So that’s what you have to do to bring out people on a weeknight— bring in Bedouin Soundclash and help support the Lethbridge firefighters.
Five dollars from each of the $25 tickets went to the Alberta Firefighters Burn Camp. The Blarney Stone was packed with an enthusiastic crowd, Aug. 10 to see three choice acts. Edmonton’s Ben Stevenson band got the crowd warmed up with some funk flavoured ’80s style pop.
Vince Vaccaro, a Vancouver Island musician who usually plays with a “loud rock band” did a creditable job of uptempo original music. He maintained fantastic charisma and stage presence while bearing an uncanny resemblance to Sam Roberts. Though I would have liked to hear more of him, he ended his energetic set with “Let’s Go To Costa Rica,” while the crowd roared themselves hoarse in anticipation of Bedouin Soundclash.
While most of the crowd cheered, some grumbled about the long wait between Vaccarro and Bedouin Soundclash. I’d never seen them before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was impressed when they took the stage at approximately 11:15 p.m., played a couple reggae rock numbers including “Stay Close To Me”, then singer Jay Malinowski, who didn’t say much to the crowd during the hour and some long set, admonished a guy who wanted to fight andtold the crowd they were “there for the love.”
The Toronto trio added a saxophonist and a trumpet player for the show, which lent a ska and jazz flavour to their energetic set. I could hear the punk influence, but Malinowski’s voice is too melodic to be considered punk.
They wound up their set at about 12:20 a.m. with “Stand By Me” which segued into their big hit “When the Night Hears My Song.”
—by Richard Amery, L.A. Beat editor