Mendalla
Another band anniversary
Posted on: 02/13/2013 20:19
The CBC music channel on Youtube strikes again with another anniversary celebration for a great Canadian band. As you may recall, last time it was Blue Rodeo's 25th anniversary:
http://www.wondercafe.ca/discussion/popular-culture/25-years-blue-rodeo
One of the guests at that concert was Newfoundland folk-pop band Great Big Sea. Well, guess who's turning 20 this year?
I first heard GBS when their cover of Slade's "Runaway" went big. Their blend of Newfoundland and Irish folk music, sea shanties, and rock'n roll went over well with me and many other Canadians. While their self-written pop tunes are often wonderful, it's their high-octane approach to folk classics like "Donkey Riding" that really sets them apart.
A few samples of the band in action:
One of my favorite GBS originals.
That's John Mann of Spirit of the West on stage with them. There's a longstanding friendship between the two bands and they've often toured together. I heard John and GBS lead singer Alan Doyle doing a songwriter's circle together once.
The cover that really got things going for them and, to be honest, one of the rare covers that makes me forget the original.
Like Greg and Jim of Blue Rodeo, they've all been pursuing solo careers but the band shows no sign of letting up.
Mendalla
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Mendalla
Posted on: 02/13/2013 20:22
Interesting that they are hitting 20 years in the biz as a new wave of folk-influenced rock & pop led by bands like Mumford & Sons hits internationally.
Mendalla
revjohn
Posted on: 02/13/2013 22:52
I love Great Big Sea,
Was disappointed in the selections for their 20th anniversary album (XX). I can't believe Wave over Wave and Rant and Roar didn't make it even into the Deluxe version's 3rd disc.
somegalfromcan
Posted on: 02/14/2013 02:43
I've been a big Great Big Sea fan for years now! I've seen them in concert more times than I care to count - and am going again in about a month from now when they come to town. I've seen them a couple of times with Spirit of the West - and those were two of the best concerts I've ever been to because they both have such great stage presence. I'll never forget the time my friend and I walked into a small bar after one of their concerts, took one look around and saw all of the members of the band scattered around the room. My friend wanted to run away, but I stopped her saying, "we are not going anywhere - this is by far the coolest thing that has ever happened to us!" We walked in, ordered a drink and sat down. By the end of the night, Alan Doyle, the lead singer, was sitting and chatting with us - and several other members of the band stopped by the table too.
gecko46
Posted on: 02/14/2013 08:56
Alan Doyle is a guest actor on Republic of Doyle Sunday evening.
Big fan of the group.
revjohn
Posted on: 02/14/2013 09:47
I love Republic of Doyle.
I miss the Rock something fierce.
Mendalla
Posted on: 02/14/2013 10:08
I love Great Big Sea,
Was disappointed in the selections for their 20th anniversary album (XX). I can't believe Wave over Wave and Rant and Roar didn't make it even into the Deluxe version's 3rd disc.
I've only glanced at it in Chapters so didn't catch those misses. A Newfoundland band not including their version of Rant & Roar on a career retrospective seems rather ... heretical.
And if you go to the CBC channel on Youtube, the clips posted so far seem to all be band originals. I couldn't find any of their traditional material in it (maybe when they post the full concert on cbcmusic.ca that will change). Even "Old Black Rum" which sounds very traditional was actually written by them per the commentary before the clip from the concert.
Mendalla
waterfall
Posted on: 03/24/2013 18:17
Blue Rodeo is playing in Stratford this week Mendella.
somegalfromcan
Posted on: 03/24/2013 18:24
Mendalla and RevJohn - when I saw GBS in concert a couple of weeks ago, they included both of those songs in the show. It was an amazing concert!
mark1129
Posted on: 03/24/2013 18:42
Blue Rodeo at 25 years - my how time flies, my wife and i bumped into Jim Cuddy with our new born daughter back in 98 when he was launching his solo CD at a local HMV, he was so nice to us, signed a copy of the disc for us
always liked that guy