Reviewing concerts gives me the opportunity to see acts that I may not have gone out of my way to see, in a crowded concert marketplace. Sometimes that can be a bore, while other times I get to discover that I have been missing out by not seeing an artist before.
As a virgin in the
Great Big Sea concert experience, I had an idea of what to expect. After all, a band doesn't survive nearly 18 years and become one of the most popular Canadian artists without some talent. Their concerts have achieved legendary status due to the energy and enthusiasm they summon with each song.
At the sold out October 27th show, that enthusiasm was on in full-force for opener
Ordinary Day, which immediately brought fans to their feet.
The Day Pat Murphy Died and
When I'm Up, two more of the groups most popular songs, kept the fans on their feet clapping, dancing and singing along.
The band – Alan Doyle, Sean McCann, Bob Hallet, Kris McFarlane and Murray Foster – could be forgiven if the energy level had been a little lax. A Saskatchewan snowstorm left them stranded in Regina and for awhile the show appeared to be in serious jeopardy. Doyle made a point of thanking the crew, who hadn't made it to the venue until almost 5:00, for setting up in time for the show to start.
“I feel very close to you right now Calgary,” Doyle said. “Unlike 10 hours ago when I wasn't sure we would make it.”
A sense of humour appears to be a requirement for Canadian artists, and indeed, the band is actually quite funny. When Doyle would go off on tangents, McCann would dryly state, “He's been like this ever since that movie (Robin Hood.)” The stage banter often had the crowd in stitches with laughter.
A Great Big Sea concert is pretty amazing to watch as an assortment of instruments come into play – accordions, flutes, and banjos to name a few – but the strongest instruments in their repertoire are their voices. This was evident early on, with the title track of their latest album
Safe Upon The Shore, which featured McCann singing solo and the rest of the band harmonizing for the chorus. It was a standout song in an evening full of them.
Yankee Sailor,
Run Runaway and a cover of
Gallows Pole also stood out, and watching the band perform the insanely fast
Mari-Mac was a sight to behold.
The audience had plenty of chances themselves to sing, as Doyle lead them through a medley of covers including The Black Eyed Peas, John Mellancamp, Journey, and U2, before the rousing
Run Runaway wrapped up the first of two sets.
It is clear in watching Great Big Sea that they love performing, and that love is returned. The diverse audience spanned from seniors to children - with parents that may have been close to their age when they first heard Great Big Sea themselves. At fairly low prices for a concert ($72.40 including fees for the top ticket) fans got over two and a half hours of Great Big Sea.
There are still some opportunities to see Great Big Sea on this tour with an additional night in Edmonton on January 22nd.
