The Evens
Date: June 14, 2007 The Capital, It Is Your Proving Ground I would not have predicted at the start of the year that one of the best concert experiences on the horizon would involve sitting cross-legged on the floor of Club SAW for over an hour. When The Evens touched down in Ottawa, though, they encouraged that arrangement, making the tiny club setting even more intimate, before going on to deliver a powerful and passionate set. One of the most striking aspects of The Evens is the starkness of their sound and arrangement. Flanked by two floor lamps, Amy Farina worked a basic drum kit while Ian MacKaye stayed seated, playing a baritone guitar. The versatility that they derived from this simple configuration was impressive. Farina alternated between softening her sound and filling the club with her sharp playing. MacKaye ranged just as far, sometimes dropping to such quietness that the creaking of his chair was the loudest sound. The fact that the audience was hushed enough to hear that creaking was evidence of the respect that MacKaye draws. A significant portion of the audience was obviously looking on someone they consider an idol; and MacKaye used the crowd enthusiasm to its fullest. Before starting playing, he encouraged the majority of the crowd to sit, overcoming the limitations of the extremely short stage at Club SAW. He then repeatedly emphasized the collaborative aspect of a live show, refusing to allow the audience members to consider themselves mere spectators. MacKaye promoted audience participation on "You Won't Feel a Thing," insisting that the crowd join in the closing refrain of "until the day you wake up," making for "an epic fade-out." The audience was so eager to participate that it kept on singing, causing MacKaye to conduct the fade-out and laugh that "you guys really had staying power." His give and take with the crowd was also notable later in the set, when he had everyone screaming along to the middle portion of "Mt. Pleasant Isn't." He did have to alter his request for that sing-along, first calling for "anger," then switching to "passion" after someone pointed out that he had initially described it as "not a mean song." In general, MacKaye was a great frontman all night, engaging the crowd in a way that lived up to his own stated desire for a collaborative spirit, while Farina joined in with the odd wry comment. Vocally, both singers were great. Farina's singing was strong throughout the night; and, while MacKaye apologized for an ailing voice that left the highest notes out of reach, the fact was that he powered through the songs with all of the passion that they required. Both of the band's albums were represented in a set that reached about an hour and ten minutes and included "All These Governors," "Shelter Two," "On the Face of It," "Cache is Empty," "Cut from the Cloth," and "Dinner with the President." My two favourite moments came late: the overlapping vocals and hazy sound of "Minding Ones Business" was a joy, while "Everybody Knows" was the most intense song of the night, with the cry of "you're fired" proving everything that I claim about MacKaye's passion overcoming any technical vocal limitations. With The Evens playing a fantastic set and an energetic crowd adding to the mood, this concert justified even an hour's worth of fidgeting on the Club SAW floor. <--Prev (Feist) | Next (Sunset Rubdown)-->Return to Concert ListReturn to Main Page |