Devo played on Saturday night at Dundas Square. Once again, the sound was great, the streets and square were full. At the moment I haven't got a bike lock or a bike that I feel comfortable locking up in public. So, I had to stand with my bike. After a few forays to the east side of Yonge, I picked a spot on the relatively uncrowded southwest corner of Yonge and Dundas, resigning myself to watching the show on the big screens. Certainly, it was not as deafening as the east side of Yonge but it was still loud. I almost put my ear plugs in but I abstained.
Their performance was super tight. They must be able to play these songs in their sleep after more than 30 years of being a band. I can't imagine they get too excited to play the same songs they always play but their blasé faces and robot like facade lend an air of reassuring sincerity to the concert. They take it very seriously. They don't get excited. Banter with the crowd is pretty minimal. The main thing is the songs are great and they perform them with great precision and I would say, a large measure of dispassion. Their vibe demands a lack of emotional connection and simple technical adherence to patterns and playing your part in the larger context of the band.
They seem to have picked up the quick costume changes of Noh theatre. Did they start off wearing ten layers? I never saw them doffing or tossing garments but I was also spending a fair bit of time watching all the people stroll by. Almost every song had a different outfit. I especially liked the elastic, patella-encircling garters of the last songs. Yellow raincoat-like shirts, grey long sleeve luge shirts, It looks like they are sponsored by Adidas now. Very athletic, light fabrics for the most part.
The crowd was well behaved and very smokeless compared to the Thursday show. Way to go Devo. We probably won't cross paths again but you guys were great.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
First Outdoor Concert of 2011
Fucked Up (8pm), Off! (9pm) and The Descendents (10pm) played at Dundas Square tonight. It was one of the nightly free shows put on by NXNE. Thank you NXNE and the aforementioned bands. What a difference the sound man makes. From the echo-y imprecise canyon of Fucked Up's sound to the crisp, CD-like sound of Off! was about as far a leap as sound can take. All the bands gave excellent performances. Fucked Up's singer was touring the crowd for the whole set, taking it to the people. He knows how to work a crowd. Off! played short tight bursts of furious punk. It reminded me that I haven't seen a band that heavy in too long a time. I don't get out like I used to.
For some reason they couldn't co-ordinate the picture on the big screen with the sound. On the screen there were a lot of perfectly timed shots of interactions between the singers and the crowd. It couldn't have been timed better by a director. Some of FU's most ardent fans are a sight to behold on the jumbo screen. Larger than life and a warning to all about over indulgence in punk rock living. Not the beautiful people suffice to say.
I didn't really know the Descendents catalogue until tonight. For variety there was a section with the singer's kids reading the 'Commandments of All'! The routine, complete with one large tablet á la Moses, was peppered by 6/8 dissonant melodies and punches that were flawless and made me think they were going to break into some schmaltzy jazz as a joke. Lucky kids, going on tour with their punk rock Dad.
No jokes but lots of smokes. It was like the old club days, all the stinky cigarette smoke. Unlike a club, you aren't "allowed" to drink at Dundas Square. Everyone was. Simply everyone. And all so well behaved. It gives me hope for mankind. A security guard came to my friend and said "I won't take your drink but you have to drink it fast." Never mind the chillum circle going right next to us. An awesome night, especially for the budget-conscious. Look for twice the people and four times the number of people wearing glasses at Devo on Saturday.
The singer from the Decendents said that he thought he was in Times Square or Japan as he surveyed Yonge and Dundas and the assembled at twilight. Does that meant that our efforts to Times Square-ify the intersection have not been in vain? The square may not be level but at least they can put a stage on it and have concerts like this in the summer.
For some reason they couldn't co-ordinate the picture on the big screen with the sound. On the screen there were a lot of perfectly timed shots of interactions between the singers and the crowd. It couldn't have been timed better by a director. Some of FU's most ardent fans are a sight to behold on the jumbo screen. Larger than life and a warning to all about over indulgence in punk rock living. Not the beautiful people suffice to say.
I didn't really know the Descendents catalogue until tonight. For variety there was a section with the singer's kids reading the 'Commandments of All'! The routine, complete with one large tablet á la Moses, was peppered by 6/8 dissonant melodies and punches that were flawless and made me think they were going to break into some schmaltzy jazz as a joke. Lucky kids, going on tour with their punk rock Dad.
No jokes but lots of smokes. It was like the old club days, all the stinky cigarette smoke. Unlike a club, you aren't "allowed" to drink at Dundas Square. Everyone was. Simply everyone. And all so well behaved. It gives me hope for mankind. A security guard came to my friend and said "I won't take your drink but you have to drink it fast." Never mind the chillum circle going right next to us. An awesome night, especially for the budget-conscious. Look for twice the people and four times the number of people wearing glasses at Devo on Saturday.
The singer from the Decendents said that he thought he was in Times Square or Japan as he surveyed Yonge and Dundas and the assembled at twilight. Does that meant that our efforts to Times Square-ify the intersection have not been in vain? The square may not be level but at least they can put a stage on it and have concerts like this in the summer.
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