Now that I have had a chance to sit back and reflect on my festival experience I thought I’d share my thoughts on the groups that I saw and my picks for the best shows of the festival acts that you SHOULD NOT miss if they ever come through Calgary.
However seeing as there were well over a gizillion shows I’m sure I missed a fair number of killer shows so please feel free to share your "best of the fest" with me.
Tuesday
Medeski Martin and Wood took the stage at the Jack Singer and played a marathon show. They are one of my favourite bands to see live a strange but entirely awesome combination of funk avant-garde jam band. John Medeski is a certified monster on the keys with some serious Cecil Taylor influences.
Wednesday
Fairly mellow night with a forgettable show at Cantos and a trip to Bamboo where the first band didn’t feel like showing up. Then we saw Final Fantasy who had some interesting pieces but the sound where we were sitting was really muddy. After getting our eardrums blown off at Broken City it was time for a Tubby Dog stop to check out Pete Samples who was trying his best to get the crowd involved. We decided to turn in fairly early since the next few days would be bordering on insanity.
Thursday. Had to actually do work for our nightlife issue but managed to catch Brasstronaut which was the first show all week to use brass instruments (well that I saw anyhow) and the last bit of Monotonix at the Distillery. Go see these guys. They are insane.
Friday
Ok there were so many shows I’m just going to list them.
More Monotonix at Tubby Dog Anvil Holy Fuck Brickhouse Dave Holland and the Monterey Quartet (these guys are unbelievable) The Breeders King Khan Monotonix(again!). They were so crazy the ceiling fan got pulled right out of the roof at Dicken’s. This was the best day of the fest overall.
Saturday
Jazz fest at Olympic Plaza all afternoon then stopped at the Plaza to see the rock documentary and a set by the Cripple Creek Fairies. Then to SAIT for John Abercrombie who I have to say I was a little disappointed with. Not that he was bad him and the band are incredible musicians I was just hoping for a little more fusion a la Brecker Brothers. Then caught the Brenda Vaqueros at the Lord Nelson who were a lot of fun.
Sunday
I can’t believe I am going to see more music. Olympic Plaza all afternoon then Wasabi Collective. What a great way to end the week. These guys will drag the most lethargic person off their butt with their infectious groove.
Ok so the bests.
Best show period: This is tough but I still have to go with MMW as they are a personal fav of mine.
Best show technically: Dave Holland. These guys are so clean it is sick. Mad technique. Although I have to say John Abercrombie was close.
Most ridiculous outfits: King Khan.
Most bizarre: Monotonix. By far.
Best dance band: Wasabi Collective. You just can’t help yourself.
Most sing-along-able: The Breeders.
Best local band: The Brenda Vaqueros (and I’m not just saying that because I have a friend in the band)
