Two ladies played the Red Dog last Wednesday, each with an accompanist. Little Scream from Montreal played some really interesting songs and Julie Doiron from Sackville New Brunswick played her unique version of rock and roll.
Little Scream, which tonight was Laurel Sprengelmeyer on guitar and vocals and Jimmy Thompson on drums, took the stage at 10:30 and immediately launched into their post rock influenced attack.
Laurel's guitar had a really thick tone right from the start. To make up for the lack of a bassist her guitar had a much fuller, thicker sound with more of a bottom end than I've heard in awhile. It functioned as both a bass and a guitar, especially when she tuned it down for a couple of songs.
Even when the guitar is tuned down the songs have irrepressible melodies that reach out of the controlled chaos and jab at you. She multi-tracked both her guitar and voice live onstage creating the impression of a much bigger band the two piece.
Julie took to the stage at 11:30 and played for an hour and a half. She brought William Kidman onstage with her to play drums and guitar solo's at various points.
They started off with Kidman on the drum kit and they played two really up tempo rock songs one of which, Borrowed Mini Vans, was reworked for her latest album I Can Wonder What You Did With Your day. Then the drummer came out from behind the kit and they played a couple of covers in very intimate manner. The energy level dropped but the beauty of the songs became more easily apparent.
They played Sam Cooke's Bring It On Home To Me then Merle Haggard's Reasons To Quit by way of Phosphorescent. They continued in this quieter vein through Doiron's Tailor. They way they played it was beautiful, very mellow with a nice picking pattern. But Kidman played a solo that came out of nowhere and was entirely to loud for the piece. It was out of place but only for a moment before the mellow mood returned.
Julie's awesome voice came crystal clear out of the speakers and her guitar sounded crisp and clear except when it was noisy and angry. Some of these songs took some unexpected turns into noisy rock and roll territory. With Kidman alternating between the drums and guitars these songs change from the quiet, singer songwriter songs most of them were to begin with. He gives the songs a lot more energy and a bit of an edge. He provides a thumping energy or a usually interesting solo that comes out of nowhere and more power to the turn on a dime music Julie tends to write.
It's really hard to choose a favourite song because they're all so great but Consolation Prize was especially cool. When it was recorded Consolation Prize is a very fuzzy rock n roll tune. They played it unfuzzed and very loudly revealing some quirks and turns that hide beneath the fuzz. When played in such a different manner than how they usually are the songs take on a new power.
Julie remarked onstage how weird the gig felt. She said something about how it was good to get out your comfort zone every so often. They did a two song encore one of which Julie played drums for. If you get a chance to see this great Canadian treasure before she retreats to New Brunswick again do so, you won't regret it.
Two ladies played the Red Dog last Wednesday, each with an accompanist. Little Scream from Montreal played some really interesting songs and Julie Doiron from Sackville New Brunswick played her unique version of rock and roll.
Little Scream, which tonight was Laurel Sprengelmeyer on guitar and vocals and Jimmy Thompson on drums, took the stage at 10:30 and immediately launched into their post rock influenced attack.
Laurel's guitar had a really thick tone right from the start. To make up for the lack of a bassist her guitar had a much fuller, thicker sound with more of a bottom end than I've heard in awhile. It functioned as both a bass and a guitar, especially when she tuned it down for a couple of songs.
Even when the guitar is tuned down the songs have irrepressible melodies that reach out of the controlled chaos and jab at you. She multi-tracked both her guitar and voice live onstage creating the impression of a much bigger band the two piece.
Julie took to the stage at 11:30 and played for an hour and a half. She brought William Kidman onstage with her to play drums and guitar solo's at various points.
They started off with Kidman on the drum kit and they played two really up tempo rock songs one of which, Borrowed Mini Vans, was reworked for her latest album I Can Wonder What You Did With Your day. Then the drummer came out from behind the kit and they played a couple of covers in very intimate manner. The energy level dropped but the beauty of the songs became more easily apparent.
They played Sam Cooke's Bring It On Home To Me then Merle Haggard's Reasons To Quit by way of Phosphorescent. They continued in this quieter vein through Doiron's Tailor. They way they played it was beautiful, very mellow with a nice picking pattern. But Kidman played a solo that came out of nowhere and was entirely to loud for the piece. It was out of place but only for a moment before the mellow mood returned.
Julie's awesome voice came crystal clear out of the speakers and her guitar sounded crisp and clear except when it was noisy and angry. Some of these songs took some unexpected turns into noisy rock and roll territory. With Kidman alternating between the drums and guitars these songs change from the quiet, singer songwriter songs most of them were to begin with. He gives the songs a lot more energy and a bit of an edge. He provides a thumping energy or a usually interesting solo that comes out of nowhere and more power to the turn on a dime music Julie tends to write.
It's really hard to choose a favourite song because they're all so great but Consolation Prize was especially cool. When it was recorded Consolation Prize is a very fuzzy rock n roll tune. They played it unfuzzed and very loudly revealing some quirks and turns that hide beneath the fuzz. When played in such a different manner than how they usually are the songs take on a new power.
Julie remarked onstage how weird the gig felt. She said something about how it was good to get out your comfort zone every so often. They did a two song encore one of which Julie played drums for. If you get a chance to see this great Canadian treasure before she retreats to New Brunswick again do so, you won't regret it.
