Osheaga Day 3: Electro Day!

Osheaga Day 3: Electro Day!

Finally the last day of Osheaga 2016!

This year was probably the best A list Osheaga lineup since it had most of the top bands that were touring this year including Radiohead!

Melanie Martinez

I didn't know anything about Melanie Martinez other than what I read on Osheaga's site.

The stage was really impressive!

They had decorated the whole stage like a baby room with a huge crib in the middle.

She was really entertaining by dancing a lot on stage while singing.

A lot of girls were present singing with her all of the lyrics.

The songs were good enough and perfect as the first act of the day.

M0

Mo started late but it was worth the wait... I knew of her music but I'd never seen her live.

She was dancing a lot on stage sometimes in a unusual way and it was great to watch her perform.

The songs she played were good and catchy.

She had a great style overall.

There was something about her that you couldn't look away from the whole spectacle. I would say some kind of magnetism.

I bought tickets to her next show in Montreal right about her performance.

Great to watch.

Paper Kites

I knew of them from their single, but I didn't know much else from the Paper Kites so that's why I wanted to see them.

They had good songs.

They were captivating to watch and most people seemed to enjoy the show.

It was a good time slot for them as more people were showing up.

The background kept changing and it was fun to watch it too.

The Struts

The Struts were one of the most entertaining band we saw during the weekend and at that point on Sunday it was the best so far!

I didn't know anything about them, I just read their bio to decide where to go next.

They were excellent in every way.

The singer was very charismatic and people were responding really well to him.

My son and I danced the whole set.

It was some good 80s rock pushed to the extreme :)

The singer was dressed up and face painted.

He was really entertaining the crowd and interacting a lot with everyone.

He created a few competition such as the side with the most women on other people's shoulders.

Made the crowd jump on multiple occasions.

Dilly Dally

Grunge at its best, would be a way to describe Dilly Dally!

It was great to see this band live!!

The singer had a grungy voice (a la Kurt Cobain) and the sound was also reminiscent of the Grunge era.

When the singer was screaming, she was really good to keep it controlled.

She had great looking glasses.

The crowd was intense during the show and induced in some heavy mosh pit dancing.

Strumbellas

I only watch a few minutes of their performance since other shows were conflicting, but I liked their latest album so I wanted to take a peek at what they did live.

They seemed to have a relaxed, cool, friendly attitude and music.

The violin playing was great.

The whole set I saw was like a folk party in many ways.

Good single!

Rufus du Sol

First time at the piknic Electronic stage of the weekend to watch Rufus du Sol while taking a break to eat.

It was just like a huge party that everyone was invited to!

Everyone was dancing to the great beats and the good rhythm of the songs.

Grimes



Grimes was really sick and had 2 twisted ankles when she walked on stage.

She puked in the backstage between songs BUT she gave everything she had during her performance...she was dancing around when she could while holding her stomach and sang her heart out.

I thought the songs she played were really entertaining.

Her dancers did a great job to cover for her.

I had never heard a singer scream has intensely has Grimes during a song...impressive and surprising!

Good show even though she kept being sorry for her current state.

M83

I don't have much to say about their performance as I thought they were good, but not to be remembered.

Grammatik live

Grammatik had the big task of replacing Disclosure who couldn't make it due to traveling issues.

Everyone was surprised that Disclosure couldn't be there and people were kinda angry too.

Grammatik was great though!

It was the "full band" experience since he added a guitar player.

The duo of Dj + guitar gave actually a great result.

The beats and songs were good.

The background videos were super fun to watch and well made too.

During one of the songs, the video playing was an Anonymous hacking style video and that was really interesting to watch.

RADIOHEAD!

Everyone was waiting for this show to start for so long.

It was the most packed moment of the weekend for me as I was right in the middle of the crowd and as close as I could be.

It was going to be more than 2 hours (2h20) of Radiohead music and I was excited!

During the first hour of the show there were a lot of new songs.

There were 6 screens over the stage showing each member of the band playing in different angles.

Thom was dancing on the stage during most of the show.

Everything was well executed even the changes from style to style as Radiohead reinvents themselves for each albums well the shows have that too.

The classics started coming in at half show and it was just a lot of perfect moments.

All old classics even Creep was played during the show.

The concert was simple not too extravagant, but everything was perfect, the sound, the performance being played, the atmosphere, Thom's voice.

When the crowd was singing in unison the calmer songs it was like experiencing a wave ending on a beach.

The songs that started slow and start to change in the middle to become rock songs were amazing moments to share with everyone there.

As the lighting of the stage changed the mood changed so drastically it was magical.

Not artifice this time just music and windows into each member's little bubble!

It was Radiohead!

And so Osheaga 2016 ended on the best note possible ... the end of Creep.



Osheaga Day 2: conflicts day

OSHEAGA Day 2:

Lots of bands to see and lots of conflicts that left me in tears for choosing between bands to see.

Noé:

The day started with Noe who was a singer I didn't know, but was really impressive. She is a new artist that needs to be known. She started with "American Boy" and played a couple of her songs. She is from Paris so she spoke in French and English to the pleased crowd.

The bass was loud and good, the crowd was participating through the set.

The drummer was also rapping on some of the songs.

It was a great set.

Coleman Hell

I didn't know what to expect from Coleman Hell, but we were definitely pleased with his live set! The first song was great and it was a good defining moment for his whole set.

He kept dancing through the set and so was the crowd...it was a great dance set!

Coleman was also a great entertainer which is helped with all the good songs that were played and could be danced to.

Hiatus Kaiyote

Hiatus was really loud!

The band was really different from what I'd heard throughout the weekend so far, they played laid back jazz and it felt like I was transported in a jazz club atmosphere and the Scene des Arbres was a perfect fit for them.

The singer had an eccentric hat during the set and it fit perfectly for what we heard.

Daughter

Daughter played a set that was normal and only the bass really stood out.

Disappointing and nothing else to say about it.

Barr Brothers

Barr Brothers are always impressive due to the quantity of instruments played and the quality of their skills with all these said instruments.

The guitar soloes were great to listen to and the jams they performed are the best things from the set which I liked quite a bit :)

Kurt Vile

Kurt Vile is an amazing performer and guitar player.

During the set, he performed some really good songs and performed as usual great soloes which is always the highlight of his shows!!

He didn't disappoint in this regard.

The Arcs

The Arcs were one of the top bands I really wanted to see at Osheaga.

I went to see them, but I was disappointed a little bit since the set was on the boring side and felt long so we left before the end of the set.

There were some really positive aspects to their set though.

The background looked great.

The jazzy songs they interpreted led to great soloes that were really impressive and the best thing from the set.

Best Coast

Best Coast did a great set!

I didn't note much other than that.

Bastille

Bastille felt it was time to party!!!!

We got to the set when they were doing their 2 last songs.

The atmosphere was great as they were jumping around and playing some great danceable songs.

My wife and son went in to dance their asses off.

HAIM



Finally, I got to see Haim in concert.

I missed a lot of their concerts because of unfortunate events or moves that I had to do.

I listened to their first show they ever did in Vancouver before they had an album, but since I didn't have a ticket I was listening to them beyond the gates while doing a picnic with friends. At that time, I was sad that I couldn't really see them, but their energy could be felt through the trees and gates.

Now it was time to watch them and enjoy it!

It was a lot of fun to hear them and sing with them all their songs.

It was as good and inspiring as on their albums.

It was a gathering set.

A guy in the crowd had a sign with a message asking to marry one of the girls, even though he was married... "we don't cheat and we don't break marriages...dammit" Said one of the sisters in an harsh tone.

The remaining of the set was really energetic!

They always played a new song.

GREAT!

Last Shadow Puppets

For the Last Shadow Puppet show, we had to run to the smaller stages area at the end of Haim show so that I could see at least half of the set.

The singer (from Arctic Monkeys) had a really good voice that evening and I felt like listening to Arctic Monkeys at the moment I heard his voice.

The atmosphere was relaxed, but it was a really entertaining set nonetheless.

They had violinists on the stage.

They played in a slow and languorous mood.

They always played a song from Leonard Cohen.

Great set to relax a little bit and enjoy the sunset.

Death Cab for Cutie

I saw Death Cab at the Bell Center with Metric a few months before Osheaga so it wasn't my priority to see them here and I find that in Festival settings they are kinda boring and the crowd never really get into it.

This is pretty much what happened.

They played great songs, but it felt too much of the same at the end of a long day.

The music wasn't loud enough for the enormity of the area.

BUT the end was an epic jam and it was great to listen to it.

Lana Del Rey

I was intrigued by Lana Del Rey in a live setting.

My wife really wanted to see her as well so we stayed for a few songs.

We enjoyed what we saw.

The video was shot in black and white lenses and that was interesting to see.

The concept was that she was going to look like an old 50s singer dressed in that style.

Lana was dancing during her set and it was really fun to watch.

That was the end of Day 2.

Osheaga 2016, Day 1: mostly known acts

Osheaga 2016

Parc Jean Drapeau, Montreal

july 30 2016

The Osheaga weekend was sunny and hot!

 Long days of sun, music and food.

Below you will find a few lines on each band I've seen during the weekend.

 Day 1

Chargers:

really good vibe and energy.

They played their well known single.

I just listening to them as we got in the festival grounds so no pictures.

Dragonette:

It was time to dance with Dragonette's beats!

The singer was moving a lot and dancing, but she was also alternating with moments where she was playing the guitar.

People were into the set jumping around during on of their top songs.

Dear Rouge:

Another dancing act with full of energy.

I didn't know the music just the name of the band.

I had a really good time while listening and dancing to this set.

There was a lot of interaction with the crowd.

Wolf Parade

 

Wolf Parade return in great form for their new tour after a 5 year breakup that finally saw them reunite. 

It was a perfect set to see them play during which no technical issues happened as is usually the case in all their festival performances I've seen them at.

They played a mix of their best songs and a couple of new songs which they played marvellously.

They performed with a lot of energy and it made for a great show.

Welcome back Wolf Parade!!

Wombats

It was Wombats first show in Montreal and they wanted to make a good impression!

It worked...the bassist was really fun to watch, the band had a good stage presence.

The guitar riffs were impressive which instilled in my son and I the desire to play air guitar together.

Cypress Hill

Cypress Hill were back at Osheaga for the nth time, but they still gave the crowd what they wanted...some fun times and good old songs!

They played their top songs, smoked a huge joint, talked a lot with the crowd between songs and seemed pretty high which is what we expect I guess from them.

Half Moon Run

Half Moon Run was back to Montreal after playing 4 sold-out shows at the Metropolis a few months ago. Those shows were incredible so to see them at Osheaga was something I was waiting for.

Unfortunately it was not a great show maybe a huge setting like this park is not fit for their music or they just played slower songs, but the energy I saw at the Metropolis wasn't there and the crowd wasn't the same so their music is hard to get into if you don't know it probably. They didn't seem to attract the attention of people outside the small circle in front.

They seem to enjoy being there and playing in Montreal again.

Lapsley

Instead of following everyone to see Red Hot Chili Peppers on the big stage, we decided to go see Lapsley. Obviously there was only a really small crowd at the Scene des Arbres which is a great place to relax.

Everyone was quiet and listening to her great voice.

She mentioned she kept eating poutine during the festival and a nice discovery for her :)

Great intimate show.

This concludes the day 1 report of Osheaga.

High Flying Birds - more than just an Oasis tribute band

High Flying Birds

Place des Arts, Montreal

July 9 2016

It was during a beautiful evening in Montreal and as a part of  Montreal's Jazz Festival that Noel Gallagher and his High Flying Birds delivered an amazing show and paid tribute to his previous band, Oasis, by playing a lot of songs from their big repertoire of Oasis songs.

Gallagher and his bandmates are extremely talented and it shows during the whole concert. Gallagher has a great voice and plays really well his guitar.

Noel brought on stage during some key points of the event some trumpet, trombone and saxophone players which gets 8 people on stage to play some of the songs. These guys create a really different texture to the songs they play and change the tempo of the concert.

Some of the High Flying Birds best songs could be on an Oasis album and we wouldn't know the difference. Noel's band offers really good songs, but most people come see the band to see the Oasis singer and hear the songs and probably get some good quotes and controversies from the main man.

It is not too hard to get to those as well because Noel seems eager to let himself loose and talk to the crowd and likes to get heckled by the crowd (he wont say that probably, but he is just waiting for someone to say something).

During the show, Noel talks a lot to the crowd and about their characteristics or the way they dance. "This guy is dancing with his hands in his pockets, what a douche"...

and then someone asks THE question..."where's Liam?" and Noel to answer "I don't know,... home on twitter probably! That guy(in the crowd) is more of a rock star than he (Liam) ever was!!!"

He then got annoyed by questions about the drummer and the Euro (playing at the time).

Pleasant evening with one of the best rocker that the 90's produced.

Here is the setlist:

Shoot a Hole Into the Sun
Everybody's on the Run
Lock All the Doors
In the Heat of the Moment
Riverman
Fade Away (Oasis cover) 
The Death of You and Me
You Know We Can't Go Back
Champagne Supernova (Oasis cover) 
Ballad of the Mighty I
Talk Tonight (Oasis cover) 
D'Yer Wanna Be a Spaceman? (Oasis cover) 
The Mexican
Half the World Away (Oasis cover) 
Listen Up (Oasis cover) 
If I Had a Gun...
Digsy's Dinner (Oasis cover)
The Masterplan (Oasis cover) 

Encore:
Wonderwall (Oasis cover) 
AKA... What a Life!
Don't Look Back in Anger (Oasis cover) 



Wainwright Sisters - a Night of Lullibies

Wainwright Sisters

TNM, Montreal

July 8 2016

Martha Wainwright is one of the most interesting entertainer that I have seen in concerts. Every time, I see her she is always playful, always having fun on stage, always the childlike fascination with music and people coming to see her play and she doesn't seem to have one once of ego. She seems to be thinking about so many things at the same time that she forgets lyrics, parts of the songs, she talks about her life and talks to the crowd and mostly laughs all the time, but she doesn't care about her mistakes and she just goes with it so is the crowd.

At the TNM tonight, it is the same thing going on, but this time she is playing with her step sister Lucy Roche-Wainwright and they are playing songs from their new album Songs In the Dark which contains dark Lullaby songs from their youth.

That night Martha comes on the stage using one crutch since she had an accident playing tennis in the morning so due to her ankle problem she is going to play on a stool awkwardly and during the show she almost kills herself by missing a step. Lots of entertainment I tell you!

It was a night of music and comedy stand-up from the duo who tell joke about each other and telling stories from their youth and life as sisters who didn't see each other much living in 2 different cities while growing up.

It was interesting to hear the explanation of each lullaby before they played them and people laughed during the weirdest lullaby at which Lucy and Martha reacted amazed that it got such a reaction.

Lucy played 2-3 songs alone at some point and we got to appreciate her voice and talent without her sister.

Then she left and Martha played 2 new songs that she could remember from her next album that she just had composed so she kinda remembered them, but since its a Martha show...it wasn't the case. She forgot how the 2nd song was supposed to start and tried a few times and was telling us that its really hard to get the right beat without using her foot that was in a brace.

Martha continued clowning away as I like her to do then continued to speak to the public as if we were family, talking with no ego and as an open book and she finished her set with a song from her father.

overall, they had a great show, Martha has a unique voice that I love, but she can't do everything with it like sing high pitched note parts.

Good show!



Courtney Barnett - Is Grunge back?

Courtney Barnett

Metropolis, Montreal

May 29, 2016

I've heard some people say that Courtney Barnett might be bringing Grunge back, is she? She might be the new voice of grunge, she definitely has the look with her loose shirt, jeans and semi long hair. She has a unique. recognizable, low and nasal voice. Her songs can create a small raucous if played at the right time. She lacks the craziness of Cobain or even Cage the Elephant's singer while performing on stage, but she has a good charisma. Can her songs inspire a whole generation? She seems to have this "I don't care what you think of me" which was Cobain's motto. Her songs structures don't seem to be Grunge like to me, but she definitely has something since i was hooked the first time i listened to her latest album. My answer would be that she could probably voice some of Nirvana's songs if they asked her like St-Vincent did, but i don't think she is that close to the phenomenon, so let's recap this show.

While we were waiting for Courtney Barnett to show up, the second to last background song before she appeared on stage started to play at an intensely loud level and it was Smell Like Teen Spirit...it seemed to instill a lot of energy from the crowd as most started to hum and dance to the song almost starting a mini trash and finished with some applause so it was a great idea to warm up the crowd and a good presage for the rest of the show.

The show started strongly with "Dead fox" with a good reaction from the crowd. All her songs had a good reaction from the crowd who seemed ready for something to happen, from a cue to start a reaction. This cue wouldn't come from Courtney's interaction with the public, but from an alternate version of Small Poppies which ignited the crowd at key point in the song and that was great. Unfortunately, the songs that followed lacked the same intensity so the momentum was lost and that was a shame since something was happening. After a few "thanks", cool videos in the background and some slow songs, then came "Pedestrian at Best" which fueled the crowd. After this song, the intensity went down again, but at the end Courtney played a cool solo while on her knees and it was appreciated. 

For the encore, Courtney appeared alone on stage and talked to the crowd for the first time and explained that she had a great time and that the show was a great moment for her. They played 3 songs. The first one was a song played as a solo performer, but it didn't do much to showcase her talent, the second song was pretty fun and included everyone and the last one really ended the show on a good note and was a major hit with "Nobody really Cares...".

The show was good, the voice was great, unfortunately she never really engaged with the public, didn't really shine with her showmanship, but nevertheless i still had a good time.