July 2 2014 – Public Animal returned to their homebase of the Bovine Sex Club on Saturday night after having just completed their first tour of western Canada. By all accounts, the tour was hugely successful except perhaps for the last stop in Sault Ste. Marie which guitarist/vocalist Ian Blurton described as “soulcrushing” when his amps, set to eleven, were apparently one too loud for the venue.
Saturday was the offical release show for their debut album Habitat Animal, although the CD was actually on hand at their Horseshoe show on June 10th. Habitat Animal is their third official release following their 7″ release of Vault Doors and One Way Ticket and a second 7″ with Mokomokai where they covered Deep Purple’s Lay Down, Stay Down. Instead, the Bovine show became the launch of the limited edition vinyl.
With the release of the album we now know the song titles and that the powerhouse album opening track Automatic Ammunition always kicks off the show. Keyboardist/vocalist Caitlin Dacey and Blurton start off with an edgy slow intro riff before the band kicks it into high gear and sets the tone for the rest of the show. Straight ahead rocker I Ain’t Gonna Live follows, as it does on the album. Ryan Gassi’s amazing drumming is the highlight of High Pony. The riff in Distant Shores is one for the ages. You’d be forgiven for thinking the song was actually called “Eric Wrote This” which always precedes the song, but we’ve actually known the title of that one since it was released as a demo last year. Distant Shores has become an extended jam song where Dacey and Blurton take solos. The show also included Careful and Vault Doors where on Saturday Blurton channelled his inner Grace Jones (warm…, leatherette) and closes with the now customary Lay Down, Stay Down, which they absolutely own.
In a bit of a surprise, the three songs on the 7″ releases were not part of Habitat Animal but that turns out to be a very good thing since it allowed space for three additional songs that aren’t part of the live show. They are all heavy on the psychedelic side. Process of Progress starts with an acoustic (huh?!) guitar, amazing vocals from Dacey and features keys lifted from Won’t Get Fooled Again. Tinted Windows features great vocals by Blurton and Dacey and has a Deep Purple vibe. Wicked Ways is a lengthy Floydian mindbender. It all adds up to the easy call for album of the year.
As a side note, Dacey’s bandmates from her other band, Bella Clava, were on hand to support her. Bella Clava is playing this Saturday, July 5th at Cherry Cola’s along with Mad Anthony. This is another must see show.
Review and photos by Steve Mallinson
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