May 16, 2014 – Saturday was the final night of CMW2014 and it provided CMW’s only great “discovery” when Denmark’s Dance With Dirt rocked Cherry Cola’s. Hopefully we’ll get to see them again someday. We always hope to find some new rock from a local or national band but this year it was not to be. There were some great performances but they came from bands we knew well already. And of those great performances, the triumvirate of Bella Clava, Public Animal and Biblical all played on Saturday.
Additionally, in the east end, TimeGiant was opening for Metal On Ice at The Opera House which will be reviewed separately.
THE BB GUNS
The BB Guns are Alana Marta Dee on guitar and vocals, Laura Hermiston on guitar and vocals, Charlotte Marie on keys and vocals, Clint Rogerson on bass and Dan Arget on drums. They play jangly melodic pop with great harmonies with a side of surf psychedelia with an edge. Unfortunately they had a very early 8pm slot and played to a largely empty Mod Club.
PUBLIC ANIMAL
Public Animal followed The BB Guns and while some people had started to arrive, it was a largely passive quiet audience. But that did not affect the band whose performance was as top notch as ever. Nothing much new to say since it was only about 21 hours since their previous show at the Hideout.
BIBLICAL
Again the show was largely similar to the show at the Horseshoe at the end of March. Highlights are the opening song Second Sight and the closing song Monsoon Season. More photos will be posted later. Biblical is one of the best live bands you will ever see. Don’t miss them.
INDIAN HANDCRAFTS
Like The Standstills, Indian Handcrafts is just a guitar, vocals and drums. But musically they’re nothing like The Standstills. Although quite popular, Indian Handcrafts isn’t our style of music so we didn’t stay for the whole set.
THE HIGH DIALS
An 80’s UK revival was afoot at the Bovine Saturday night and leading this musical charge was Montreal based High Dials. For fans of a certain age the High Dials brings back a sound that still resonates.
DANCE WITH DIRT
Copenhagen’s Dance With Dirt were the sole great new band T-Mak World discovered during CMW. Sadly they’re from overseas so it’s unlikely we’ll see them again anytime soon. They played great fun high energy rock n roll. Guitarist Kristoffer Veirumhurled himself offstage onto the floor more than once and had us wondering how he didn’t injure himself.
THE TUNGSTEN HUM
We had high hopes for this band but didn’t get the excitement we expected.
COWPUNCHER
Calgary’s Cowpuncher is apparently led by Captain Obvious of the hotels.com TV commercials with great taglines “Hotels.com, I don’t need it right now”. The band came loaded with several garbage bags filled with balloons that were dispersed into the crowd. Towards the end of the show Captain Obvious put on a mask with a large nose and walked out into the crowd. While everyone seemed to be having a good time, rock n roll shouldn’t need props.
BELLA CLAVA
We were treated to the third Bella Clava show in eight nights. There was no better way to close CMW than with one of Canada’s best rock bands. Like the previous two shows, the band played their new album Medicine For Melancholy. The title track and Broken Spirit are destined to be huge hits.
John Dash Gig of the Night: For me their MOD romantic vibe of The High Dials mixes elements of Ultravox with the cool stylings of the Pet Shop Boys and were my choice for Gig of the Night.
Steve Mallinson’s Gig of the Night: Biblical because they’re such a great live band.
Review and photos by Steve Mallinson.
