We Are the City at the Park Theatre, Winnipeg, July 31 2010. Merrit Rawsthorne photo
- text by eugene osudar/photos by Merrit Rawsthorne
brief, quick/blast. We Are The City! must/be/seen (in performance) to
appreciate and love/love/love their PassioN. dynamic crescendos, soft
velvet silences, sound and performance spectacular, sometimes there
is no justice in the recording process. their shockingly mesmerizing,
lifting, passionate 33 minute performance Completely Connected with
the audience, 180 strong at The Park Theatre on Saturday night.
We Are the City at the Park Theatre, Winnipeg, July 31 2010. Merrit Rawsthorne photo
During their song The Birds, guitarist David appeared to have nearly
collapsed/fainted. Vocalist Cayne and drummer Andy stopped, Extremely
concerned. What followed was 7-8 minutes of wonderfully absurd banter
between dear friends, growing up recollections and another absurd
mishap story involving David and a shaker made by Cayne’s father from
a can that had once contained poisonous chlorine (ask them about
this!) and thereby winning the audience’s admiration/approval.
We Are the City at the Park Theatre, Winnipeg, July 31 2010. Merrit Rawsthorne photo
even better, for their last song, a husband requested their song April.
They asked for her name, and gleefully pointing out “Rachel rhymes
with April,” Cayne substituted Rachel for April in the song. Truly a
band that knows how to woo an audience. Love affairs between fans and
musicians are born this way! www.wearethecity.ca/tunes
Rah Rah at the Park Theatre, Winnipeg, July 31 2010. Merrit Rawsthorne photo
Rah Rah. I Love their CDs! I Especially Love their song Tentacles. i
Love dancing to their beautiful madness of instruments and voices and
songs of betrayal, broken hearts and love.
Rah Rah at the Park Theatre, Winnipeg, July 31 2010. Merrit Rawsthorne photo
apparently, the sound was too loud and distorted. Not trusting The Park Theatre’s
excellent and experienced sound tech, after 3 sound tech disasters in Winnipeg at 2
different venues, the band brought their own.
Rah Rah at the Park Theatre, Winnipeg, July 31 2010. Merrit Rawsthorne photo
Only, he had never mixed in such a large, old style, movie house. i danced and loved the
set. sometimes, it’s best to trust the sound tech with experience.
Said the Whale at the Park Theatre, Winnipeg, July 31 2010. Merrit Rawsthorne concert photo
Said The Whale. I Love them. they’re traveling minstrel friends. seen
them 5/6 times now at least. the audience was there for them. to
dance and sing along to Every song. the last song, Ben sang without a
mike, the audience (still) and (quiet), they, were, hushhhhhhed,
Reverent.
Said the Whale at the Park Theatre, Winnipeg, July 31 2010. Merrit Rawsthorne concert photo
the other bands joined STW at different times and sang/
caused mayhem (when mayhem was called for), trumpeter on a
stepladder! and yes, Ben and Tyler made me blush, thanking me for
always being, well, (me). 20 songs, 70 minutes. Loud and Soft songs.
Spencer’s one of my favorite Canadian indie band drummers, Love the
smile, the curls dancing and he’s technically wonderful. Jaycelyn, !
Beautiful! and Peter on bass. This City’s A Mess always sends me
Soaring! and i Love their videos, always Playful Fun and watch them
on your computer via AUX TV. www.myspace.com/saidthewhale
Said the Whale at the Park Theatre, Winnipeg, July 31 2010. Merrit Rawsthorne photo
