MUSIC PREVIEW: Field Day Surprise Mystery Festival!
For radio listeners who tune in just for the tunes, SONIC Field Day is a great opportunity to see a band whose name you may not recognize (because you don’t stick around to hear the names of the bands) – and then experience the thrill of seeing them live for the first time and being hit with an epiphany: “Oh, yeah, THAT’s the band with that song on the radio!”
There’s a bit of a disconnect here between name and fame when it comes to your up-and-coming bands, still young, still “indie,” still a little bit underground. And while they often make a huge impact on the radio (mainly on Sonic 102.9 in Edmonton; this is their festival after all), they’d be playing small clubs on their own.
Together, they create a Mystery Surprise Rock Festival! Happening all day Saturday in Victoria Park, Field Day is packed with radio-friendly sleeper acts poised (maybe, hopefully) on the cusp of superstardom. Of course you’ve heard of Arkells (top photo, 9:30 pm) – or have you? Active since 2007, the Hamilton band has hit regular No. 1s on the Canadian alternative charts, but has barely dented the mainstream. That may change with the recent single Knocking at the Door, an epic song that, like Arcade Fire and other expansive modern rock projects, elevates the Arkells beyond compartmentalized radio genres – like “alternative.”
Jimmy Eat World (8:15 pm) is a fun American power pop band that’s been rockin’ since 1996, but blew up real good with its worldwide hit single The Middle in 2001.
The Glorious Sons (7 pm) are, like the Tragically Hip, from Kingston and are heavily influenced by their famous fellow Kingstonians – so bonus points off the top for what turns out to be an amazing new band fronted by a remarkable singer (Brett Emmons), whose talents that won the band a Juno can be seen to full effect in a grandly-arranged hit power ballad called Everything Is Alright … “If only for the night.”
A genre-busting crew from California, Cold War Kids (5:45 pm) made a huge impact in 2015 with the anthemic song First – another slow song, coincidence?
Dear Rouge (4:45 pm), an electronic-rock band from Vancouver, just scored their biggest hit to date with Live Through the Night, a dark and edgy anthem about working through struggles.
A bit on the heavier side of the bill, Black Pistol Fire (3:50 pm) is a swampy vibro-guitar-driven Texan power duo perhaps best known for its hit song Lost Cause.
Grandson (2:55 pm) is brand new on the scene – but he sure has made an impact: With 10 songs (so far) bristling with anger, and political criticism, including the screamy hit on the radio “Blood in the Water” (Blood//Water). READ INTERVIEW
And kicking it off will be Modern Space (2 pm), a funky power-pop band from Toronto. To hear their great new single Flip for It is to finally connect with the band behind the song – as all radio listeners should, once in a while.
Field Day festival passes are still available for $80 ($118 for VIP). Gates at 1 pm.
Thursday 6
Ann Vriend – Groovy vibes in a funky, slick R&B format and a Loretta Lynn-like voice is this award-winning Edmonton singer’s raison d’être. Her latest record is the EP Everybody’s Different. Opening the show at the Almanac will be Jory Kinjo. Doors at 6 pm, $15 advance
Friday 7
Scenic Route to Alaska – Where have they been all summer? Did they in fact take a trip on the name of the band? Ask one of Edmonton’s favourite alternative acts when they return to the Starlite Room, riding high on their latest record Tough Luck. Opening will be Lyra Brown and St. Arnaud. 8 pm, $20 advance
READ: Interview with Scenic Route to Alaska
The Wet Secrets – Formed on a whim, a lark, for shits ‘n’ giggles back in ‘ought-5, this wacky Edmonton band that plays new wave rock while dressed as a marching band has earned success and accolades – illustrating the virtue of taking action on the spur of the moment. The live show is always a good time. Rocky Mountain Icehouse, 8 pm $10 advance
Saturday 8
Amy van Keeken – Sweet vocals atop crunchy guitars distinguish this local singer-songwriter, who releases her fifth record, In Dreams, with a show at the Aviary. Opening will be Caity Fisher, and Paul James Coutts and Cowls. 8 pm $10 advance
Sunday 9
Smashing Pumpkins – Ah, they’re back! Or did they go away, then come back after going away to come back a second time? OK, looking it up now on Wikipedia … and, yes, that’s exactly what happened. The Smashing Pumpkins were of course responsible for a huge hunk of a soundtrack of a generation, that generation known as “X,” more or less starting in 1993 with the groundbreaking album Siamese Dream, and coming at a time when this band, too, was “underground,” playing clubs and multi-band festivals. Now look at them! Walking upright with their opposable thumbs and headlining Rogers Place. 7:30 pm, advance tickets from $44
Wednesday 12
Sam Smith – We’re still miffed at this British crooner for folding so quickly to Tom Petty’s plagiarism lawsuit – like can any smart listener find similarities between Smith’s Stay With Me, and Petty’s I Won’t Back Down? The 6-5-1 chord progression? A couple of notes of the melody? The use of words? The former said he’d never even heard the latter’s song when he wrote Stay With Me, but whatever. It’s settled, and we’ve all moved on. Smith remains one of the finest balladeers of his generation, and in only two albums has become a global superstar. Beth Ditto opens the show at 8 pm, tickets from $44
