Bluesfest 2009, Day 5
Date: July 12, 2009 I See Those Flooded Fields The storm clouds that threatened Bluesfest from the start of the festival made more of a mark on the opening weekend. My scant interest in Saturday's lineup was scuttled by the weather and Sunday's music was dampened by several bouts of rain. With Neko Case anchoring a strong line-up on that day, though, it would take more than a little precipitation to ruin the outing. It was still dry when I arrived at the Blacksheep Stage to see Land of Talk. This was the third line-up that I have witnessed in the three times that I have seen the Montreal trio, with singer-guitarist Elizabeth Powell being the only constant. Even with the volatility in personnel, my impression of the band has been unchanged, perceiving them as decent but shy of greatness, with a stage show that could stand a little more urgency. This overdue visit, delayed due to Powell's ill-timed bout with laryngitis after the full-length Some Are Lakes dropped in October, didn't change my mind any; but it seemed to go over well with a solid gathering at the Blacksheep Stage. Hopping over one stage, I was excited to see The King Khan & BBQ Show. I have always heard than Khan puts on a fantastic show, whether playing with the Shrines or paired up with Mark Sultan (BBQ), but have never managed to make it to one of his many visits to Ottawa. The performance that followed, a mix of unhinged rockabilly and absurdist comedy, made me a believer. Khan was a force, patrolling the stage dressed in a German military style with a spiked helmet, aiming his guitar at the crowd, swinging his mic stand overhead, and driving a couple of kicks to the turban-headed stage decorations. He did point out that he doesn't endorse indiscriminately kicking people wearing turbans, which was encouraging, as Mark Sultan, seated with a guitar behind a simplified drum kit, was sporting one as part of his garish outfit. In general, The King Khan & BBQ Show delivered a ragged garage rock sound, filtering throwback rock and roll through the energy and pacing of punk. This blend kept the crowd enthusiastic throughout the set, even as several waves of intermittent rain came down. The band also made some diversions, as when they asked if the audience enjoyed death metal before launching into a one-minute screamfest. Not all of the audience banter was as literal, though. Sultan ended one song with the non sequitur "Who likes hackey-sack?" and then "Who likes pizza?," leading Khan to follow with "Who likes Adolf Hitler?," before pausing in front of the silent crowd for a few moments and replying, "Uh, I don't, either." A post-set confrontation with the stage announcer over an apparent slip on the band's name was less amusing, crossing into serious awkwardness; but apart from that moment, it was a fun time. My greatest draw of the day was found on the main stage, where Neko Case made her return to Bluesfest. Although I had seen Case seven times previously, that 2005 Bluesfest appearance was the most recent; and I was happy to see that long absence overcome. Along the same lines, it was a treat to see Case back with her old compatriots, Tom V. Ray on upright and electric bass and Jon Rauhouse on lap steel guitar and banjo, a pair I hadn't seen since 2003. Those familiar faces were rounded out by guitarist Paul Rigby and drummer Barry Mirochnick. Unfortunately, frequent collaborator Kelly Hogan was absent due to a death in her family. An opening offering of "Maybe Sparrow" and "People Got a Lotta Nerve" typified a setlist that was heavily weighted towards newer material, with half of the songs coming from Case's latest release, Middle Cyclone, and a quarter from its immediate predecessor, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood. In fact, an early pairing of the Blacklisted songs "Deep Red Bells" and "I Wish I Was the Moon" marked the main set's only dip into Case's early recordings. I had a mixed reaction to this selection. On the one hand, I missed hearing some old favourites; and I felt that the past standout "Furnace Room Lullaby" would have been a welcome addition to a set that was always solid but never seemed to land a knockout punch. However, with the last two albums being of such high quality, it was certainly satisfying to hear them represented live. Neko Case and her band were in excellent form, hitting the wistful tones of "Don't Forget Me" and the shuffle of "This Tornado Loves You" with equal ease. Rauhouse's banjo picking made "Favorite" shine, while "Prison Girls" was perhaps the greatest showcase for Case's wonderfully soaring voice. It was her singing on "Red Tide" that received the strongest reaction, as the crowd responded to the closing refrain of "I hate the rain," which had become all too appropriate. Although not as chatty as I have seen her in some shows, Case also did her best to brighten the rainy day with her banter, fending off the inevitable marriage proposal by demurring, "I want the whole bed to myself," and joking about her slight flub on cranking a music box during "Middle Cyclone" by observing, "Yes, it is possible to screw up something this simple." By the time that the long set concluded with an encore of "Knock Loud," it had lived up to my high expectations. With my main interest concluded, I switched to the somewhat muddy grounds of one of the side stage to see Ani DiFranco. I am not a huge DiFranco fan but I enjoyed her last Bluesfest visit, three years prior; and this return engagement proved to be just as impressive. DiFranco was again joined by upright bassist Todd Sickafoose, with drummer Allison Miller adding to the sound. The throng of enthusiastic fans seemed to adore every moment; and given DiFranco's confident and engaging stage presence, I can see why. Even with my limited knowledge, I recognized a few songs, such as "Little Plastic Castle" and "Fuel," and appreciated the unfamiliar, including a rendition of the long, rollicking folk protest song, "Which Side Are You On?" DiFranco wrapped up in time for me to hop over the hill to the Blacksheep Stage and hear the last few songs from the British Columbia five-piece Mother Mother. I don't feel that I heard enough to offer a proper recap but I can say that they seemed like they were hitting the mark with a clear sound, high vocals, and prominent harmonies. The first Sunday of Bluesfest was rainy but otherwise enjoyable, with a long overdue return visit from Neko Case highlighting a busy line-up. Neko Case setlist Main Set
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