The Tragically Hip/TV on the Radio
Date: July 3, 2008 The Blues are Still Required The 2008 edition of Ottawa Bluesfest kicked off with one of my more highly anticipated acts, TV on the Radio, along with the dependable Matt Mays & El Torpedo, and Can-rock veterans The Tragically Hip. With TV on the Radio delivering a particularly great set, this was a strong start to the festival. Bluesfest seems to always be well organized and there was no delay getting through the gates. In their second year back at LeBreton, organizers kept the system of alternating major acts on two main stages that cover the largest portion of the grounds, although the placement of the stages was shifted to a north and east configuration, rather than being at opposite ends of the field. Uncharacteristically, I found myself sticking to the big stages on this day, starting with Matt Mays & El Torpedo. I've seen Mays play previous festival gigs and I got what I expected from him on this day: straight-ahead and energetic rock and roll. Once again, the band did a solid job with its time in the sun, even earning an encore after the three-guitar finisher, "Cocaine Cowgirl." Along with finding supper and camping out a good spot for TV on the Radio, I managed to hear Secret Machines on the other big stage, due largely to the new stage configuration. They sounded good and heavy but I definitely didn't hear or see enough to offer a proper review. Soon enough, it was time for TVOTR, although they didn't start to play until drummer Jaleel Bunton and singer Tunde Adebimpe took turns snapping photos of the large crowd. My one complaint in taking a spot against the railing in front of the very high stage is that I never really got another good look at Bunton, which is a drawback, as I tend to key in on the drummer at concerts and I particularly enjoy the percussion in TV on the Radio. Fortunately, the upside in the tradeoff was that I had a great view of Adebimpe, who was a dynamo. Adebimpe's unconventional vocals are the centrepiece of TVOTR and his live presence only magnified his appeal, as he moved throughout the stage, dancing and smiling, and constantly twisting his arms around his head, as if pushing the words out. He also exuded his joy of playing music, setting the ideal mood for an outdoor show, while the crowd reciprocated his feelings. Considering how great the band sounded moving through songs such as "I Was a Lover," "Wolf Like Me," and the singalong of "Tonight," I have to conclude that perhaps the best aspect of Adebimpe's performance was when he promised to bring the band back in the fall. Finally, it was turn to shift to the other stage again for the quintessential modern Canadian rock band, The Tragically Hip. The Hip were the headliners at the first concert that I ever saw; and while I hadn't seen them in nearly ten years, little had changed. The foremost constant was their popularity; and since I had no interest in pushing past the swell of thousands, I caught the band from afar, making more use of the video screens than my true view of the stage. The group itself was also similar to how I remembered them, even if those screens did reveal some signs of age. Once again, they delivered a tight performance, with recognizable hits such as "Grace, Too," "Poets," "My Music at Work," "Ahead by a Century," "Wheat Kings," "Springtime in Vienna," "Courage," "Bobcaygeon," "Fireworks," and "Fully Completely." Gord Downie remains a manic frontman, energetic and passionate, and prone to stream of consciousness bursts. He was hard on mic stands, destroying at least two over the evening, and on his voice, pushing for maximum force. By the time that they hit the obligatory showstopper of "New Orleans is Sinking," The Hip had given ample evidence that their staying power is deserved; and a two-song encore with Bob Rock, producer of their latest album, was a good capper. All in all, this was a great start to Bluesfest, with a beautiful summer day and some notably strong performances. <--Prev (Buck 65) | Next (Feist/Wintersleep)-->Return to Concert ListReturn to Main Page |