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It was Sunday,
and I was reluctant to leave my soft, warm bed. Eventually,
though, I was lured out by the prospect of a sunny day outside
in one of the best cities on earth. I walked through joggers
with baby carriages and people dancing on roller skates
to reach the aptly titled Summerstage at the heart of the
park. At the entrance, I was given a miniature paper Canadian
flag. Set amongst lush green trees directly below the blue
sky, the stage was already magical, and the artists had
yet to perform.
Despite the considerable heat, dozens
of people lay strewn out on the fake grass directly facing
the stage. Those with less dedication and more skin sensitivity
tucked themselves away to the shaded bleachers and ground
a bit further away. Many fans sported the miniature Canadian
flags, which they stuck in their hair, attached to their
bags or waved about merrily. Who doesn’t love our
neighbors from the north?
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This day was all about Canada. A superb line-up of four different
Canadian artists was set to perform. They came to represent their
country and bring a little Canadian pride to the heart of America.
First up was the strangely titled East Village Opera Company.
Founded less than a year ago in New York by two native Canadians,
Tyley Ross and Peter Kiesewalter, the group has swelled to 11
members. The Summerstage is so huge that the Opera Company was
physically dwarfed, but their crazy musical interpretations of
classic opera arias more than compensated for their small size.
Skipping over English, they kicked off their forty-minute set
in perfect Italian. Following that stunning interpretation, they
sang a pretty duet in French and constantly invited everyone to
join in.
The crowd that day was
a young one, but they embraced the opera stylin’ of
the EVOC as if it were any other rock show.
I sat waiting during the small interlude
and my attention was drawn to the bright green stands offering
fries, beer and burgers – veggie and meat. But where
was the traditional Canadian food? Is there traditional
Canadian food?
Next up was the darling and precocious
Kyle Riabko. Not even twenty years of age, Kyle has already
made a name for his young self in the music world, opening
for the likes of John Mayer, Buddy Guy and Maroon 5. Backed
by a drummer and a bassist, this little Canadian was ready
to work his crowd. His deft guitar work, jazzy notes and
sensitive vocals lent his sound excitement and sophistication.
Kyle’s eagerness was charming.
He encouraged the melting crowd to “stand up and dance
a little” as he strode all over the stage. His solo
guitar work was inspiring, making him sound years older
than his age. A big fan of the jam, Kyle got lost in his
guitar-based reverie for minutes at a time, which brought
the crowd to its feet and their hands in the air.
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This joy was cut short
however, as technical malfunctions hastened the end of
his set. Poor Kyle. I was beginning to get a bit uncomfortable
in the heat, but the excitement permeating the atmosphere
convinced me to stay. Also, I had VIP seating and I liked
feeling special
.Following Kyle was
a man with more years, a man with more experience. Ron
Sexsmith is a famous Canadian with many famous fans- Elvis
Costello and Sir Paul McCartney to name a couple. Considered
one of his country’s best songwriters, Sexsmith
quickly dived into his lengthy set, delivering the perfect
soundtrack for a laidback outdoor summer music festival.
His humility was endearing.
Sexsmith paid tribute to another famous Canadian, the
legendary songwriter Leonard Cohen. He did not say much,
only warned us about his lack of keyboard skills as he
sat down to play the instrument. Pockets of people started
dancing on the Astroturf, as they waved their flags and
paid homage to Canada.
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The main attraction of
the day had yet to appear. It was obvious the crowd had
come to see their female indie heroes, Tegan and Sara. Well
known for their tight folk-pop songs, these twin sisters
from Calgary were the uncontested stars of the night.
Before the show, people had told me
Tegan and Sara would be terrific and I feared my newly elevated
expectations would not be met. But they are utterly adorable.
Their set was a flawless mix of electric and acoustic pop
confections, and their onstage banter showed what a great
team these two siblings make.
Tegan and Sara created one of my most
enjoyable live music experiences in the recent past. Their
utter devotion and obvious joy was infectious, providing
the perfect ending to that hot summer’s day. Viva
Canada!
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