The Wooden Sky + Yukon Blonde – La Sala Rossa – 10.26.10
Opening was another Canadian band, Vancouver BC’s Yukon Blonde. One glance was enough to notice the abundance of hair covering each member of the group, making it difficult not to picture fictitious band Stillwater as they made their entrance. The resemblance was exclusively physical, though, as their music was a far cry from 70’s rock revival. On the contrary, they delivered a solid and upbeat opening performance, promoting their debut self-titled LP. The audience was quickly conquered and theirs proved to be a more than agreeable opening act.
Following was The Wooden Sky. Losing no time, they started with “When Lost at Sea”, a song from their first LP of the same name. They grabbed the audience’s attention within a few seconds, showcasing superior performance skills. Lead singer Gavin Gardiner’s voice was a surprise; a voice both so deep and mature is not expected of a young adult like him. They played a few more songs before presenting themselves. Of course, they collected a round of applause when a fiery Gardiner stated: “We’re from Toronto but we’re moving, because Rob Ford has been elected”. They followed with “Angels”, of their latest album, and, again, their incredible performance ability shone brightly. They were exceptionally good musicians, juggling between instruments and putting on a good show while doing so. They were also particularly charismatic, creating a warm ambiance and giving the impression of being in your living room hearing them play. They closed the show with Yukon Blonde joining them on stage for the last song. It ended the night on a joyful note, leaving everyone a pleasant memory to take home. – Camille Gervais
The Wooden Sky
Yukon Blonde
Photography by Leanne Craigmyle
