Alberta buzz @ V-fest
Indie kids got the best of the old and the best of the new at the Virgin Mobile Festival Saturday as prairie-inspired folk rock echoed from the little Boardwalk tent following a classic Pixies set at the mammoth main stage.
Rural Alberta Advantage's Nils Edenloff belts one out at V-fest, Aug. 29. - Marsha Casselman photo
The Rural Alberta Advantage (technically a Toronto advantage now) have been harvesting fans for about three years. But their crop has just started proving plentiful since their emusic.com-backed church gig opening for Grizzly Bear at SXSW and the re-release of their debut album, Hometowns, on Saddle Creek this July.
“The only review we were really nervous about was pitchfork,” says drummer Paul Banwatt after Saturday’s set, noting 8-points from the music mag is the best any band could ask for.
If the band’s set at Virgin Fest was any indication, people are curious to hear more about Alberta-bred singer Nils Edenloff’s memories of Edmonton, some guy named Frank, and small mining towns.
“Nine out of 10 shows are like (Virgin Fest). Then we’ll have one big show, like the Horseshoe,” says Banwatt speaking of their sold-out album release party. “It’s kind of exhilarating … We (he and multi-instrumentalist Amy Cole) have both been in bands that were not doing well.” NOTE: Clementine, not Toronto’s electro-pop starts Woodhands, for which Banwatt also plays skins. In fact, fans can expect the material Woodhands is currently writing to be released early next year, says Banwatt.
Apparently both RAA and Woodhands share a booking agent, so no touring conflicts loom — as long as he can somehow fit in his law studies at the University of Toronto.
Perhaps he should consider one thing at a time?
“Yes, well, for the next few months it’s all about the RAA,” he laughs.
The band will embark on a Canada-U.S. tour mid-September.
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Other noteworthy locals at V-Fest were Toronto’s young, shy Superstitions who performed their brand of retro garage rock at the Boardwalk stage, with barefooted singer Nyssa looking, at times, like a deer caught in headlights — other times like a natural.
Local electro-dance crew Thunderheist were in all-around good moods for their mid-afternoon set despite the slowly trickling-in crowd, many of whom looked to be Lights fans (female + young + donning an impractical skinny headband). The live drummer, Grahm Zilla’s synth productions, and MC Isis‘ soulful voice got people dancing with now classics like “Jerk it” and a couple new tracks. The end of their set was pure sign-of-the-times, as the drummer threw his sticks in the crowd. “Hey, we paid for those!” Isis quipped. Zilla added, “Ya, that’s coming out of your cut.”
MC Isis surfs at V-Fest. - Marsha Casselman photo
[...] rock: Rural Alberta Advantage @ Lee’s Palace, [...]