The only real glitch to the weekend happened Sunday morning. Some of the equipment for the 105 Street stage was late.
This photo was taken when the second band of the day should have been playing.
This is electric maverick country. And it’s good. I’ve tried to see them once or twice and it just never panned out, so I’m glad I got the chance at SOS Fest.
It’s amazing that a couple of my favourite shows this weekend would be called country, since it’s not usually a genre I turn to.
Lyve on Whyte’s Jay Sparrow on the SOS Fest, and re-branding Whyte Avenue as a live music destination.
After the Old Ugly Showcase at Wunderbar (there was another one all day at the Old Strathcona Performing Arts Centre too) and a night of rock, I’m surprised the place is still standing. That’s all Edmonton music too.
We missed Plain Clothes because the online schedule told us 11pm, but we did get to see Skin and Touch It And You Will Say Ow.
Skin’s a two-piece that rocks and zips with a punk or garage feel.
Touch It And You Will Say Ow has the best band name of the SOS Fest. And you need to see these guys fly all over, mixing hilarious ideas (Don’t talk shit about Tom’s Creek) with good lyrics, and screaming guitars, smashing drums and wailing noise.
This was a band I had checked out on MySpace while figuring out who I wanted to see during SOS Fest. From Vancouver, they play straight-up bluesy, garage rock. With a retro sound to their music. Man, I dug the Dead Ghosts.
If they come through Edmonton again you make sure you let me know, so I don’t miss them. You’ll want to check them out too.
Also, it was my first time in the basement of Megatunes. Thanks for the good times, and good music, Megatunes.
I’ve now had the pleasure of seeing The Joe rap live twice. He keeps getting better.
He’s exciting, he’s energetic, he’s wild, he’s got some of the most thoughtful, poignant and hilarious lyrics you’ll hear. I won’t go into too much detail, because I could be here all day, but I meant it when I earlier said that The Joe, and the Old Ugly Recording Co.’s other rappers, mixed in with our city’s poet laureate, Cadence Weapon, showcase Edmonton as a talent pool of hip-hop.
And I say that not even being a regular listener of the genre.
Samantha Schultz played Original Joe’s Varsity Saturday night, part of a duo of young folk-pop stars. She plays with passion, but she can also sing so softly that you need to lean forward in your seat. And you will, because you want to hear what that lovey voice is saying.
She’s also great on the guitar, fingers flying throughout her songs. She’s folky, with Norah Jones-like qualities to her voice, and really is one to watch. Though, she’s been one to watch for a few years, bursting onto the Edmonton scene in 2005 as a Tweener at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival.
