The Sadies
Date: November 14, 2008 Higher Power The Sadies are a famously excellent live act, rattling through songs at a breakneck pace with no sign of a misstep, every bit as tight and professional as they are fiery and spirited. Their latest visit to Ottawa was no exception, as they delivered another killer set at Barrymore's, backed by a pair of strong local openers. The Murder Plans got the night started on a positive note, delivering interesting songs within the conventions of straight-ahead, four-piece rock and roll. Their sound was a good lead-in for The Sadies, getting heads bobbing with catchy rhythms and clear vocals. As importantly, their workmanship was top-notch, as they attacked the set, moving swiftly from song to song, building the momentum of the concert. That solid foundation was built on nicely by The Allrights, who exceeded their modest name. The five-piece also traded mainly in rock, although tinged with country in a few of the more spacious segments. The most striking early moment was a killer guitar solo a couple of songs into the set. Although that talent was mostly held in reserve over the balance of the performance, the group maintained interest with their own songs and a few covers, ranging from The Misfits' "Where Eagles Dare" to the Bay City Rollers' "Saturday Night." After that pair of engaging and enjoyable acts, The Sadies came out to destroy, as always. My position at the front of the stage split brothers Dallas and Travis Good; and I ended up paying more attention to the rhythm section than I have in past Sadies concerts. I have to say that simply watching Mike Belitsky pound the skins made me tired on his behalf, both for the tempo of the songs and the way that the band stacked them without pause. This concert was a testament to the strength of New Seasons, with songs from that latest release standing as tall as more road-proven offerings. In fact, my favourite stretch of the night began with Dallas leading the way on the beautiful "Anna Leigh" before transitioning to the instrumental "Introduction," both from that album, before Travis took charge, first with fantastically raw lead vocals on "Loved On Look" and then with fiddle during "Higher Power" and "Uncle Larry's Breakdown." So it went throughout the night, with new offerings making their mark and familiar touches retaining their power. The shifting tempo of "Ridge Runner Reel," the knockout punch of "16 Mile Creek," the amazing spectacle of the brothers fretting each other's guitars while simultaneously strumming their own--these are moments that continue to delight, show after show. Another constant with The Sadies is how quickly their concerts blaze by. Even accounting for some short song lengths, not many bands could rattle off a few dozen songs with no lull, keeping the set rocketing on such a high that at the conclusion, you're left standing drained and satisfied but wondering how the time went so quickly. The Sadies are a band that I would point to as a model of consistency in the live setting, merging a professional craftsmanship and dedication to the music with passionate playing. Assisted by two capable Ottawa bands, they made this night another triumph. The Sadies setlist (Mike Belitsky's): 
The Sadies setlist (stage front), front and back:  
<--Prev (The Dears) | Next (Stars)-->Return to Concert ListReturn to Main Page |