Blog
November 7th 2009 | 1
Me want cookie.
In Winnipeg Halloween is usually all about the house parties, but this year live music filled all of my costumed moments.
7:30 p.m. Devil’s Night. Dressed as a teenage Sherlock Holmes I enter the Pyramid Cabaret to the beautifully somber sounds of cellist Gyoa Valtysdottir from the headlining act MUM. The connection between Manitoba and the all-Icelandic bill became apparent when SIN FANG BOUS’ lead singer Sindri Mar Sigfusson spoke into one of his three slightly effects laden microphones.“It was really cold here today, reminds me of home”
MUM are touring North America in support of their recently released fifth album “Sing along to songs you don’t know” which is exactly what they got the crowd to do through a series of cue cards. So we sang along and danced too, especially mid set when they broke out experimental dance number “The smell of today is like breastmilk in the wind"Instuments were changing rapidly. Melodica, cello, Jaw harp, ukulele, harmonicas, a Bo Diddley box guitar, recorders and even more trinkets combined with a more traditional bass, drums, guitar and keyboards to create strange pop songs with pretty vocals. Where did they all come from? The Sherlock in me was intrigued.
The Show wrapped up early to make way for a fun looking, very costumed dance party but I was already on my way to the Royal Albert Arms to see NOMEANSNO. Expecting to see a bunch of ghoulies and ghosties I was greeted by a sea of black hoodies, so I decided to take off my jacket, Sherlock hat, and stash my pipe so as to not look out of place. However as soon as ELECTRO QUATERSTAFF broke into their heavy organized cacophony, I forgot all my self consciousness.
I had heard NOMeansNO on record before and had always enjoyed them, but seeing these 30 year vets on stage was a kick in the face. I was very tired by this point but completely mesmerized by the band’s loud and dynamic sound.
Halloween, Ragpickers 25 anniversary party.
Dressed as Cookie Monster I came in as The SUMMER OF LEGS were playing their last song of vintage synth-punk with frontman Johnny Nuclear prowling the stage revved up and ready to pounce.
Julia Ryckman’s solo set as SLATTERN came with hauntingly beautiful vocals over fuzzed out keyboards and a slow, dirty, mechanical drum-machine.
Guitar and drum duo VAMPIRES with their show fitting name got the whole costumed mess dancing. ROYAL CANOE hit the stage way late into the night amidst an excited crowd bobbing to their finely crafted instant pop classics.
The live bands on the second floor had wrapped up but DJ’s ROB VILAR, JAMALL KNIGHT, OFIELD WILLIAMS and NAMOWAN had the dance floor up on the third grooving. One of them was doing a hilarious Wolfman Jack impression in between songs. My throat hurt the next day from speaking in cookie monster voice all night.
-JPJP
Discussion
-
I wanted to go to Ragpickers so badly. But me had no tickets. :(
Summer of Legs, Royal Canoe, Jamal Knight. Brilliant line-up.– Samuel Swanson in Winnpeg | November 8th 2009 at 5:55pm | Link
