Live Reviews
Gravity Wave + More @ the Boat Weds June 12th
- by Tyler Wade
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Add to del.ico.us.(2008-06-16)
Photo credit courtesy of Adam Anklewicz -- Photo of Aleks & the Ramps
It’s bike season out there and although I’m very new to it, it excites me. I can ride my bike around everywhere, not worry about parking a car and not wait around for the next streetcar. NXNE starts today and I got started early last night at The Boat. If you want to know who I am, I was the guy with the bright white LED flashing light clipped to the back of my shorts walking around the bar. Again, I’m new to the bike thing, so to the guy that pointed out to me “you’re blinking” I thank you.
I went to see the Quantum Physique but it appeared as though they were a no show and so I ended up watching the tail end of “Vesper Hours”. A typical 4 piece pop rock sound and nothing too interesting. They list their influences as Weezer, Pearl Jam, Sloan and Radiohead and the music reflects that especially when they ended with (I believe) a cover of Radiohead’s “Jigsaw Falling into Place”
They looked bored and ready to get off the stage.
I was ready to leave and out of the blue saw Finlay, Dwight and Ken of Gravity Wave. I told them I’d stick around to see them thinking they were next. Dwight then pointed out how fun it was the banjo guitar on stage was covered in coloured lights. I knew then that Aleks and the Ramps were up next and I’d walked in to a late night.
A long set up time was worth the wait. A simple key punch on the keyboard kicked things off. All five members of the band stood beside each other sidestepping left and right. They copied each other with synchronous dance moves including laughter, drying tears and taps on the head movements. Aleks started singing and the rest of the band ran out in to the busy audience, dancing, jumping, laughing and hitting a musical instrument. They rejoined back on stage, grabbed hold of their instruments and with the fury of a band destined for great things started rocking out with joyous melodies and a youthful exuberance. They continued dancing, they continued jumping and they swapped instruments a few times. They had mini stage shows to end different songs; they meowed their way through their finale and at the end, a raucous applause, cd and t shirt sales and a happy night for the family of musicians. Their story must be an interesting one and I plan to get it out of them. They traveled all the way from Melbourne, Australia to play southern Ontario a few times is it really all for NXNE?
Last up to play was The Gravity Wave. This Ken Farrell project played for the last time in their current incarnation as a full band. It was sad to see since It was a Wednesday and the band has garnered some serious attention and the place should’ve been packed. Ultramodern electro pop with a strong groove provided by Finlay Brathwaite on the bass. It seemed every time I turned around Dwight Schenk had a new instrument in his hand ranging from a mean cowbell, a kazoo, something that was neon green and a drum machine of sorts he had to lay on the ground. Kevin Sasaki played a drum machine with sticks and would lunge his body between it and a microphone to provide back up vocals. Ken is one of a rare breed of singers that finds things to do if he’s not playing an instrument including throwing fireballs into the audience and cutting through the air with a kind of karate chop. I’m glad I was there. The fun they were having on stage transferred to the audience and me. I understand Ken’s got his next plans already in motion including back up synchronized dancing vocalists – can’t wait for that incarnation to come to life.
NOTE: The Quantum Physique’s van broke down. This is why they didn’t show.