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| Joe Costello (We Unite!) |
March 9, 2010, 5:34 AM |
What You Might Have Missed at WE UNITE! Festival - 8 Bands That Tore the House Down!
 We Unite! Festival commenced this weekend in the basement of the Civic Centre, to crowds of varied sizes and interests, and was nothing less than three of the best nights of music I have personally ever been involved with. For those that had not the opportunity to make it, here are the top 8 (was originally supposed to be top 5, could easily have been top 15) performances of We Unite! Festival. That there are no bands on the list from Thursday is not a slight, but a testament of just how perfect Friday and Saturday's shows were. It was hard to leave anyone out, there were so many other great sets all weekend.
8. The Pranks (Friday 620pm): I had never heard The Pranks before the festival. Expecting more of a bluesy Velvet Underground style sound, they really were just a beautiful mix of great rock and roll. I really loved the song they added to the festival compilation and was blown away by the delicate guitar work and Russel's beautiful suited vocals. These guys are perhaps the most unheralded band in Sydney and really are something you should make a point to see (I am saddened this was my first time).
7. And Here We Go (Saturday 520pm): With notable comparisons to Can-Rock awesomeness like The Weakerthans and Attack in Black, And Here We Go are really hitting on something no one else in Sydney is doing. Saturday's set was the most endearing of the weekend. They capably ran through their catalog, playing to a sparse crowd of parents and a few friends, all the while making light of the situation and truly enjoying playing the songs. Andrew's vocals have come along way since he has embraced his limitations and this allows it to be a strength of the band rather than it's Achilles Heel.
6. Racoon Bandit (Saturday 6pm): The most self indulgent band choice I have made in a long time, Racoon Bandit were the band I most anticipated hearing all weekend. Signficantly lighter and prettier than the 21 other scheduled bands, this is a band that should have been playing the Steel City country/folk stage that Hay Sale Records was presenting rather than our pseudo punk rock stage. But I am so grateful and delighted that they played. Between the sometimes sparse instrumentation, the character of Fraser's voice, and the sweetness of the song lyrics, I just could not wipe the smile from my face.
5. Shelter with Thieves (Saturday 8pm): Shelter with Thieves' are deceptive. They have been often underestimated and overlooked by crowds, and sometimes even in my own mind. No band makes me feel as good or as pumped as I am watching these four fellas bring it to the crowd. Their use of unbridled energy and polished hooks captured a hard sell crowd. I just couldn't help but scream every single word the entire time.
4. Iron Giant (Saturday 10pm): If The Motorleague gave a course on how to win a crowd (more on that below), Iron Giant gave one on how to headline a festival. Rock enough for the rock crowd, metal enough for the metal crowd, IG was a juggernaut. The songs were what was to be expected; heavy and rumbling, full of groovy ass kickin' riffs. What makes these guys #4 though is the absolute joy Chris and PJ exude on stage, it is really infectious.
3. The Motorleague (Saturday 920pm): The best punk rock band on the East Coast, The Motorleague put on a graduate course on how to win a crowd. I have seen this band at least a dozen times and it's predecessor even more. Don and crew take a solid set that, by itself, may have a tough time topping from #5 and #6 on this list. What he does is fills the set with so much personality and interaction that the audience will never ever forget they saw this band. They are the everyman, the hardest working band I have ever seen.
Don made a tape line dividing the room in two and physically moved the crowd together into one half of the room. He then proceeded to put a smile on every person's face. The Motorleague not only makes you feel good, but good about yourself.
2. The Roots and Rhythm Remain (Friday 820pm): I don't know that a local band has ever been so good. What once was a great little indie rock band has become something so well written and beautiful that I am unable to personify it in words. Rob's vocals are great, Adam is a great drummer, Scott plays delightful bass, and Andrew is such a tasteful lead guitarist. And together, they are just so much more than that. Just so unbelievably beautiful, Dirtbags should be recorded in a professional studio and become a radio hit. This set gave me chills, this band is the best example of what every person should be listening.
1. The Grass (Friday 9pm): I don't know that my head has ever been so unexpectedly kicked square off in my life. Like a nuclear supernova, The Grass ended up being the can't miss band of my life. If I described their set, it would totally miss the mark. Energy, rock and roll. Just fucking... holy shit. wow. head on the floor. dead. wow. How did I not know? |
| Joe Costello (We Unite!) |
March 6, 2010, 10:02 AM |
Here's some communique from We Unite! Fest from our Facebook account...
Friday March 5
Thanks to the few that came out last night. You ended up seeing one of the best shows that has happened in Sydney in the last decade. Here's a synopsis:
The Pranks started playing before doors opened at 6pm and kept going for nearly an hour. What a fantastic band, so many comparisons (Neil Young, Velvet Underground, Rolling Stones) that just barely miss the mark. Quite unique in this area. This is a Blackout! played what is likely one of our last sets. It was a joy, and one of our better sounding sets at that. Roundelay, from St John's NL, was solid and showed outstanding musicianship. The Roots and Rhythm Remain had the best set I've seen from these guys. Just amazing. Speaking of amazing, THE GRASS EMBODY AMAZING. Knocked my head square off. I had no idea. Imagine Rock Ranger listening to the MC5 with a little 50s garage rock thrown in for flavour. I cannot say enough about how unbelievable they were. Carmen and the Shakey Deals were nothing if not outstanding, the songs just keep getting better. English Words ended off the night. Though I was exhausted, they lifted this old guy's spirits with a really fun and upbeat set of pop rock tunes that were equal parts hooky and intelligent. Rope is such a great tune.
So tonight is the end. Is it really the end? I have been planning this festival in my head since 2005, so it is hard to come to a close. So let's do it the right way. 101.9 The Giant TOO LOUD Stage. IRON GIANT. THE MOTORLEAGUE. SHELTER WITH THIEVES. THE BALLROOM MASSACRE. STATIC IN ACTION. THE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS. RACOON BANDIT. AND HERE WE GO. It'll be hard to top last night, especially The Grass, but this show has the potential to lay Sydney to waste. You better be there, this will be something people talk about for years to come.
Thursday March 4th
Thanks to those that braved the weather and rocked tonight. Definitely the best show that little room has seen yet and a great way to kick off We Unite! Fest.
Here's a mini review: Apparitions played a tight set, the guitars were muddy but the tech metal parts were SOLID. The Sidewalks were great fun, upbeat ska and definitely had the crowd moving. Anatomical Disassembly were vicious. Best I've seen from these ex-Tod Slaughter boys. The Easy Bleeders really captured the audience despite being sort of out of their element. Great harmonies, solid tunes. Would love to see them play more all ages shows. Unbidden keeps getting better with each show. Definitely the most anticipated band, they brought their A-game. We the Undersigned were a supernova of energy, I thought they had the best sounding set of the night.
Check out tomorrow's show, again for FREE, where we will welcome Carmen Townsend & the Shakey Deals and English Words (formerly Smothered in Hugs) to headline the 101.9 The Giant Rock Stage. |
| What's Goin On |
March 3, 2010, 8:10 PM |
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Wanna know what's goin on this weekend with the ECMA's in town? Go to whatsgoinon.ca for previews of showcases, profiles of bands, reviews of cds, and reports from the weekend. WGO also has links to some articles from past ECMA's and the most comprehensive ECMA listings in town. |
| Colin Mitchell |
March 1, 2010, 8:02 PM |
THIS FRIDAY & SATURDAY @ MAXWELL'S
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| Joe Costello (We Unite!) |
February 28, 2010, 12:29 AM |
WE UNITE! FESTIVAL DRIVES ACCESSIBILITY WITH FREE, ALL AGES EVENT PROGRAM
The We Unite! Festival is but a week away and anticipation is starting to ramp up. The festival has quickly become a can't miss event, with scheduled headliners such as 2009 ECMA Loud Award winners Iron Giant, local high flyers Carmen Townsend & the Shakey Deals, and 2010 ECMA Loud Award nominees We The Undersigned.
Thursday March 4th will see seven bands hit the 101.9 The Giant Festival Stage. Fredericton's We The Undersigned and locals Unbidden will headline a lineup built to get your head banging and your hips swaying. ECMA nominees The Easy Bleeders and Moncton's The Steady Rollin' Band will inject a lethal dose of rock and psychedlia, while rounding out the rest of the lineup are Charlottetown ska punks The Sidewalks and local metalcore bands Anatomical Disassembly and Apparitions.
Friday March 5th also sees seven performances, headlined by 2010 ECMA Rock Award nominees Smothered in Hugs (now known as English Words) and local powerhouse Carmen Townsend and the Shakey Deals. The 101.9 The Giant Rock Stage will also be graced by Halifax garage rockers The Grass, local standouts The Roots and Rhythm Remain, and St John's NL's Roundelay. Opening up the show will be North Sydney's The Pranks and Sydney's This is a Blackout!, who marks the event as likely their final show.
Saturday March 6th brings the 101.9 The Giant TOO LOUD Stage. A triple headlining bill of 2009 ECMA Loud Award winners Iron Giant as well as 3 time 2010 ECMA nominees The Motorleague and Shelter with Thieves round out a program of eight bands in just over five hours. Accompanying the headliners are a solid lineup of locals Static in Action, And Here We Go, and The Ballroom Massacre, as well as Halifax's The Sleepless Nights and Charlottetown's Racoon Bandit.
We Unite! Festival will take place Thursday March 4th through Saturday March 6th at the Sydney Civic Centre Community Room. The space, which is next to the Cambridge Suites on the Sydney Boardwalk, will be home to over twenty bands performing on the 101.9 The Giant stage. The event is open to people of all ages and admission is absolutely free, making the event the most accessible of ECMA weekend 2010.
Facebook: http://www.tinyurl.com/weunite
Iron Giant (Diminished 5th Records): listen
Carmen Townsend & the Shakey Deals (Company House Records): listen
We, the Undersigned (Diminished 5th Records): listen |
| Colin Mitchell |
February 12, 2010, 1:49 PM |
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19TH @ MAXWELL'S
TICKETS AVAILABLE @ MARY JANES SMOKE SHOP
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EVENTS
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| Thu, Mar 25 | - Cape Breton Island Film Series presents: PRECIOUS, starring Mo'nique, Mariah Carey, Paula Patton, & Gabourey Sidbe. 7 p.m., Empire Theatre, Sydney. $9. Students $6.
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| Fri, Mar 26 | - governor's pub
30 odd six
12 point buck
static in action
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| Thu, Apr 1 | - Cape Breton Island Film Series presents: A SIMPLE MAN, with Colin Firth & Julianne Moore. 7 p.m., Empire Theatre, Sydney. $9. Students $6.
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Past Events
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