Last night (June 12), a lucky audience was treated to the music of Kick Off The Covers (Toby Orr, Dana Cittadino, Dave Blatt, Peter Graham, Patty Wygant, Rob Laurie) and 7 Strong (Adam Orr, Toby Orr, Angus Barlow, Garret Thomson, Peter Chapman, Stuart Constable, Carianne Hathaway).
How to categorize? Well, both bands play cover songs (although 7 Strong’s set included an original, “Memories Now” by bassist Stuart Constable). You could say that the genre of both bands is rockin’ folk/country with a twist of irony. In addition to the usual instruments, slide guitar, mandolin, banjo, ukulele and harmonica are featured! And their covers are sometimes covers within covers of covers – witness 7 Strong’s version of Dylan’s “This Wheel’s on Fire” (also known as the Ab Fab theme song – a trivia question for the audience!) – covered by The Byrds, covered by Serena Ryder.
7 Strong performing at Alumnae Theatre, June 12, 2014.
You like James Taylor? Tom Waits? Bowie? Mumford & Sons? How about satirical American singer/songwriter Jonathan Coulton (a longtime favourite of 7 Strong’s precursor ATAG)? You’ll hear them all, but probably not the songs you’re most familiar with! Even Leonard Cohen – a gorgeous version of “Famous Blue Raincoat” with vocalist Adam Orr reaching into his lower register and deploying an effect to digitize his voice.
Big thanks to Yves St-Cyr for manning the mixing board – he came up to the stage to perform Jean Leloup’s “I Lost My Baby” in a mixture of French and English; and to Chris Humphreys for the light show.
And if you’re really good, tonight you might hear “Carrot Juice Is Murder”, originally by The Arrogant Worms. Vegetarians, take note! 7:30 start, $10 at the door. Also on the bill tonight: pop/electronica band Ileen. https://www.facebook.com/events/306586349495028/
Don’t forget there’s comedy on Saturday night (8pm, $10 at the door)! Michael Graham opens with his songs about “Edward Snowden, the FBI, and poopy diapers”. No kidding. Check him out at http://themichaelgraham.com/
The main event is Ted & Lisa’s improv show “Complications in Corktown”. https://www.facebook.com/events/605434352882467/