The Kills - Field Trip (Sat June 7)

The Kills
A band who I really enjoyed one album of in the mid oughts, like a few other at this fest, I didn't know much about what to expect. Well it was a bit of a treat then to see the band being a male and female duo plus a contingency of back drummers (two male and two female) who all stood over their drum and beat it out. Even their movements were highly coordinated, not just for sound but for looks and style too. In the background was a leopard backdrop with changing colours to add to the effect. The female vocalists really pranced around the stage in her skinniest jeans like vixen with showy hair  blowing in the fans, while her cohort was badass too, often playing guitar. Some of the tracks had some prerecorded sounds as well but it was mostly the coordinated drumming that held the attention. They rightly joined them for a bow after the especially powerful No Wow.

Kevin Drew, Austra, Darcys, Reuben/Dark - Field Trip Saturday 2014 (June 7)

The Darcys
Catching most of their set it was.. a lot like their set that I've come to know. The dapper lads (one all in white) were playing their solid rock songs, Pretty Girls included while giving and getting some real Toronto love. They mixed some electronic drum into their tunes too and played us out with a slower synthy number that bordered on prog rock.

Megan Bonnell
On an acoustic guitar with curly hair she was backed by the standard electric guitar, bass and drums, plus backup singer. She had an Irish singing accent which makes the uneducated (me) go straight to the Cranberries. Only catching a couple tunes it was decent and her final track was upbeat as she sang "you are the one!"

Reuben and the Dark

Probably pretty obvious by now but that Reuben sure does have a great voice and it was coming through clear - really good sound off this stage. Only able to stick around for four songs, plus the bonus Rolling Stone that had Reuben climbing up on the drum set as I was walking away.

Austra
I remember being heartily disappointed in being out of town for Austra's big show after the release of Feel It Break and now I would finally got to check her, and the band out. As it turns out I needn't have been so broken up as despite her obviously far ranging vocals the live show was not that explosive. Really unfortunate was that by the time I arrived the lady, all in red, was packing up her keyboard which is what I would have liked to have seen. They played the songs, key/synth/rumbling bass/female drummer but without a real wow factor, and over some pre-recorded vocals that were another letdown. She had a funny squat dance while decked out in sunglasses but her voice was really the redeeming factor, especially on the Lose It remix and strong Beat and the Pulse.

Kevin Drew
His latest release, a first sans Broken Social Scene and not even with a 'BSS Presents..' label (but backed by 6 members including Spearin and others) had come out only days earlier but was an expectedly solid album. Here he got to showcase a good chunk of these new tunes to his friendly hometown audience. Ever the on-stage controlling master he made us get rid of the beach balls bopping around this welcome-to-summer festival - 'I don't dig beach balls' - and even voiced his discontent with a certain musical selection repeatedly made by the new local radio station (perhaps rightfully so, but still.) This was all during Body Butter and Good Sex. It really wasn't a huge surprise to anyone when Feist joined him halfway through his Zack Galifinakas featuring music video tune, You in Your Were. But once again when they lost their spot he made the whole band go back through the latter half of a song they'd just completed to get it right - "don't screw it up this time." He tried to roll with it, saying things like "messy" and "crazy" while smiling but was obviously not so impressed (especially with the techs sidestage). This was before the failed vocal loop where he decided to just keep going - "I'm getting beat up up here." This was before he ventured into the crowd for a ballad to Toronto. The outro to Mexican Aftershow Party really has a familiar feeling as he just keeps repeating it differently - not unlike It's All Gonna Break but without the massive crescendo. In the end he did some straight BSS with Fucked Up Kid which got cut off but at least it was done semi gracefully.

Field Trip '14 - Fucked Up (June 8)

Damian was already shirtless when I first walked by and was into it when I made it back. He did wax on for quite awhile about how uncool they had become after he invited his few-year-old kid onstage to sing on a song. They did a couple from David Comes To Life that got me in the pit with the kiddies (bit older than his lad) but there were lots of distractions. One was the upcoming BSS set on the other stage but as we turned to secure a vantage point Canadian rock royalty in the form of Mr. Gordon Downie was invited onstage for a collaboration. He lent his distinct vocals on the track, trading verses with Damian and making a pretty good showing of being comfortable where he was. Entertaining at least!

Field Trip '14 - Badbadnotgood - Fort York (June 8)

The kid is a natural MC and it doesn't detract that he's behind the drum kit. Being a three-piece instrumental melding jazz into modern music and having a helluva fun time doing it there is no front man, so to speak, but that didn't stop the crowd from cheering and clapping along. People ate up the Flying Lotus cover; bringing two members of River Tiber to the stage while the addition of the sax cannot be understated. With concentration and skill beyond their years they pulsed out jams that wound everyone up so that by the end there was a literal mosh pit. It took its time coming as after a five minute warning they cut movements and songs to get to the goods but it was still a build. In the end their lion mascot crowdsurfed over a jubilant audience as they brought it down then ripped it apart over and over (and five minutes over). Do Torontonians realize how fortunate they are to have such a talented new breed of musicians playing their festivals?

Field Trip '14 - Maylee Todd - Fort York (June 7)

Kicking off a full festival day means playing to a nearly empty field. Thus was the case with MT on Saturday of Field Trip as well, too bad the thousands of ticket holders didn't know what they were missing. Sporting a sprout of blond hair and a transparent outfit she started things off. Her music is experimental electro pop and it definitely has its hooks. Joined by a couple of singers and a couple of dancers too, as has been seen at previous shows, the dancing was still a little amateur, not necessarily completely in sync, but does add an element to the live show.

Field Trip '14 - Constantines - Fort York (June 8)

A reunion that many had been dreaming about since the beloved Cons announced their indefinite hiatus in 2010. Although it was the first show scheduled they had actually surprised the citizens of Guelph with a tune-up gig Friday night. Well it worked, as the five were in fine form, guitars blazing through a host of their hits. To open they called upon two additional stand up drummers to Draw Us Lines and when they left the hits just kept on coming. Bry had forgotten his solo project, his gruff voice belting out Hotline Operator as the band rocked out and the true fans were obvious in attendance - there to fist pump, holler 'turn it up!' and hold their hands high mirroring the band during Shine a Light. The Cons were joined for a couple joints by Tamara (Weather Station) and Jenn (Jennifer Castle). A personal favourite, I Will Not Sing a Hateful Song, was given the rock treatment and dedicated to PC leader Tim Hudak. Despite being a bunch of guys who have aged, got married, settled down and had kids, it seemed they forgot all of that for the set closer as they completely jammed out like their old selves up there.

Field Trip '14 - Lowell - Fort York (June 7)

Hard not to draw a comparison to Grimes, with the young Canadian girl singing along to slightly synthy music. She had some male cohorts producing the sound while she danced awkwardly around. I do like the music and I do enjoy the shows but it's a bit funny. She kept her radio single (well it's getting the odd play on local Indie 88) for last and lurched the stage to The Bells. A reasonably-sized hometown crowd cheered it all on.

Field Trip '14 - Chvrches - Fort York (June 8)

With a lit stage prop, including two zed's as the base of the two male's synth stands, Chvrches took to the stage. Out burst their pint-sized leading lady for a punchy set of a good selection of their debut album. Mostly synth/sample/bass-led, her job was to belt it out, and so she did except that one tune where the guy came out from behind the stand to magic-dance while singing. Between songs they mostly bantered about their favourite Canadian music artists, teasing an Alanis karaoke session that never materialized. It wasn't a hugely spectacular show, nor did it vary much from the recorded material but it was enjoyable nonetheless.

Field Trip '14 - Half Moon Run - Fort York (June 7)

My toughest decision of the fest was whether to stay and watch the always stellar Shad K or to catch the buzzy Half Moon Run who were great last time out. I tried to split the difference, watching Canada's smartest rapper through and then steaming over to what turned out to be the last two tracks from the Montreal rockers. These were two spirited songs though as they demolished them both in their casual clothes and long hair with thrilling guitar work. It's not easy to put a thumb on just what makes a rock set stand above others but this definitely did. I don't regret catching all of Shad but Field Trip, why'd you make me choose?

Field Trip '14 - Interpol - Fort York (June 7)

My expectations weren't through the roof for Interpol as I'd really only listened to the Slow Hands album (Antics) for which they were celebrating a decade passed. I put it back on before the show and it did come back to me but did not overwhelm. The show was similar. The New York quintet played more than adequately, with their distinctive vocalist holding it down but I wasn't totally won over. Granted that I was standing at the sound booth and from there, being the closing night show they just appeared as backlit silhouettes before the strobing purples and blues. It was neat that the sound guy went literal during Turn on the Bright Lights though. The set ended with exactly a half hour to go for the foregone encore that featured another few, which came across to these apathetic ears as more of the same.