Deep Dark Woods @ West End Cultural Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
With Support from Kacy & Clayton
Photos and review courtesy of Jenny Ramone | November 21 2018
The Deep Dark Woods brought their prairie influenced take on Americana music to the West End Cultural Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba on November 21, 2018.
The band, lead by smooth velvety voiced Ryan Boldt, showed no sign of being on the tail end of a ten day tour that took them through western Canada via Spokane and Seattle. From the second the Deep Dark Woods took the stage, the audience was held captive by songs of life, death and trying to survive life on the Canadian Prairies. The band was loose and tastefully jammy, bringing to mind notes of Canadian folk legends the Band or Neil Young.
As a live band, the Deep Dark Woods feels very much like a collaborative effort, with each musician showing respect to their band mates during a guitar or organ solo. The band was joined on harmonies by Kacy Anderson, of opening act Kacy & Clayton, whose sweet breathy voice was the perfect compliment to Boldt’s near baritone. Haunting harmonies, mournful lyrics, twangy guitar, and swelling waves of organ wove together to form a blanket of sound to keep the soul warm through a tough Winnipeg winter.
Saskatchewan based folk duo Kacy & Clayton, who happen to list the Deep Dark Woods as one of their musical influences, warmed up the room for the band they had accompanied on the whole tour. With perfect harmonies and easy picking guitar stylings, Kacy & Clayton’s music sounds and feels like it’s from a time and place in the not so distant past, making one nostalgic for a simpler time.
Reignwolf @ The Pyramid Cabaret, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Photos & review courtesy of Jenny Ramone | November 15 2018
As a music fan there is no greater feeling than walking out of a venue wondering what the hell you just witnessed! Seeing rowdy blues rocker Reignwolf is bound to leave even the harshest critic buzzing with excitement after their captivating live show.
Reignwolf, also known as Jordan Cook, wrapped up his fall tour November 15 at the Pyramid Cabaret in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Having been on the road since mid September, the three piece band were on fire, tearing through a ninety minute set to a sea adoring fans. One such fan was local Blues legend Big Dave McLean, obviously an influence for Cook, who was invited on stage to join Cook for a couple of tunes. Not one to shy away from flirting with danger (as a friend of mine said before the show “there’s an element of safety in there somewhere”) Cook thrashed around the stage, stood atop his signature kickdrum, wrapped the mic cord around his neck and filled the room with a thick layer of fog, all while ripping fierce guitar solos. At a certain point Cook exclaimed he’d had enough of not being able to see drummer Joseph Braley through the fog so he brought Braley, the drum kit and bass player S.J. Kardash down onto the floor for the remainder of the set, much to the delight of the ravenous crowd.
Reignwolf’s live show isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s loud, raucous, grungy and and in-your-face, but it’s also a hell of a lot of fun! With bands like Reignwolf around, we can be sure that rock and roll isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Stick To Your Guns with Emmure @ The Orpheum, Tampa, FL
The Vaccines @ Lincoln Hall, Chicago, IL
Photos courtesy of Jennifer Machuca | October 11 2018
The Dirty Nil with Dead Soft and Eamon McGrath @ Goodwill Social Club, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Photos and words courtesy of Jenn Kostesky | October 30 2018
Hamilton, Ontario based party rock trio The Dirty Nil played a pre-Halloween show October 30 at Winnipeg’s Good Will Social Club. From the second the band walked on stage, their rowdy, playful energy whipped the packed room into a sweaty, fist pumping frenzy. The Dirty Nil are a whirlwind of raucous vocals, shredding guitar, pounding drums and groovy bass. The trio hot off the release of their second album “Master Volume” back in September are trekking from one end of North America to the other and back again over the better part of the next month. The Dirty Nil’s live show is a no holds barred, sweat drenched, power stanced, bubble gum chewing hell of a good time that is not to be missed when they roll through a city near you!
Toronto singer-songwriter Eamon McGrath and his band kicked the evening off with a set of twang infused punk rock. McGrath’s gravelly voice is oddly comforting amidst the distorted guitar and heavy rhythm section of his band, wrapping around your eardrums like a warm blanket.
Vancouver based Dead Soft, who are accompanying The Dirty Nil on their entire run, rounded out the night. Dead Soft are anything but dead or soft, they play hard and they play fast. The band was perfect step between Eamon McGrath’s more more mellow take on punk rock and The Dirty Nil’s off the wall party vibes.
Wolf Parade with The Pinc Lincolns @ The Garrick // Winnipeg, Manitoba
Photos courtesy of Jenny Ramone - Jenny Ramone Photo | October 10th 2018
Canadian indie-rock veterans Wolf Parade stopped by the Garrick in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba October 10, 2018.
The recently reunited Sub Pop recording artists have been touring their latest release “Cry, Cry, Cry” since late last year, including several dates at festivals in Canada and the US this summer. After a four night stint in Montreal in late September, Wolf Parade headed west through the Prairies to British Columbia. On this snowy evening in Winnipeg, the band pulled from their entire catalogue much to the delight of the flannel and beanie clad crowd. With video projections swirling and flashing behind them, Wolf Parade, who were clearly enjoying playing together, gave an energetic performance that won’t quick be forgotten.
The Pinc Lincolns delivered a slow burning, mellow set to kick off the evening.
Hudson Taylor @ The Fillmore Philadelphia
Photos courtesy of Carolyn Lederach - Hazy Colours Photography | October 3rd 2018
Jesse Roper with House Handshake and Band of Rascals @ Pyramid Cabaret, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Photos and words courtesy of Jenn Kostesky | October 24, 2018
Victoria based Jesse Roper brought his energetic,funky, blues rock to the Pyramid Cabaret in Winnipeg, Manitoba on October 24, 2018.
Winnipeg’s indie-folk outfit House Handshake kicked off the evening. The band’s soulful, rootsy brand of folk rock brings to mind tastes of Of Monsters and Men or Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros with a twist of rugged Canadiana. House Handshake filled their half hour opening set with gorgeous harmonies and an energetic stage show.
Roper’s tour mates, Band of Rascals filled the middle with a set of rocking southern blues. Hailing from Cowichan Valley on British Columbia’s Vancouver island, Band of Rascals have a no bullshit approach to rock and roll that they bring to their live show. With ¾ of the band barefoot on stage, Band of Rascals layer booming drums, tasty guitar licks, grungy harmonica and solid base lines to create a groovy West Coast infused sound that is all their own.
The show marked Jesse Roper and company’s second show in the city in 2018, the first being back in February when they stopped by the Burton Cummings Theatre to open for Big Wreck. Their first headlining show in Winnipeg came toward the end of the band’s October run of tour dates through the western provinces of Canada. Roper magnetic charisma and tasty, smooth guitar playing places him front and center. He plays with style and ease, making playing the guitar look like a breeze. Roper is all smiles on stage, clearly enjoying himself, feeding off the energy of the crowd. Despite being the frontman, Roper appreciates his band, taking a moment from time to time to step aside and let his bandmate shine. Drummer Steve Ling and bassist Matt Reid, the band’s rhythm section, hold things together in a funky tight little package and keyboardist Chris Van Sickle rounds out the band’s live sound. Though Roper had to compete with both a civic election and a Winnipeg Jets hockey game, his mesmerizing, energetic live show will likely make him a touring fixture in the prairie city.
