EDGEFEST RETURNS PART ONE!!

102.1 The Edge

July 18, 2008, 07:07 AM

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EDGEFEST RETURNS PART ONE

By: Fridae Mattas

Why is it every time I mission to an outdoor event this year it rains!! Where is the summer? It feels more like spring, the heat is here but the sun rarely shines with it!! What you are about to read may offend some people but hey my observations and experience their actions and we all know actions do speak louder than words!! Local Toronto Rock station 102.1 The Edge throws together this massive all day concert, last year they took a break but this year came back with sixteen bands in one day. I have never been to Edgefest before because it’s always in the boons or when I’m not available, I could check out most of the bands at a venue closer to home. I was in line for about forty-five minutes, there always is some sort of altercation and for some reason it’s always with people I have come across before. What goes around comes around that’s when karma hits you like a back handed bitch slap! This one security broad whom I have seen around, she wasn’t a security guard when I first saw her, infact as far from one as you could get. She's about five three, five four max I have no clue why they hired her, she was being so loud trying to rob my umbrella!! I actually bring one for the first time because I knew it was going to rain, I checked the weather for once and she wanted me to chuck it, uh hell no I don’t think so. She caused a fuss called over her supervisor or manager whoever he was; he also wanted to teef everything in my bag, needless to say I got into the venue with everything I came with. The hassle made me cranky, some of the security dudes were chill but some I wanted to punch in the face. There would have been no problems if they had two exits and entrances like every other festival and event, I mean PRIDE even had a media entrance and they set up a stage in a parking lot! The venue is Downsview Park in Toronto a former air force base for the military, there were many places to put a media entrance/area. The set up could have been better with everything, the stages were incredible it’s so amazing how the stage larries put all of that together (the main stage was huge!!) it always has fascinated me. The only down side was the fact they would not let us migrate from one end to the other by the main stage, they made us go all the way around in the crowd which took at least ten minutes to get through the ocean of people, so unnecessary turning into half and hour when it got muddy.



Suggestions if there will be a repeat at the same venue next year, they should mix it up and put the vendors on each side as well as a Beer Tent on each side to even out the crowd; instead of having the food to the left by the second stage and beer to the right by the porta potties and main stage. The beer tent had a line all day (we are talking a football field in length maybe even longer), as did the free stand cans, along with everything else! Many were complaining about it but hey what can you do, that’s how they set it up, it was the first time Edgefest was held at Downsview Park, usually they have it at Molson Park in Barrie Ontario about an hour and a half from Toronto or at The Molson Amphitheater in Toronto. The Paramedics should have also been on both sides and in the middle, half the time people had to go search for one and it always ended up being the same dude (I thought he was kind of cute) I know all you dudes don’t want to hear about a hot paramedic but I did see a couple of people pass out because it was hot especially in the crowd. This event was truly Woodstock-esque seems as though that’s the trend for the outdoor open air music events in Toronto this year.



I arrived at the second stage just in time to catch a slice of ‘The Alpha Galates’ formerly titled “The Hollow” originally from Medicine Hat, Alberta recently setting up shop in Toronto. The Drummer Mathew James Von Wagner as lead vocals drumming the same time as he sings. They were remarkable female bass player/vocals Karen Wagner and Keyboardist/vox Harmony were rocking away, totally love their sound, the vocals are incredible, dude has serious pipes, the guitars Todd Lefevre – Lead Guitar/vox and Rowan Macphail Guitar/vox were amazing, furious chord progressions great stage presence truly used the stage to the fullest! Everything was tremendous with this band, I wish I had seen the whole set but I was stuck in line with 600 people. Everything they claim to be and more this band is definitely highly reccomended reminds me a lot of Tenacious D due to the stylings of Von Wagner’s vocals but so much better than Jack Black, no wonder the President of EMI called Von Wagner himself!! The Alpha Galates are added to the Fridae’s favorite bands list!!







Next up to kick off the main stage was the ‘Arkells’, The Alpha Galates opened Edgefest on the second stage. What I liked about the schedule of performances is they never overlapped you could check out all bands on both stages, eventually that became more complex as the sky leaked furiously. The Arkells turned it out, set list included the tunes ‘Oh, The Boss Is Coming’, ‘The Ballad of Hugo Chavez’ and ‘Champagne Socialist’. Same old from the Arkells it was just a bigger stage, which I don’t think they are yet ready for. The stage seemed to overwhelm the band, one of the guitarists needs to focus more on just rocking out to the tunes without thinking so hard on which chord is next, just feel the instrument entertaining the crowd in the process, rather than continually obsessing over how your hair looks. Either way the rest of the band killed it although they should use all the empty space on that massive stage, the bands performance at the Elmo for NXNE 2008 was far more superior.








After the Arkells I headed over to the second stage to check out ‘The Stereohoax’, heard of them before but never actually listened to a full tune nor had I seen them live. They opened their set with ‘You Got Me’ they were full of energy, magnetic and actually rocked out! The vocals were alright not amazing but definitely better than on disc, another BLS Diagnosis (Better Live Syndrome), every larrie in the band plays with heart and conviction I just hope they make music for the love of the art. New bands; always remember practice does make you better, nobody is perfect, perfection does not exist but if you truly believe in yourself so will everyone else as corny as it sounds it is true. The larries of Stereohoax were engaging the crowd, thoroughly enjoying themselves, exactly what is needed to be done always keep the crowd into it. The tunes were catchy, the whole band played well, ‘The Stereohoax” is not a joke they will most likely catch on, so hop on before the rest of the world if you want some poppin post-punk tunes to dance to.







It was time for ‘Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker’ (USS) to hit the main stage and they smashed it hard!! One of the best performances from a lesser known band they tore it up I’m serious, hailing from the projects of Parkdale the two larries always use the stage to the fullest, it is just the two of them yet they work the stage and the crowd like it should be done. I would say after seeing them on a big stage for The Toronto Freedom Festival and a small club for NXNE as I watched them rock the main stage at Edgefest this band is worth your time and money. A completely unique sound of their own, Ashley Boo’s vocals have a slight Cobain twinge with a bit of his own unique soul, bringing something fresh to the scene and always turning it out for the audience. They opened the half hour set with their single ‘2 and 15 16ths’, They had this big Albert Einstein cut out that had USS on it along with some colourful dancers. Such a great performance, always captivating this band is meant to be on the big stages; the small clubs are holding them back.









Back at the Second stage ‘The Modernboys Moderngirls’ were jamming, their tunes are truly poptastic including the tune “My Baby Says Boy Don’t You Ever Go” different only because the group has two females in the band although they really need to work on their vocals and performance, there was no charisma or stage presence, the body language emanating from the ladies was as if they were not feeling what they were doing, bored out of their minds. Come on ladies don’t let the boys out rock you and the boys of the band did just that, they totally upstaged the women in the band. They did get the crowd hype due to the boys feeding off the crowd, giving them a show worth watching. A retro sound with a modern twist yet it has been done before but I think they can make it. I am sure they will, it is catchy pop rock. I may check them out again to see if the ladies bring it this time.







Onto the main stage it was back and forth all day I actually saw thirteen out of the sixteen bands performing at Edgefest would have made all sixteen if it didn’t rain, I brought my umbrella but I forgot my kicks. The band Attack In Black, first time seeing them live and will be the last. The music is not the type I would listen to on the regular; I was at least expecting a good performance. They were simple and boring; with the rain and humidity the band was adding to a very naptastic atmosphere, they need to incorporate more effort into the live show, vibing off energy to the people. Too laid back and did not have enough of a sparkle to captivate the audience. Attack in Black should have had USS’s time slot because USS has this incredible showmanship and understanding of how to entertain. The vocals were not good, drowned out by the band lead singer needs some vocal work, he was pitchy and airy, all throat. They may have had a part in writing for City and Colour but really should find their own sound, we don’t need more of the same.







The dark clouds looked as if they were going to start dripping, good thing it had not yet rained so we were good for now. The next band to hit the second stage was “Creature” I heard the tunes and was curious to see how the performance would go. A few minor technical difficulties but all worked out in the end, the band consists of two girls: Cowbella - keys/vox/cowbells and Gina Simmons bass/vox and two guys Kim Ho - Vox/guitar and Sid Z on the drums, all from Montreal Quebec. Bassist looked a little frightened and upset as did Cowbella at times. The only thing I would have to say is the vocals need more diction you couldn’t understand a word she was singing, if you didn’t know the tune you wouldn’t know what track it was. Starting their set with “Pop Culture” a track that is a danceable poppy concoction with a “Rockwell”, “No Doubt” feel a perfect club banger. They were the poppiest band to play Edgefest but their main intentions are to get people to dance, you must check this band out, the dancing will soon follow.







Rocking out on the main stage was ‘Ashes Divide’ a new band formed by Billy Howerdel of “A Perfect Circle” not too far from the sound of ‘APC’ a bit milder but you know what? I liked the band!! Vocals are admirable but at times his enunciation is a tad muddled, fluid on the axe the arpeggios’ were crystal clear I loved the guitar riffs. This band holds its own they did a fine job. Nothing different when it comes to originality they fit right in with the mainstream but they sound wicked live, some bands can’t pull off both it’s either one or the other, that’s why I like bands who can rock it on record and rock harder on stage. I wanted to watch the rest of the set but it had started to rain and was raining hard I didn’t want to ruin my camera so I wandered over to the media tent I was listening to the set from there. While inside every other media person was taking shelter from the rain hoping not to mess up their equipment or their hair and face. That wraps part one, this was a last minute decision I wanted to fit all thirteen bands in one article but I have so much to say there's so many bands and I already cut back a lot on the performance jibberings stayed tuned for part two.








www.edge102.com

THE LINE UP:
2008 - July 12, Downsview Park

Arkells – MySpace.com - arkells - Hamilton, CA - Soul / Rock - www.myspace.com/arkellsmusic
Ashes Divide – ASHES dIVIDE official site
Attack In Black – Attack in Black - Marriage
The Bravery – THE BRAVERY: THE SUN AND MOON COMPLETE - ON SALE NOW!
The Coast – The Coast || Expatriate
Creature – Creature
The Flatliners - THE FLATLINERS THE FLATLINERS THE FLATLINERS THE FLATLINERS THE FLATLINERS THE FLATLINERS
Linkin Park – LINKIN PARK / HOME
Modern Boys Modern Girls – Modernboys Moderngirls
Sam Roberts Band – samrobertsband.com
The Stereohoax – www.thestereohoax.com
Stone Temple Pilots – Stone Temple Pilots | Intro
Sweet Thing – MySpace.com - Sweet Thing - Toronto, CA - Rock / Powerpop / Indie - www.myspace.com/sweetthingmusic
Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker – MySpace.com - USS (Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker) - toronto, CA - Grunge / Pop / Drum & Bass - www.myspace.com/ubiquitoussynergyseeker
Hostage Life – Hostage Life

VIDEOS - YouTube - fridaetv's Channel

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