It was a Thursday night, May 3. I could stay at home and watch Law & Order re-runs again — or I could head downtown to check out some bands playing live in town down here from Calgary. Thankfully, I chose the latter.
As it turned out, I would be just one of a small group of Lethbridg-ians that turned out to hear some serious Canadian talent.
Two bands from Calgary opened up the night - both sharing members, two members related through brotherhood and a link to the former act Beija Flor.
These gentlemen; now behind the acts known as Savk and The Magnetic North, laid a hypnotic calm over the few people in the audience, always keeping serious rhythms even while lacking a drummer.
Their sets were too short, it could be said. But it wasn't long before the crowd met the headliners of the evening - The Archers.This gang of indie rockers from Victoria gave it all - three microphones catching their optimistic, fun sound.
Admitting that they were on their first 'real' Canadian tour, the crowd responded accordingly, and the Archers' multi-part vocal harmonies; like a blend of Kings of Leon, Fleet Foxes and Mumford & Sons; complete with serious mandolin accompaniment, managed to leave at least a half-dozen Lethbridge residents looking forward to a future full-length album.
In the meantime, those Savk/Magnetic guys are welcome to come back down from Cowtown as often as possible.
With their masterful arrangements and... hell, just great music, I can merely wish there were more people out to see this genuine display of live, passionate rock n' roll on a Thursday night.
