Formed
in 2003 this Ontario born band have made 5 studio albums, most recently New
Wild Everywhere, released on April 3rd 2012 on Nettwerk. Named after the
celebrated feat in Canada, the group honour Marilyn Bell, who in 1954, became
the first person ever to swim the length of Lake Ontario. Following the release
of their spring album, the Great Lake Swimmers are playing shows in the UK,
Belgium, Germany and Spain until they return to their homeland.
Decorated
with art clad walls and a rustic decor, the Night and Day cafe is sweetly
alluring. Eclectic ornaments lay scattered whilst an equally diverse crowd
surround the bar. The audience seem somewhat timid as the folk-rock group
emerge, creating an awkward void in front of the stage but as opening track
Think That You Might Be Wrong emerges, feet begin to move.
"We're
proud to be back in Manchester", declares front man Tony Dekker as Put
There By The Land begins to hum. The group begin with soothing ballads as if
drawing the crown in with violinist Miranda Mulholland offering appeasing
harmonies to Dekker's soulful tones.
Halfway
through the set, the band exit the stage leaving Dekker and a guitar. A
lonesome solo performance almost passes as a middle eight to the whole show
until, one by one, each member returns to their instrument, building an empty
On The Water up to a rich climax.
Slight
glares between Dekker and guitarist Erik Arnesen indicate disorderly
instrumentation levels but despite this, Dekker calmly prompts adjustments and
swiftly moves on.
Your
Rocky Spine allows Arnesen to show off his banjo playing skills whilst Mulholland
continues to play spiralling violin melodies. This group have a knack of making
everything they do seem effortless and this is further demonstrated by
percussionist Greg Millson, and his many drumsticks, providing hi-hat sibilance
alongside discrete bass drum thuds.
As to
not showcase their charms any more, Mulholland begins to play her violin as if
it were a guitar, resulting in pizzicato strings which sound deceivingly like a
piano. Adding small doses of personality and humour make the Great Lake
Swimmers performance very successful as they glide through a set 17 tracks
strong.
The last
number of this composed show is River's Edge complete with Mulholland and
Arnesen sharing a microphone to deliver doleful hums; a hugely intimate ending
which almost brings the crowd to complete silence. Until "We want
more!", bawled by a drunken genius brings the solidarity crashing down.
Leaving
no more than a minute after escaping backstage, Dekker returns for an encore,
one which takes places directly in the middle of the audience. Looking obscure
at first as Bret Higgins squeezes through with his double bass, it turns out to
be a rare moment of closeness for the audience and the band, a spellbinding
note on which to end this triumphant show.
The Great Lake Swimmers sound far better live
than on their albums as their depth and intricate musical detail is conveyed in
a more raw and poignant manner, one in which the audience become captivated in.
Full of charisma and deep levels of thoughtfulness, the group master this live
performance.
0 comments:
Post a Comment