Cat Malojian

Regarding downtown festivals, other than Pride, I have had little or no luck with the weather, or in terms of having the time to see everything I would like to.  It’s either freezing cold, pouring rain, or unbearably hot and humid.  Last year I had a funeral to attend on the Saturday and this year I was sick.  Figures.  Alas, I fought my way though my desire to stay at home in bed so I could review the amazing talent that travels to our fair city for none other than my own personal entertainment.  I caught a few minutes of Iggy and the Stooges, but the heat and crowds in my sickly condition, and the trampling of my uncovered toes made it impossible to stick around.  A table in the air conditioned Silver Dollar brought me back to life a few times and gave me the energy to wander a few doors down to sweat out bands at the El Mocambo.  With luck I will have a few days free of illness and extreme weather next time around, but the good news is nothing seems to stop me from getting out there with my photographer and notepad.
The term “cat malojian” is one I heard a little over a year ago for the first time from my Irish boyfriend.  I have yet to understand his explanation of what it actually means.  I think it had something to do with a perfectly intelligent and reasonable person doing or saying something really stupid.  I tried to google the term, but the only thing I found was that people either love or hate the Irish band of the same name- it’s never in between, but the scales are tipped far more in the direction of love.  I had never been to The Painted Lady, and I wondered if the people in charge of the sound for the bands are usually as bad as they were that night.  It seemed like there were three people dealing with it, but it was almost impossible to get one of them anywhere near the stage when he was needed.  It took forever for the band to set up because it seemed like the only things on the stage that weren’t broken or plugged into the wrong place were the musicians and their instruments.  The band members spent much of the first three songs begging for more or less volume on instruments/bass/vocals and actually had to give up on some songs halfway through because they didn’t have the required sound.  The bass and drum machine were virtually non-existent during one number that obviously needed it, so the band just shrugged their shoulders and moved on.  It was admirable of the band to be prepared for technical difficulties, or in this case, disaster.  If there was a city wide blackout,would be one of the few acts for whom the show really could go on.

Cat Malojian consist of singer-songwriter Stevie Scullion and multi-instrumentalist siblings Jonny and Rachel Toman.  The multi-instrument talent could have been better showcased had the sound been under control, but the limitations didn’t stop the group from blowing my mind, especially Rachel Toman.  She plays clarinet, keyboards, percussion, and sings beautifully.  The banjo player (although sadly not nearly loud enough) was fantastic, strumming and picking touching melodies, mixing traditional Celtic music with modern North American riffs without losing the family Ceilidh feel of a comfortable, down-home kitchen party.  Fellow victims of the original Nintendo generation, they strike up a guitar/banjo version of the theme from Super Mario Brothers, pulling at the heartstrings and injured thumbs of the enthusiastic audience.  The music is fun and upbeat, but pretty at the same time.  Among her percussion instruments, Rachel sits atop a “whitebox”, which is typically played with bare hands, and her use of brushes is an innovative move that adds interesting substance to the music. West Indian influence seems to sneak into the next song from the movie “O’ Brother, Where Art Thou?”. Combining so many types of music is risky, but Cat Malojian pulls it off with style and grace.  Eventually a sound guy made his way up to the stage so the audience could finally hear the banjo and realize the skill, precision and talent behind it.  The band had a great sense of humour about all the sound issues, which I thought was awfully nice of them, considering how far they had travelled.  They really were trying to share with Torontonians their original and entertaining music- I actually apologized on behalf of our city for making it so difficult.  The final song came all too quickly, and sounded like a folksy Pogues-like number.  The vocal harmonies were unbelievable- Rachel is quite possibly in the same league as Kirsty MacColl.  She was such a natural and her vocals seemed almost effortless.  A lifetime of effort wouldn’t be enough for most people to sing like her.  The song sped up, and with the banjo (at the right volume) and Rachel’s vocals, it was the perfect song to end with- good enough that the audience would remember the music and not just the technical disasters.

This Toronto-based alternative band was a little easier for me to listen to than the previous one had been.  The first song I heard was pretty mainstream, but still had originality to it, and it sounded like something that would make the top forty on 102.1.  The next song had more feedback and guitar twang which made it a little heavier, but the feedback was done with skill and actually added a pretty melody before the group really started rocking out.  Most of my favorite rock songs are a combination of nice melody and heavier riffs, so I was really enjoying this number.  The tempo kept changing, which kept the audiences attention and was well received, especially considering the band never missed a beat.  The tambourine coming in part way through the song was a nice addition and, combined with the complicated tempo changes added substance and depth.  “Queen Licorice” work well together, and are a pleasure to listen to.  It was a nice way to end my NXNE experience for the year.

The Zeros

This band is an homage to 70’s punk at its best.  All the way from California, this high energy group brings back the styles of the Ramones, the Clash and the Sex Pistols with true passion and talent.  In fact, they actually played with The Clash once and have been joined on stage by Patti Smith.  The female bassist was fantastic- the speed and precision of great punk is something many bass players have difficult time with, but she obviously loved the music enough to go to the trouble of mastering the riffs.  The music is heavy and fun, but the volume was a little over the top (not sure if it was the band or the sound techs, but with this style of music, damaged eardrums are par for the course).  Unfortunately, the loud instruments drowned out the vocals which is a pity because knowing what the music is actually written about makes it easier to review properly.  Their second song made me think of such recent iconic punk as The Violent Femmes and Green Day (earlier albums).  It wasn’t super fast, and more danceable than one might expect.  The band creates the perfect atmosphere for their show with their on-stage energy and enthusiasm.  The true punk-loving audience members requested an encore, which was much harder and faster, closing their set with a hard-core punk ass-kicking number.

Johnny Max Band

Apparently Johnny Max has been playing the Beaches Jazz Festival for years now, and the kind of music he plays is exactly what I gravitate towards during streetfest.  I have probably seen him before, but when my neighborhood is packed with people, music and corn stands, it’s a little too much stimulation to keep track of the bands I like.  Another issue is that he plays across the street from FATHEAD and my mom has known the bass player all her life, so we make a point of watching them and moving on, which is something I definitely will not do this year.  My editor, Paul, described the music as “happy blues”, which is actually pretty accurate.  He keeps this up and in a few years, he will take over my job reviewing bands.  Being in the audience with these multi- Juno and Maple Blues Award Nominees on stage is a blast.  The music they play is the kind everyone can dance to, and it appeals to people of all ages.  I had the pleasure of dancing with a sweet 65-year-old gentleman decked out in white slacks, white suspenders and a white hat.  He was a great dancer, and I was enjoying feeling like I was living in a decade long before I was even born.  He kept telling me how lucky he was to be twirling around with a woman less than half his age.  The NXNE program describes Max as a combination of New Orleans and Memphis Blues with Southern Soul and R&B.  He doesn’t always follow conventional Blues lines, favoring substance rather than traditional 12 bar influenced forms.  He reasons that it’s all Blues, because he characterizes his own material as “music to move your groove by”.  The music itself is enough to get the audience tapping their feet on their own, but Max takes it a step further and makes the crowd part of his own experience with his charm and sense of humour.  He shows appreciation for his fans and, in the process, gains more at every show.  The band’s fourth and most recent album, “A Lesson I’ve Learned”, is receiving critical acclaim, and has earned the band a number of prestigious nominations.

-Juno Nomination for Blues Album of the Year -Maple Blues Award Nomination for Songwriter of the Year (Max and Martin Alex Aucoin) Their recognition is warranted, and is sure to continue growing.  Make sure you check this band out- you wont regret it.

COMANECHI

After midnight, it’s hard to find anything but rock, alternative, punk or heavy metal bands during music festivals.  It makes sense, because the faint-of-heart have usually gone home to bed by then, but I felt bad for poor Paul, who was up past his bedtime and had forgotten his trusty earplugs.  Comanechi hails from London, UK and consists of two band members.  A guy plays electric guitar and does so well enough to make up for the complete lack of other instruments.  The rhythm section and vocals are courtesy of a tiny, black-haired, scantily clad woman.  She may not be a very big person- it’s hard to see her behind her drum set- but she has a very big voice.  Her pitch is ultra high, and her style pushes her vocals almost to the breaking point.  Understanding what she was saying was impossible, but according to the NXNE program, her vocalizations are about R-rated psychosexual nightmares.  Considering her style and what came off as a whole bunch of anger and frustration, I was pretty sure she wasn’t on about butterflies and flowers.  They were cool to watch for a couple of songs, but I think even I am getting a little old for the really heavy stuff.

Monkey Junk

In my panic to see a few more bands, I happened upon the winners of the Indie Award for Best Blues Group/Band (beating out the likes of Jim Byrnes, Harrison Kennedy, Colin Linden and Colin James.  I have grown up with the Blues, so this was a great honour for me.  It’s wonderful to see the original style of music is alive and well in another generation, possibly even the kids of the people my parents used to party with.  Monkey Junk have won multiple awards, with Steve Marriner winning male vocalist of the year and harmonica player of the year, and axeman Tony Diteodoro walking away with guitarist of the year at the Maple Blues Awards; not to mention placing in the top five at the International Blues awards in Memphis.  I had a hard time accepting the absence of bass guitar within the rhythm section, but the music was still great.  When the lead guitarist picked up the bass, I was home.  There was no question in my mind that this band was worthy of their recent success and recognition.  They add their unique flavour to the Blues that have take over hearts, souls and hormones of people the world over throughout history.  My upbringing surrounded by blues musicians and music is something I will be eternally grateful for.  Life isn’t complete without a dose of Blues, R n’ B, Boogie Woogie; music that lives in the soul of the creator until it is shared with a few people fortunate enough to be around.  Monkey Junk’s first album “Tiger in Your Tank” has been met with rave reviews since it came out last spring, and the band is currently working on their much-anticipated second recording.  Keep your eyes open for them, as the Ottawa-based band is currently touring our fair country from coast to coast.  With nearly SIXTY years of combined experience playing the blues, live and in the studio, Steve Marriner, Tony D, and Matt Sobb are making sure the blues continue to thrive in Canada, and all over the world.

Kyle Luu Breeze Willis

This dynamic rap group consists of three guys, including rapper, lyricist and song-writer, Kyle “Luu Breeze” Willis.  Willis grew up in Scarborough’s Orton Park housing project, and with the support of an inspirational single mother, it became his goal to make something of himself, which is exactly what he is doing.  He takes pride in his background, and his strong cultural ties to both Jamaica and Nova Scotia are instrumental in his creation of original music.  “Luu Breeze” hit the stage with an energetic, entertaining and charmingly cocky form of homegrown hip-hop.  They make sure the audience is paying attention by startling those who dare to daydream during the show; our photographer was up close to take pictures, and we were all told to “get as close as the old white guy”.  Medium and higher voices are brought together well with a deep bass voice, as three of the group members either rap together or take turns up front.  The energy and play doesn’t end as the show goes on- the guys jumping around, and playing with each other, the DJ, and the crowd, which continues growing in enthusiasm and size.  In lieu of full costume changes and array of funky hats replace the ones they wore on the last number.  The passion is without question, as is the talent, versatility, and drive.  With a story to tell about the history of Nova Scotia, and the lives of Willis’ people, Kyle “Luu Breeze” has a lot to say, and chances are, people are going to listen.

Matt Bahen of The Schomberg Fair

For two years, once upon a time, I went to high school with a guy by the name of Matt Bahen. He was kind, soft-spoken, and popular, with shoulder-length dark hair and a guitar slung over his shoulder. These days, Matt looks pretty much the same as I remember him, although he has less hair on his head and more on his face, but he isn’t as quiet as he used to be. This is a good thing. Matt grew up in a little town called Schomberg. There isn’t much to do there most of the time, so the residents look forward to the annual Schomberg Fair. There were animals and a demolition derby, music, rides, and endless drinking, partying and good old-fashioned debauchery. Like the event, the band is worth traversing the country side to see, and like the fair, their show is memorable, musical and full of surprises. Matt is the lead vocalist, but the true wonder of his performance is his instrumentation on both the guitar and bango. With precision and grace, he belts out both high-speed riffs and beautiful melodies to enhance the slower tunes. The bass player has a voice to match his instrument, which contributes to the rich and powerful overall sound. At first, they reminded me of a punk version of the band “System of a Down”, but their diversity impressed me as the show went on. The first ballad is full of soul and the band plays it beautifully, a sure sign of a great rock band. They follow that up with a country tune. Matt and the bass player are perfect for it vocally. I am not a big fan of country music, but the take The Schomberg Fair has on the genre is far more enticing than I have grown to expect. They take something that would be whiney and twangy and rock it right out, proving that, just because you live in the country doesn’t mean you can’t be hardcore!