Kobayashi
Dave Halabisky and Chris Naylor
Originally uploaded by sfllaw.
Last week, on Saturday, I went to Main Hall to see a show. Now Main Hall is actually a really difficult venue to find. I forgot the address and walked past it a couple of times before breaking down and calling a friend. Once I got the address, someone was putting up a poster on the front door, so I could have just been patient.
I went upstairs and got myself let inside. I was on the guest list, you see. I suppose you could say that I'm a scenester now, after all, I get put on guest lists for the photographs I take. This is not as horrible as it sounds! I quite enjoy it.
There was so much stuff on stage that there was barely any room to stand! Instruments and kit and pedals and monitors and cables strewn everywhere. I dragged a table and chair up close and sat in it, waiting for the show to start. Then, Antizario got up and started jamming.
Eric Hove
Originally uploaded by sfllaw.
Antizario is from Ottawa and they drove down to play. They had instrumentals that were really good. Rich, mellow tones that sounded like crusing through a bright city at night. With the orange vapor light flicking past your window. Then Flip Kuma came up and started rapping with them. It was very pleasant.
In between sets, I got to hang out with posixeleni and her friend Jay. We were chatting a while and I realised that they were starting to scream a bit. So I gave out a spare pair of earplugs. Sometimes, you just got to be generous!
I was writing in my notebook, taking notes about the environs, when I saw a girl writing in her notebook! Intrigued, I asked her what she was writing. It turns out that Sabina was writing notes for a short story! I offered to send her some photographs and she seemed quite pleased.
Soundclash was up next, which had the production values of a high school band. There were those solid black music stands you'd see in high school orchestras. And a big, wooden upright bass. But the music, it was so bright and bold and beautiful. They had some very experimental jazz with an excellent groove. Eric Hove from the Alex Bellegarde concert was jamming up there with his saxophone. A beautiful sound to behold.
Franco Proiletti
Originally uploaded by sfllaw.
Koybayashi came on last with old classics and wonderful new tunes. The house was packed at this point and was full of Kobayashi fans. You could just see the smiles spreading on the band's faces as they realised that this concert would be spectacular.
I'll have to admit that I came especially because it was Eleni's last show in Montréal with them. So I had to be there. And she didn't disappoint at all.
The vibe was on and people were dancing and singing and clapping along. Afterwards, people came up and congratulated Franco and Josh and Eleni. I walked around and saw people just smiling to themselves. Later, I walked with Eleni and another friend down St-Laurent, before I parted ways and went back home.
Have I recommended that you see these guys yet? Because if I haven't, you should.