabernacle
Date: 1/21/2011
Photographer: Max Blau

Sad Brad Smith

Event: Sad Brad Smith at Chicago’s Schubas Tavern
Date: 1/23/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

The Church

Event: The Church at Chicago’s Park West
Date: 2/11/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

Robyn

Event: Robyn at Chicago’s The Riviera Theatre
Date: 2/14/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

The Dismemberment Plan

Event: The Dismemberment Plan at Chicago’s Metro
Date: 2/19/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Ben Kweller

Event: Ben Kweller at Chicago’s Vic Theatre
Date: 2/23/2011
Photographer: Joshua Mellin

Bright Eyes

Event: Bright Eyes at Miami’s The Fillmore
Date: 3/2/2011
Photographer: Lauren Guagno

Raphael Saadiq

Event: Raphael Saadiq at SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

Baby Headphones

Event: SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Owen Pallett

Event: Owen Pallett at SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

The Strokes

Event: The Strokes at SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

The Kills

Event: The Kills at SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

TV on the Radio w/ Yo Gabba Gabba!

Event: TV on the Radio w/ Yo Gabba Gabba! at SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Matt & Kim

Event: Matt & Kim at SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Odd Future

Event: Odd Future at SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Odd Future

Event: Odd Future at SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Hollerado

Event: Hollerado at Axis of Audio Showcase: SXSW 2011
Date: 3/19/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

Astronautalis

Event: Astronautalis (& Four Fists) at Axis of Audio Showcase: SXSW 2011
Date: 3/19/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

P.O.S.

Event: P.O.S. at Paid Dues Festival 2011
Date: 4/2/2011
Photographer: Winston Robbins

The Mountain Goats

Event: The Mountain Goats at Chicago’s Vic Theatre
Date: 4/5/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

Queens of the Stone Age

Event: Queens of the Stone Age at Oakland’s Fox Theatre
Date: 4/11/2011
Photographer: Karina Halle

The Strokes

Event: The Strokes at Coachella 2011
Date: 4/15-17/2011
Photographer: Debi Del Grande

Kanye West

Event: Kanye West at Coachella 2011
Date: 4/15-17/2011
Photographer: Debi Del Grande

The National

Event: The National, Arcade Fire at Chicago’s UIC Pavillion
Date: 4/24/2011
Photographer: Lauren Guagno

Arcade Fire

Event: The National, Arcade Fire at Chicago’s UIC Pavillion
Date: 4/24/2011
Photographer: Lauren Guagno

Battles

Event: Battles at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall
Date: 4/30/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

tUnE-yArDs

Event: tUnE-yArDs at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall
Date: 5/10/2011
Photographer: Wallo Villacorta

Lykke Li

Event: Lykke Li at Chicago’s Metro
Date: 5/23/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

The Gorge

Event: Sasquatch! 2011
Date: 5/27-30/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Death From Above 1979

Event: Death From Above 1979 at Sasquatch! 2011
Date: 5/27-30/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Robyn

Event: Robyn at Sasquatch 2011
Date: 5/27-30/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Fitz and the Tantrums

Event: Fitz and the Tantrums at Sasquatch! 2011
Date: 5/27-30/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

The Flaming Lips

Event: The Flaming Lips at Sasquatch! 2011
Date: 5/27-30/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

The Decemberists

Event: Sasquatch! 2011
Date: 5/27-30/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Melvins

Event: Melvins at Chicago’s Double Door
Date: 5/31/2011
Photographer: Katie Schuering

Bonnaroo Fan

Event: Bonnaroo 2011
Date: 6/9-12/2011
Photographer: Ben Kaye

Buffalo Springfield

Event: Buffalo Springfield at Bonnaroo 2011
Date: 6/9-12/2011
Photographer: Max Blau

Eminem

Event: Eminem at Bonnaroo 2011
Date: 6/9-12/2011
Photographer: Max Blau

Future Islands

Event: Future Islands at Chicago’s Subterranean
Date: 6/15/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

Florence + the Machine

Event: Florence + the Machine at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom
Date: 6/18/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

Glastonbury

Event: Glastonbury 2011
Date: 6/22-26/2011
Photographer: Laura Page

Eddie Vedder w/ Glen Hansard

Event: Eddie Vedder at The Chicago Theatre
Date: 6/28/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Phish Heads

Event: Phish Super Ball IX
Date: 7/1-3/2011
Photographer: Jake Cohen

Fucked Up

Event: Fucked Up at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall
Date: 7/2/2011
Photographer: Jeremy D. Larson

Cold Cave

Event: Cold Cave at Pitchfork 2011
Date: 7/15-17/2011
Photographer: Jeremy D. Larson

OFF!

Event: OFF! at Pitchfork 2011
Date: 7/15-17/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti

Event: Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti at Pitchfork 2011
Date: 7/15-17/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

tUnE-yArDs

Event: tUnE-yArDs at Pitchfork 2011
Date: 7/15-17/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

Fleet Foxes

Event: Fleet Foxes at Pitchfork 2011
Date: 7/15-17/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

Soundgarden

Event: Soundgarden, Queens of the Stone Age, Mastodon at Washington’s Gorge Amphitheater
Date: 7/30/2011
Photographer: Karina Halle

Paul McCartney

Event: Paul McCartney at Chicago’s Wrigley Field
Date: 7/31/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Lolla Chicago

Event: Lollapalooza 2011
Date: 8/5-7/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

Le Butcherettes

Event: Le Butcherettes at Lollapalooza 2011
Date: 8/5-7/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Crystal Castles

Event: Crystal Castles at Lollapalooza 2011
Date: 8/5-7/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

Coldplay

Event: Coldplay at Lollapalooza 2011
Date: 8/5-7/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

The Chain Gang of 1974

Event: The Chain Gang of 1974 at Lollapalooza 2011
Date: 8/5-7/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

Ellie Goulding

Event: Ellie Goulding at Lollapalooza 2011
Date: 8/5-7/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Foo Fighters

Event: Foo Fighters at Chicago’s Metro
Date: 8/6/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Foster the People

Event: Foster the People at Outside Lands 2011
Date: 8/12-14/2011
Photographer: Debi Del Grande

Muse

Event: Muse at Outside Lands 2011
Date: 8/12-14/2011
Photographer: Debi Del Grande

Arcade Fire

Event: Arcade Fire at Outside Lands 2011
Date: 8/12-14/2011
Photographer: Debi Del Grande

Bush

Event: Bush at Chicago’s Congress Theatre
Date: 8/18/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

Rubblebucket

Event: Rubblebucket at North Coast 2011
Date: 9/2-4/2011
Photographer: Lillian Cai

Pearl Jam

Event: Pearl Jam at PJ20 at Alpine Valley
Date: 9/3-4/2011
Photographer: Jeremy D. Larson

Erykah Badu

Event: Erykah Badu at New York’s Rock the Bells 2011
Date: 9/3/2011
Photographer: Jake Cohen

Lauryn Hill

Event: Lauryn Hill at New York’s Rock the Bells 2011
Date: 9/3/2011
Photographer: Jake Cohen

The Kills

Event: The Kills at Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom
Date: 9/5/2011
Photographer: Karina Halle

James Vincent McMorrow

Event: James Vincent McMorrow at Chicago’s Hideout
Date: 9/15/2011
Photographer: Matt Hyland

Delta Spirit

Event: Delta Spirit at Austin City Limits 2011
Date: 9/16-18/2011
Photographer: Debi Del Grande

My Morning Jacket

Event: My Morning Jacket at Austin City Limits 2011
Date: 9/16-18/2011
Photographer: Nate Slevin

Kanye West

Event: Kanye West at Austin City Limits 2011
Date: 9/16-18/2011
Photographer: Nate Slevin

Randy Newman

Event: Randy Newman at Austin City Limits 2011
Date: 9/16-18/2011
Photographer: Nate Slevin

Incubus

Event: Incubus at Miami’s Bayfront Park
Date: 9/20/2011
Photographer: Lauren Guagno

Blink-182

Event: Blink-182 at West Palm Beach’s Cruzan Amphitheatre
Date: 9/23/2011
Photographer: Lauren Guagno

Deerhoof

Event: Deerhoof at Chicago’s Bottom Lounge
Date: 9/25/2011
Photographer: Katie Schuering

Radiohead

Event: Radiohead at New York City’s Roseland Ballroom
Date: 9/28/2011
Photographer: Nate Slevin

St. Vincent

Event: St. Vincent at Chicago’s Metro
Date: 10/5/2011
Photographer: Katie Schuering

Portishead

Event: Portishead at Chicago’s Aragon Theater
Date: 10/12/2011
Photographer: Jeremy D. Larson

Sims

Event: Doomtree at Minneapolis’ Fine Line Music Cafe
Date: 10/15/2011
Photographer: Harley Brown

The Stepkids

Event: The Stepkids at CMJ 2011
Date: 10/18-22/2011
Photographer: Jeremy D. Larson

Duran Duran

Event: Duran Duran at The Chicago Theatre
Date: 10/21/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

Deadmau5

Event: deadmau5 at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom
Date: 10/22/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

Moby

Event: Moby at Moogfest 2011
Date: 10/28-30/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

Moby

Event: Moby at Moogfest 2011
Date: 10/28-30/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

Childish Gambino

Event: Childish Gambino at Moogfest 2011
Date: 10/28-30/2011
Photographer: Catherine Watkins

Suicide

Event: Suicide at Moogfest 2011
Date: 10/28-30/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

The Flaming Lips

Event: The Flaming Lips at Moogfest 2011
Date: 10/28-30/2011
Photographer: Catherine Watkins

Mayer Hawthorne & County

Event: Mayer Hawthorne & County at Moogfest 2011
Date: 10/28-30/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

M83

Event: M83 at Moogfest 2011
Date: 10/28-30/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

Zola Jesus

Event: Zola Jesus at San Francisco’s The Independent
Date: 11/1/2011
Photographer: Summer Dunsmore

Feist

Event: Feist at Chicago’s The Riviera Theatre
Date: 11/4/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

The Raconteurs

Event: The Raconteurs at Orlando Calling 2011
Date: 11/12-13/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

Pixies

Event: Pixies at Orlando Calling 2011
Date: 11/12-13/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

YACHT

Event: YACHT at San Francisco’s The Independent
Date: 11/17/2011
Photographer: Summer Dunsmore

M83

Event: M83 at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall
Date: 11/17/2011
Photographer: Jeremy D. Larson

The Cure

Event: The Cure at Los Angeles’ Pantages Theatre
Date: 11/23/2011
Photographer: Debi Del Grande

Tinariwen

Event: Tinariwen at Minneapolis’ Cedar Cultural Center
Date: 11/26/2011
Photographer: Harley Brown

Iggy Pop and the Stooges

Event: Iggy Pop and the Stooges at Hollywood’s Palladium
Date: 12/1/2011
Photographer: Debi Del Grande

Photo by Cap Blackard

It’s been a “gnarly” year for Ontario’s Hollerado. They’ve shared the road with Gang of Four, threw one dynamite nacho party at SXSW, and met several mayors on their recent Meet the Mayor Tour. Now, they return with “Good Day at the Races”, their latest digital single out on Royal Mountain Records/Arts&Crafts. Although that song may ring a bell (it was included on the band’s mixed compilation, Margaritaville 2: The Reckoning, last year), you probably haven’t heard its B-side, “Walkin Out on Daytime”. Fortunately for you, we’ve got the exclusive.

Featuring backing vocals by Fang Island, “Walkin Out on Daytime” has this sort of Muppets-like sparkle to it, specifically in the chorus. Towards the middle, vocalist Menno Versteeg screams out a clever line like “I’m working on my hands, when I need to rest my feet.” What does it mean? We asked Versteeg himself, who explained: “I was in the middle of a Shel Silverstein bender when I wrote this song. It’s about how sometimes I feel like I’d rather sleep through real life because the dreamworld is so weird and carefree and everyone lives forever.” Here’s where Fang Island comes in: “When we were in the studio, our buddies in Fang Island stopped by and did a whole bunch of cool vocal parts.”

Well, that about wraps it up. Check out the track below, then pick up the single, and support one of Canada’s finest.

Also, if you happen to be in New York City this week for CMJ, Hollerado will be playing a few shows, including M for Montreal’s Party at Arlene’s Grocery this Friday. No word on whether or not there will be nachos, however.

Someone call OK Go, because the competition is heating up. Hollerado‘s video last year for “Americanarama” gave those treadmills a run for their money. Now the Ontario power poppers have brought back director Greg Jardin for another innovative one-take video, this time for “Got to Lose”.

This one takes place in a dark, empty studio but couldn’t feel any less dark or empty. It features complex choreography involving the dance troupe Atomic Cherry Bombs and a lot of umbrellas. The song itself will convince you Weezer never changed, but moved to Canada and hid out for 15 years.

“Got to Lose” appears on Holleadro’s debut full length Record in a Bag, which is available for purchase here.

Other winners included Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream for International Album of the Year, Shad’s TSOL for Rap Recording of the Year, and Caribou’s Swim for Electronic Recording of the Year. Check out the full winners list below.

Album of the Year

Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

Drake – Thank Me Later

Hedley – The Show Must Go On

Johnny Reid – A Place Called Love

Justin Bieber – My World 2.0

International Album of the Year

Katy Perry – Teenage Dream

Eminem – Recovery

Ke$ha – Animal

Lady Antebellum – Need You Now

Taylor Swift – Speak Now

Artist of the Year

Neil Young

Johnny Reid

Drake

Justin Bieber

Sarah McLachlan

Group of the Year

Arcade Fire

Broken Social Scene

Down with Webster

Great Big Sea

Three Days Grace

Single of the Year

Young Artists for Haiti – “Wavin’ Flag”

Classified – “Oh Canada”

Drake – “Find Your Love”

Hedley – “Perfect”

kd lang – “Hallelujah Vancouver Winter 2010″

Juno Fan Choice Award

Justin Bieber

Drake

Hedley

Johnny Reid

Michael Bublé

Alternative Album of the Year

Arcade Fire – The Suburbs

Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record

Karkwa – Les chemins de verre

Owen Pallett – Heartland

Tokyo Police Club – Champ

Adult Alternative Album of the Year

Neil Young – Le Noise

Black Dub – Black Dub

Justin Nozuka – You I Wind Land and Sea

Luke Doucet – Steel City Trawler

Sarah Harmer – Oh Little Fire

Rock Album of the Year

Matthew Good – Vancouver

Cancer Bats – Bears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones

Die Mannequin – Fino + Bleed

Finger Eleven – Life Turns Electric

Hail the Villain – Population: Declining

Rap Recording of the Year

Shad – TSOL

D-Sisive – Vaudeville

Drake – Thank Me Later

Eternia & MoSS – At Last

Ghettosocks – Treat of the Day

Electronic Album of the Year

Caribou – Swim

Chilly Gonzales – Ivory Tower

Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles II

Holy Fuck – Latin

Poirier – Running High

New Artist of the Year

Meaghan Smith

Basia Bulat

Bobby Bazini

Caribou

Hannah Georgas

New Group of the Year

Said the Whale

Die Mannequin

Hollerado

Misteur Valaire

My Darkest Days

Music Videos:

- The Henry Clay People – “The Winter Song” – Three minutes of backstage fighting….but that doesn’t make up for a career of playing in a band with one another.

- Human League – “Never Let Me Go” – A grotesque kaleidoscope of the human body.

- Deezuzz – “Ammo” – A reenactment of First Blood, but John Rambo ain’t got shit on Deezuzz.

- Junk Culture – “Summer Friends” – Four copies of Junk Culture play in front of a background made up entirely of VHS tapes playing.

- Akron/Family – “Island” – Escaping to the beach is sometimes the only way to lift your spirits.

Short Films:

- The Blitzen Trapper Massacre – Watch as The Office’s Rainn Wilson (commonly known as Dwight Schrute) tries to fulfill his dream of playing live on stage with his favorite band Biltzen Trapper. After a rejection though, he ends up doing the unthinkable…..I’m sure you can guess, after all, it is a massacre.

- The Incident at Tower 37 – An animated short that promotes environmental awareness. As Tower 37 depletes the water from surrounding lakes, two eco-terrorists go to save the day.

Don’t Forget…

– Want a constant stream of musical goodness? Check out our Channel, featuring over 30 music videos, several short films, and other nifty clips, all crammed together in one non-stop barrage of visual and aural stimulation.

- Social networking is a way of life, so follow us at @cluster1tv and on Facebook

From Hollerado’s Menno Versteeg setting up shop in the middle of the audience to Le Butcherettes’ Teri Gender Bender nearly getting her head cut off, things got, well, crazy. Each set carried its share of, for lack of a more popular word, “swag.” What’s more, audiences were also treated to a rare performance by P.O.S. & Astronautalis, aka Four Fists, which actually marked the duo’s second performance to date. (Their first performance was on Wednesday at the Flamingo.) Die-hard fans might have noticed an odd member with Jukebox the Ghost. Yes, the band picked up a recent trumpet player, adding a unique vibe to their already full sound.

Given these sets were some of the band’s last for the week, it became quite apparent that plenty of artists just needed to cut loose before they, um, cut loose. Because of this there were good vibes all around. Artists partying, fans partying – ain’t nothin’ wrong with that, right? Austin, we’ll see you again next year.

If you didn’t make it, however, check out the photos below courtesy of Cap Blackard. Stay tuned for our mini-documentary of the event, which will premiere via Cluster 1.

Fences

Sabrosa Purr

The Gay Blades

Hollerado

Le Butcherettes

Ezra Furman & The Harpoons

Astronautalis + P.O.S.

The Greenhornes

Gallery by Cap Blackard

[nggallery id=192]

There aren’t many certainties in this day and age, but I know one for sure as it relates to rock music: If you get a chance to see Hollerado in concert, there is absolutely no way you can’t have fun. I’m talking fun with a capital F-U…oh yeah, can’t forget the N!

Whether it’s their irresistibly catchy lyrics, their playful power chords, their relentless confetti shooting, or just the fact that they’re four funny, down-to-earth dudes from Manotick, Ontario, it’s pretty much impossible not to fall in love with Hollerado once you’re exposed to them.

What’s more, they are easily one of the hardest-working bands in Canada (or anywhere else for that matter), having toured almost nonstop since self-releasing their Ziploc-sealed debut album, Record in a Bag, in 2009. (How many other bands can say they’ve played in China multiple times?)

2011 is going to be another busy year for Hollerado, and they were in great spirits prior to a warm-up show at a bar in Barrie, Ontario, called Kenzington. I started by asking the guys to comment on the news from the day before, which was still on music fans’ lips:  the breakup of The White Stripes. “Smart move, Jack White,” vocalist/guitarist Menno Versteeg said candidly. “You can’t get any bigger as The White Stripes until you break up. They’re as big as they can get with being a band, so it’s time to break up; he’s still going to do other awesome stuff, then 6-7-8 years from now, they can get bigger than they’ve ever been. He’s a genius.” (My personal over/under is five years for a classic Coachella Festival reunion, as bassist Dean Baxter put it.)

Hollerado got a pretty big break in June of 2009 when Jack White handpicked them to open for The Dead Weather at a last-minute show in Toronto. Despite this, they haven’t had any contact with him since. “None whatsoever, not even in the back after that show…although there is that one restraining order,” they joked. If anyone reading this ever goes down to Third Man Records in Nashville, Tennessee, to buy a few hundred dollars worth of Jack White vinyl, Hollerado would like you to pass a message on to him: “If he’s not super busy, I guess we could use a third guitarist.”

I learned about Jack and Meg White parting ways on Twitter, so I thought I’d inquire about @hollerado. Drummer Jake Boyd admitted to “tweeting” the most on behalf of the band, “depending on our sobriety levels.” But social networking isn’t at the core of Hollerado’s plans for world domination. “Our strategy is to have the most fun at whatever we do.” And what you see whenever Hollerado is onstage, four lifelong friends having the time of their lives, is pretty much what you get whether they’re online, being interviewed at the back of an empty bar in Barrie, or if they get to be the first band in space. “No one’s got the kind of leads I do!” Dean bragged.

I wanted to find out more about their newest release, Margaritaville 2: The Reckoning, available here from Arts & Crafts on vinyl or as a digital download. “Three of the songs were recorded during the Record in a Bag session,” Menno clarified. “So that they’re like B-sides, I guess, from that…didn’t make the record.” One track they all agreed was extremely fun, “Canadianarama”, “was a live recording; we didn’t do that one in the studio. We did it outside the studio in a hallway just like a jam session, and it came across really cool.”

One song newbie Hollerado concertgoers are likely to hear is Queen-like tribute “Good Day at the Races”, but the bulk of their setlist still features tried and true favorites such as “Americanarama”, “Juliette”, “Got to Lose”, and “Fake Drugs”, all from Record in a Bag. “We just like to play the songs,” they responded when I pried if there was a particular reason for going on tour again. “Not really promoting anything; it would be great if people buy some music, but just trying to put on like the best show we can.” Dean concurred, adding, “Yeah, it’s not about the record, it’s just about travelling.” Jake joined the conversation with, “I mean it’s promoting the band, but it’s not even promoting the band, it’s just…having fun.”

At this point, even if we were right at the back of the bar, we were overwhelmed by opening band Indian Handcrafts’ incredibly loud soundcheck. I can’t get mad at them, because they were really good in a Wolfmother-ish type way. (Check out their MySpace page , as I have a feeling we’ll be hearing more from this duo soon, maybe even by me!) In between song previews, I was able to make out that Hollerado will be going to Amsterdam sometime this summer…for their sake, I sure hope that they serve nachos there!

Yes, you heard me right, nachos. The boys in Hollerado are so obsessed with them that they included a close-up of tortilla chips buried under a mountain of salsa, guacamole, and melted cheese on the cover of their new LP. When asked what would happen if the band found out somewhere they were playing didn’t have nachos, Menno coolly explained, “We have a policy for this…we don’t make a big deal…we politely leave, we walk out the front door, and when we’re about 40 feet away one of us runs up and throws a Molotov cocktail through the window.” Nixon jestingly cautioned, “We don’t take it too seriously, but we like to send a message.”

Let this be a warning to concert promoters looking to book Hollerado in the near future! These four hungry young men are on the cusp of a musical breakout, especially now that they’ve been nominated for a Juno Award for New Canadian Group of the Year. “We’re so excited,” Nixon gushed. “Maybe Neil Young is going to be there, and that would be amazing.” Not as amazing as Hollerado’s cover of “Rockin’ in the Free World”, the best version I’ve heard by a band not named Pearl Jam.

Menno, on the other hand, said he’d “be satisfied with Stompin’ Tom Connors.” I told them they may be in tough against My Darkest Days, who I don’t know all that much about other than they were discovered by Chad Kroeger of Nickelback and that their big song is called “Porn Star Dancing”. “People like porn these days,” Jake remarked. “It sells.” Menno then proceeded to do a spot-on impression of Kroeger’s “disgusting, creepy” tongue-flickering from My Darkest Days’ video, but unfortunately I didn’t have my camera handy to capture the moment. You’ll just have to imagine.

Heading to Austin, TX for SXSW? Be sure to see Hollerado when they perform at Axis of Audio’s fiesta on Saturday, March 19th at The Rumbler Lounge. RSVP here!

South by Southwest is, to quote the great Sufjan Steven, “too much.” Like humanly, it’s impossible to attend even 3% of the unofficial day parties, official showcases, super important panels, and VIP BBQs. That’s not to mention the increasingly real threat of secret Foo Fighters and Kanye shows, plus the requirement of seeing Odd Future at least three times. And even with all that, you still have to make time to visit your favorite taco truck/Tex-Mex/giant burger stand before running back to the convention center in hopes of stealing a couple Kind bars and lanyards, both of which you really don’t need. Ah, the most overwhelming yet incredibly amazing five days of any music fan’s life.

So, what do you choose? Obvs, Grohl and Kanye, if you either have the hook-up or the cash. Though, we think our Saturday unofficial day party is a good choice, too, especially since we put it together with the intention of being a bit different. Sure, there are some amazing parties out there (we’ll pick our favorites later this week), but most seem to share the same 32 buzz bands. The Axis of Audio day party, however, features 13 acts that represent our tastes, ideologies, and all that other jazz. Included are both exclusive performances from some heavy hitters (MCs Astronautalis and P.O.S. and our headliners, The Greenhornes) as well as up and comers worth paying attention to (Hollerado, Dirty Ghosts, and The Slient Comedy to name a few).

As for some of the other reasons to attend: Our 13 acts will be spread out across two stages, so as soon as one finishes, the next starts. No down time, yo! Plus, we’ll have free breakfast tacos (courtesy of Taco Cabana) and Sweet Leaf Tea while supplies last. We’ll also be offering two pairs of passes to San Bernardino, CA’s Paid Dues Festival, which features the highly anticipated reunion of Black Star (oh, and our pal P.O.S., too)! Keep in mind, this day party is all free! Free! Free! All you have to do to attend is be over 21 years of age and RSVP sometime over the next week! Easy peasy.

For planning purposes, here are your set times:

12:00 – Doors
12:10 – The Silent Comedy
12:40 – Fences
01:10 – Sabrosa Purr
01:45 – The Gay Blades
02:20 – Dirty Ghosts
02:55 – God-Des & She
03:20 – Hollerado
03:55 – A Place To Bury Strangers
04:35 – Le Butcherettes
05:10 – Ezra Furman & The Harpoons
05:45 – Astronautalis + P.O.S.
06:25 – Jukebox the Ghost
07:05 – The Greenhornes

Also, for your ear drums, here are our acts in Grooveshark form:

And let’s not forget about Consequence of Sound‘s other two SXSW-related events. On March 16th, CoS Editor in Chief, Mike Roffman, and Cluster 1 host, Sami Jarroush, will take part in a panel entitled “The Rise Of The Music Vlogger.” Then, on March 18th, we’ll host Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, Pepper Rabbit, and PS I Love You at the Dot Com Day Stage. RSVP for that here.

By now, you have over a hundred reasons to attend Austin, TX’s South by Southwest, but here’s one more. On Saturday, March 19th, Axis of Audio, which includes Consequence of Sound, Antiquiet, Some Kind of Awesome, Rock It Out! Blog, and Twenty Four Bit, alongside Knuckle Rumbler will launch what will undoubtedly be a monumental extravaganza. The Greenhornes, A Place to Bury Strangers, and an exclusive performance by Astronautalis & P.O.S. will top the party’s inaugural year, though it doesn’t stop there. Not at all.

The three will be joined by Ezra Furman & The Harpoons, Le Butcherettes, Jukebox the Ghost, Hollerado, The Gay Blades, Dirty Ghosts, Fences, The Silent Comedy, Sabrosa Purr, and God-Des & She. Take a breather, read that again, and then pee in your pants.

The event takes place at The Rumbler Lounge, located at 402 E. 6th Street, and will run from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., which means you’ll be partying for quite some time. What’s more, two lucky patrons will each win a pair of passes to San Bernardino, CA’s Paid Dues Festival, which features our pal P.O.S. and the highly anticipated reunion of Black Star.

Stay tuned for set times and more information, including additional goodies we’ll be offering. In the meantime, be sure to RSVP (via Do512.com)!

Once again, the Philadelphia quintet returned to Chicago. This time, however, they headlined their own show at the cozy nook, Lincoln Hall. Given that past visits have been either festival or opening slots, it was nice to catch the band on their own terms. They also brought some new faces along.

Fit to the sound, Ontario’s Hollerado uncorked the indie rock, setting the crowd afire with either humorous anecdotes or catchy pop rock. It only took five minutes to warm up to singer Menno Versteeg. Much like Sprangers, there’s an amicable nature to his swagger. He looks like an English student, he’s not soft spoken but he’s not loud, and he has a knack for melody. Three features that help outline the band’s classic-yet-modern sound. It’s similar to Free Energy’s, except it’s less Thin Lizzy and more old-school Weezer. Does that make sense? No. Either way, songs “Americanarama” and “Got to Lose”, off of this year’s Record in a Bag, felt great on an otherwise typical Friday night. The melodic harmonies behind the latter’s chorus begged for a sing-a-long – so much so that members of Free Energy joined them on-stage. All in all, an exceptional opener that didn’t so much match the energy to come, but appropriately built it up. Catch ‘em soon.

Photo by Heather Kaplan

Soon after, Free Energy rolled out its rock ‘n’ roll revue. Ray Parker, Jr.’s “Ghostbusters” pumped up the crowd, while Sprangers nodded to the beat and watched his incredibly engaging audience. Naturally, hits like “Free Energy”, “Bang Pop”, and “Dark Trance” sounded excellent, played to precision. But the real highlight to the show, and similar to their time back in September with Titus Andronicus, came with “Something in Common”, the bubbly riff parade that sees Sprangers shuffling across stage and guitarist Scott Wells bouncing up and down with a familial smile. It’s so goddamn feel good that you want to hug everyone, anyone, or anything. Coupled with Sprangers surfer-like wit, you can’t help but just laugh and sing along, even if you don’t know the words.

Photo by Heather Kaplan

The rest of the set played out well. Sprangers fiddled with the audience some. (When a couple of girls towards the front asked him to remove his shirt, he responded back, “It’s a dashiki,” digressing on the late fashion motif.) He even introduced a new, untitled song (“Don’t Miss Your Chance”?), one that worked off a Ramones-like rhythm and sounded promising for their future sophomore album. And fans screamed in joy when, during the band’s encore, Sprangers finally let up and dished out their cover of Springsteen’s “I’m Going Down”, which became more or less a crowd jamboree, as dozens of fans (confetti, too) joined the group on-stage. From sound to enthusiasm, Free Energy lives up to their name. They move, they shake, and they rock. While they may be slaves to the road these days, but they’re making folks happy. Good for them.

Photography by Heather Kaplan.
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Gallery by Heather Kaplan

[nggallery id=152]

]]> Record in a Bag, felt great on an otherwise typical Friday night. The melodic harmonies behind the latter's chorus begged for a sing-a-long - so much so that members of Free Energy joined them on-stage. All in all, an exceptional opener that didn't so much match the energy to come, but appropriately built it up. Catch 'em soon. Photo by Heather Kaplan Soon after, Free Energy rolled out its rock 'n' roll revue. Ray Parker, Jr.'s "Ghostbusters" pumped up the crowd, while Sprangers nodded to the beat and watched his incredibly engaging audience. Naturally, hits like "Free Energy", "Bang Pop", and "Dark Trance" sounded excellent, played to precision. But the real highlight to the show, and similar to their time back in September with Titus Andronicus, came with "Something in Common", the bubbly riff parade that sees Sprangers shuffling across stage and guitarist Scott Wells bouncing up and down with a familial smile. It's so goddamn feel good that you want to hug everyone, anyone, or anything. Coupled with Sprangers surfer-like wit, you can't help but just laugh and sing along, even if you don't know the words. Photo by Heather Kaplan The rest of the set played out well. Sprangers fiddled with the audience some. (When a couple of girls towards the front asked him to remove his shirt, he responded back, "It's a dashiki," digressing on the late fashion motif.) He even introduced a new, untitled song ("Don't Miss Your Chance"?), one that worked off a Ramones-like rhythm and sounded promising for their future sophomore album. And fans screamed in joy when, during the band's encore, Sprangers finally let up and dished out their cover of Springsteen's "I'm Going Down", which became more or less a crowd jamboree, as dozens of fans (confetti, too) joined the group on-stage. From sound to enthusiasm, Free Energy lives up to their name. They move, they shake, and they rock. While they may be slaves to the road these days, but they're making folks happy. Good for them. Photography by Heather Kaplan. ------ Gallery by Heather Kaplan [nggallery id=152] ]]> http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/11/free-energy-hollerado-do-rock-n-roll-at-chicagos-lincoln-hall-1119/feed/ 0 http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/07/wheres-the-blues-cos-at-ottawa-bluesfest-10/ http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/07/wheres-the-blues-cos-at-ottawa-bluesfest-10/#comments http://c438342.r42.cf2.rackcdn.com//wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Cisco.Bluesfest.jpg Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:01:01 +0000 Gilles LeBlanc http://consequenceofsound.net/?p=56457 For months now, I have been telling anyone who would listen that I was going to Ottawa Bluesfest and how psyched I was about it. “Oh yeah?” people would ask, oftentimes feigning interest. “A blues festival in Ottawa, huh? That should be fun. Who’s playing?”

I would proceed to excitedly tell them that before we even get there, one of the nicest cities in Canada to visit will have already seen headlining performances by Iron Maiden, Furthur featuring Grateful Dead members Phil Lesh and Bob Weir in their only Canadian appearance, The B-52s, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, The Flaming Lips, Rush, Arcade Fire, Santana, and Crowded House. To which I would frequently hear the reply, “Um, those aren’t very bluesy bands.”

Can’t argue with that logic. Bluesfest has done a lot of growing up since 5,000 people came out to see E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons at a downtown Ottawa park in 1994. It’s now unarguably one of the largest music events in North America, with more than 230 acts spread out over 12 days at LeBreton Flats as well as other locations throughout the city like the world-famous ByWard Market (where President Obama stopped for cookies in 2009). While blues are still an integral part of the yearly lineup, there have been so many other music genres that have been added to the mix recently to make the festival more commercial that, as much I hate to suggest it, a name change may be in order.

And in 2010, especially during the three days I attended, the indie rock influence was overwhelming, with a number of Canadian bands taking centre stage. It was a kick ass time in Ottawa, and I am honored to be bringing you a recap of the proceedings from my perspective. Now if only my home city of Toronto could get its act together and organize something as wickedly cool as Bluesfest…

Friday, July 16th

The Budos Band
MBNA Stage, 7:00 p.m.

The Budos Band’s funky, jazzed-up instrumental stylings dominated by trumpet and saxophone should have been the perfect way to get anyone’s evening going. Unfortunately, these Staten Islanders’ talents seemed to have been wasted on a crowd clearly waiting to party with popular celtic folk rockers Great Big Sea a few hours later.

Drake
Claridge Homes Stage, 8:15 p.m.

For a great many young adults on Friday, particularly those of the female persuasion, THIS was by far the main event of the entire Bluesfest. The Claridge Homes stage, named after the company developing condos across the street at LeBreton Flats, was looking dangerously overcrowded for the man they affectionately call ‘Drizzy.’ No riots ever did end up breaking out, but I thought I was going to go deaf from all the screaming, which didn’t subside for the length of Drake’s set. While they may believe he’s the best thing since sliced bread, I’m not convinced that the kid from Degrassi has graduated into hip-hop stardom just yet. I certainly didn’t like how he went all auto-tune not even three songs in, and I also didn’t think he had to swear in front of all those kids.

I will give him this, though – Damn is he ever charismatic. Despite the frenzied scene unfolding at the start, I was impressed with how he nonchalantly sang “Forever” standing sideways for a few verses before thrusting himself into the proverbial lion’s den. Is Drake the face of a new musical generation? I don’t know, but it won’t be because his home and native land doesn’t support him.

Stars
Subway Stage, 9:30 p.m.

As I made my way to the far west end of the park, I started to sense something magical in the air. Blonde Redhead had just ended with an awkward whimper, their trance-like brand of dream pop having lulled the several thousand people present into a stupor of sorts. When they came to, instead of a concert stage, they found a setting decorated like we had all been invited to a romantic candlelight dinner, white roses were everywhere, with our dates for the evening being Montreal band Stars.

No tricks or potions were needed to make us fall for them and their music. Between passionate duetting by Amy Millan and Torquil Campbell (Seriously, how cool of a name is that?) as well as some rocking, love-laced synth, we all bore witness to some true Stars being born that night.

First Broken Social Scene, then Metric, and now Stars…Canada’s beginning to cultivate quite the reputation when it comes to producing brilliantly talented indie bands.

Saturday, July 17th

The White Wires
Subway Stage, 2:00 p.m.

Upon returning to the Subway-sponsored stage Saturday afternoon, it was looking as if some ominous dark clouds were going to wreak havoc on Bluesfest…that is until local Ottawa outfit The White Wires saved the day! Once guitarist and singer Ian, bassist Luke and drummer Allie started playing their nifty, fun, and energetic surf rock, the sun came out almost immediately and shone down on everyone. For a good time, hit up their MySpace – I’m pretty sure I saw this address scrawled on a bathroom stall wall at a ’50s sock hop revival not too long ago…

Richie Righteous
Hard Rock Stage, 4:15 p.m.

With the threat of rain having passed, I was all ready to enjoy a little bit of blues courtesy of someone named T.J. Wheeler, but he was being drowned out by what sounded like some pretty aggressive, old school Ice Cube-like rapping coming from the Hard Rock stage to the north. In contrast to its name, the Hard Rock had been where gospel choirs and Christian rock bands had been congregating all day. And now, it was Richie Righteous and his crew’s turn.

I stayed long enough to get the takeaway points from Richie’s presentation. He is one angry dude, he wants to see you dance, and oh yeah, he really, really, and I mean really loves Jesus. Judge R.I.C.H. for yourself at RichieRighteous.net.

The Matt Schofield Trio
Subway Stage, 4:45 p.m.

Hey, what do you know…blues at Ottawa Bluesfest! And Matt Schofield and his band were well worth the wait. This about to turn 33 year-old guitarist from the UK is one cool customer. Very laid back, and very similar to the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan I found in terms of his technique. As I joined my family far away from the stage to watch him jam extensively with his mates, the breeze from the nearby water cooling everybody in the park off just right, I couldn’t help but think to myself that that there was nowhere else in the world I’d rather be.

The Whigs
Subway Stage, 6:15 p.m.

When you go to a festival like Bluesfest, there’s bound to be that one band that surprises you when you least expect it and becomes a new favorite of yours. That band for us may very well have been The Whigs.

With our two young kids rapidly becoming cranky, we decided after five hours that The Whigs would be our last show of the day. I was really hoping to stay for The Hold Steady, who The Whigs are currently on tour with, but was cool with our decision to leave.

To be honest, we couldn’t have gone out on a higher note. While I knew they were a get down and dirty garage rock band from Athens, Georgia, I didn’t realize just how good lead singer and guitarist Parker Gispert, drummer Julian Dorio (with his bush of reddish hair that reminded us of snowboarder Shaun White), and bassist Tim Deaux sounded together.

I think my wife summed it up best during one song of theirs called “Dying”, from their latest album In the Dark. She had two simple yet powerful words to describe how she was feeling about them at that moment – Rhythmically haunting.

Sunday, July 18th

Hollerado
MBNA Stage, 7:00 p.m.

Am I weird in admitting that little-known Hollerado were the band I was probably MOST looking forward to all Bluesfest weekend? Or is that incredibly ‘hipsterish’ of me?

These four fun loving guys from just outside of Ottawa have been busting their butts the last couple of years getting themselves noticed – I first saw them opening for The Dead Weather at a secret Toronto club show in 2009 and bought their CD off of lead singer Menno Versteeg for cool $5 (which came in a Ziplock bag, no less). Their beyond-catchy songs quickly became family favorites and it is so awesome to now see them playing in front of probably their biggest crowd ever at Bluesfest.

And they didn’t let the opportunity for exposure pass them by, pulling out all the stops during their 45-minute set including confetti, wrapped candy, and inflatable beach toys. Kudos to the Bluesfest schedulers – Hollerado’s mischievously rocking nature made them the PERFECT warm-up for the hardcore Weezer fans making up the first dozen or so rows. I simply can’t recommend this band enough to people – Check out their just as playful site here, and do your ears a favour and give songs like “Americanarama”, “Juliette”, and “Fake Drugs” a sample.

Weezer
MBNA Stage, 9:30 p.m.

After 12 days of nonstop concerts, you would think that the good folks of Ottawa may have felt like taking a pass on a band who some critics have insinuated their best days may be behind them.

I think it’s safe to say though, after witnessing them pack in one of the biggest crowds at this year’s Bluesfest (rivaling other, more “time-honored” headliners like Rush and Santana), that Weezer are still pretty darn cool.

It didn’t take long for the dozen or so rows I mentioned earlier to stretch past the soundboard tent, all the way back to the LeBreton Flats park entrance and even further once the first notes of “Hash Pipe” became recognizable. From there it was hit after alt-rock radio hit, each one enthusiastically delivered by the long-time poster child for all things geek chic, Mr. Rivers Cuomo. He even led the charge on more than one occasion of flashing the =w= hand sign, all while looking resplendent in an argyle sweater vest that would have made Mr. Rogers himself jealous, God rest his soul.

One thing that was blatantly apparent with Cuomo the whole show long which was transmitted to the other band members and each and every person in attendance was that he was having FUN. Not only did they play their now-standard “Kids/Poker Face” mash up, complete with Cuomo sporting a Lady Gaga-worthy wig, they even busted out a full on thrash metal cover of Metallica’s “The Four Horsemen”!

Not that Weezer ever needed to prove to their fans that they are back, but on this last night of Bluesfest, they showed the world at large that they can be one of the biggest bands in the world.

It’s not like Jack White has to prove anything to anyone…

at least in Gilles’ opinion.

Since breaking into the mainstream in 2002 with the landmark White Stripes album White Blood Cells, I don’t think any other musician can claim to have accomplished as much as Mr. White has in the last seven or so years.

He has sold out concert tours and headlined festivals around the world with both the Stripes and The Raconteurs, sold albums in the millions and won arms full of awards, all while earning the respect of musical contemporaries both young and old as well as the reverence of fans like myself.

As someone who can’t get enough of seeing him perform live, I can’t help but be pleased that he seems compelled to constantly assert his rock genius again and again, especially when it happens so often in Toronto!

So imagine the smile that came across my face when I learned that his newest venture, The Dead Weather, announced on the afternoon of Friday, June 12th that they would be playing an intimate club show the very next night at the Horseshoe Tavern as a warm-up to their upcoming tour. It didn’t matter that I had already bought tickets a couple of weeks ago to their July 22nd date at the Kool Haus (where I rocked out to The Raconteurs a year ago).

I wasn’t going to pass up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal with a band destined for greatness in a setting like “The ’Shoe,” and boy, did we ever get close!

After spending the first half of the day lining up for wristbands for the privilege of buying a ticket later that night, my wife Luisa and I looked on anxiously as a good hundred people who got their pink bracelets well after us were let into the venue first. Fortunately, a great deal of them chose to return later, drink at the bar or sit at one of the tables in the back, so once inside we hurried to grab a prime chunk of real estate in the front row.

By the time the opening act took to the stage, a great sounding band from Ottawa named Hollerado, I was so close that one good jostle from the back would have sent me flying headfirst into the keyboard set up for Dean Fertita later.

While there was the expected surge of excitement as The Dead Weather emerged from the shadows, all four members dressed primarily in black, the crowd was extremely well behaved, ready to face the full brunt of the approaching rock storm.

I’m not going to pretend like I knew the songs we were assaulted with during their one hour, 13-song set, except for the power packed “Hang You from the Heavens” (which was saved for the encore), as well as “Treat Me Like Your Mother”, the second single from the upcoming album Horehound. It didn’t take me long though to start grooving to the thundering, Led Zeppelin-ish blues riffs and dramatic organ accentuations being produced mere inches in front of me by Fertita, backed up by “Little” Jack Lawrence busting out on bass at the other end of the well weathered stage.

The tight fitting Horseshoe was actually a fitting venue for The Dead Weather to make their Canadian debut, as they struck me as more than a bit of a throwback to the groups that would have performed there throughout the ’60s and ’70s.

Standouts for me included the opener “60 Feet Tall”, “I Cut Like a Buffalo”, “Forever My Queen”, and the absolutely mesmerizing “Will There Be Enough Water?” which saw White take the lead on guitar like only he can in addition to duetting with sultry, chain-smoking singer Alison Mosshart.

Oh yeah – For those of you who may not be aware, Jack plays drums in this new band, looking very comfortable behind the kit to boot. You can tell John Bonham has obviously been a big influence on him; he even paid homage to the late, great “Gonzo” by eschewing his sticks and drumming with only his fingers at the start of one song. I’m sure I’m not the only long-time admirer of White’s oftentimes blistering guitar work who found it hard not to leave the ’Shoe impressed with his mastery of another instrument.

Their demeanour may have been on the frosty side when they first came out, but by the end of the night, The Dead Weather had warmed up to the point where they were visibly enjoying themselves and the Toronto crowd’s reaction to the new material. Fertita, in particular, was grinning ear-to-ear and even went so far as to high-five me before taking a bow with the rest of the band! The Dead Weather are going to make a lot of noise this year, and not just from his distorted guitars! I for one cannot wait to download the digital copy of Horehound on July 14th!

Luisa stood in front of Gilles and had this perspective:

A new group consisting of a mix of members from other bands shows up a month before their first album is released, and while you may have YouTubed their few performances, it can be difficult to tell what to expect – From an ignorant point of view.

Jack White’s in town, you show up, period.

No, they did not turn out to be my favourite all-time band, but they still rocked! It was interesting to see Jack return to his first musical home behind the drums. Of course he plays them with creative and passionate flair. White sang and played his guitar a few times during the set, reminding us that the lightning, thunder, hurricane, and tsunamis are all contained in his finger tips.

Alison Mosshart, the lead singer, surprised me. I sensed that she brings forth her insecurities, her issues, and gets caught up in her lack of maturity and may as well be speaking to her therapist while on stage. People may interpret her actions during her performance as being lost in the music, but I think she’s lost in herself. She is talented (and quite attractive), she just needs to stop trying to prove it to her audience and trust herself.

Jack Lawrence seems to draw the line between band and audience like a true bassist, concentrating on his vital role to the production. He’s a pro to the core and so obviously loves rocking out. There were some technical difficulties during the show and he, from my perspective, was able to direct his crew to the problem.

Dean Fertita was exceptionally diverse in his keyboard and guitar abilities while lending some back up vocals as well. I sensed an appreciation of the crowd’s excitement as he delivered the goods to the hungry audience. And boy, did we eat it up – Quite tasty, actually.

To stand in line all day just to be in the presence of a living legend, a master musician is no great feat. Saturday night’s performance, however, made me question, “What makes Jack White so incomparably amazing?” There’s no question that he’s talented beyond his living years on any instrument he attacks, and he writes with provoking expertise, but it’s his stage presence that draws me into the fulfilling world of rock. His energy spills forth from an unpretentious temperament and ultimate channelling of music artistry – An aura you cannot fake. He is human with, no doubt, problems, and family and issues like the rest of us, but instead of using those as crutches, it seems to me that he morphs his experiences into magic. The result is a stage energy that flows back and forth as the ebb and flow from the edge of the ocean and his show’s end result is nothing short of miraculous.

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Check out Luisa and Gilles on their new blog, Harmony Rd. Contagious Passion is currently available for purchase via Lulu.com.