Robots need love too

So if there is one thing I love (besides wine, sex, running, reading and ranting about traffic while in traffic) it's music. Music is great.  I like live music. I like soundtracks to movies.  I like random guys playing two instruments at the same time like in NYC. I like random performances that I otherwise would never have caught like in Philly.
And so, in that vein, today R and I went to the CBC music festival at Deer Lake park.
Like morons, we arrived way too early.  Or did we?  The opening act was Lauren Mann and the Fairly Odd Folk.  SO GOOD.  I can't recall the last time I saw a band so totally loving what they were doing. They were electric and enthusiastic and simply amazing to watch.  Their exuberance was palpable and they engaged the crowd which was irritating because I like to stand there with my arms crossed and scowl a lot. They even threw tambourines into the crowd and dropped a drum off the stage for everyone to join in.  Fucking deadbeat hippies. I hate communal shit and stop trying to make me a joiner.
I kid: one of the best up and coming bands I've seen ever.  Check them out, download their music and enjoy.  What an absolute treat and well done to CBC for discovering them.



The next band that kicked ass was the Arkells from Hamilton, ON. They had the crowd totally whipped into a frenzy.  As I mentioned to R, they seemed to be like the young person's anthem for Canada.  They were ultimately professional, tight, funny and energetic.  I'd only ever heard their name before, but they kicked ass.  I can't believe I've never heard them on the radio before.  Definitely another band I will be downloading in the days to come.


We also saw Hannah Georgas, and of course Dan Mangan who went on to marry someone other than me and procreate.  Damnit all to hell.  But as always he was brilliant.  It was the third or fourth time I've seen him and he never really varies.  Always superb lyrics and a great show and as always, one of my favourite musicians.  He sang "Basket" which made me lose my shit like usual.  I love, love, love this guy.  He also happens to sing one of the saddest songs in the history of the world, which reduces me to tears every time I hear it as it did this afternoon, and again when I just listened to it again.



Lastly, we checked out Spoon from Austin, Texas.  Both R and I are fans and I'm still not sure how a Texan band made it onto a CBC concert roll, but there you have it.  They kicked ass, the crowd loved it, and seriously?  R and I were there to see Spoon over the main headline event.  It was a great end to a music filled day of excellence and I must say mad props to the CBC for putting on such a kick ass show.  There's a reason I have two CBC shirts.
Goodnight, music lovers.