Ottawa was ready for some rock and RBC Bluesfest delivered last night with a stacked lineup. From start to finish, the energy was high despite the stifling heat and piercing sun. Although the event was not sold out, you couldn’t tell. The crowd was nearly as thick as it was for Shania Twain.
At 6 p.m., the audience was already bigger than at that time the previous night when PUP took to the main RBC stage to get everyone amped up. The early acts don’t tend to pull large crowds, but it was clear that their fans were dedicated and ready to rock.
From the first strike of their guitars, the primarily millennial crowd was bouncing up and down with their arms in the air. Then came the pit and crowd surfers—markers of a great show. “Dreams do come true,” singer Stefan Babcock said to the hyped crowd as he reflected on sharing the stage with Billy Talent and Weezer, bands that inspired them in their early days. They did a perfect job priming the stage for the rest of the evening.
Billy Talent followed on the main stage and cranked up the intensity as they took us back to the 90s and early 00s. With such passion on stage, the audience reflected that back with spirited singing, head banging, and more crowd surfing. Then from the sea of punks came Kyle Humphrey in his wheelchair, lifted safely by the hands of dozens, to feel the thrill of drifting across a crowd at a rock show. Humphrey is a local accessibility advocate and you can find him crowdsurfing at shows all over. And then minutes later he was brought on stage to bask in the glory. One of the most beautiful things to experience is the safety and camaraderie of rock fans—we’re all here for a good time.
Somehow singer Benjamin Kowalewicz sounded almost exactly like he did in the 90s when the band first formed. Celebrating 30 years together, Kowalewicz said “which makes us old but filled with gratitude.” Millennials across the festival grounds shook as they realized that they’re adults and not teenagers anymore. And he too reflected on it being a dream come true to tour with Weezer, one of the first bands they covered.
In a touching moment, Kowalewicz spoke about Aaron Solowoniuk’s multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis and how Solowoniuk wasn’t able to play drums for the band anymore but became an advocate for finding a cure. Solowoniuk surprised the crowd and played two songs with the band.
With the hype growing for Weezer, the crowd tightened up and filled in even more. And then the stage lights began to flicker on and off as different radio stations were flipped through, playing a variety of tunes while trying to find the perfect first song for a long road trip. My Name Is Jonas came on, with the image of a car dashboard on stage, to take us on a gentle journey with them. With more subdued melodies than the high energy of Billy Talent, the crowd was relaxed but still sang every song. Hit after hit, are there any Weezer songs that we don’t know at this point?
Singer Rivers Cuomo described the show as an indie rock road trip from 1994 to now. With his hands on the wheel, he took us on a relaxing drive through their discography, and made a few unexpected pit stops along the way. The Metallica cover of Enter Sandman nearly midway through the show was a welcomed surprise that reinvigorated the audience and gave us the only taste of metal we’re likely to get at Bluesfest this year.
“It’s not a family road trip until dad takes a family photo,” said Cuomo towards the end as he pulled out his polaroid camera, looking like the picture of a proud dad. His cheeky enthusiasm and dedication to the bit made for a delightful experience.
While the punk rock show carried out on the main stage, a different, more soulful vibe filled the other side of the festival grounds.
Melo Griffith, a Canadian alternative rapper, entertained an intimate and younger crowd than on the rock side. With his charming smile, sexy eyes, and smooth R&B melodies, the girls were swooning and hanging off his every word. They clung to the barrier at the front and waved signs at him as he reached out and played with their hearts.
Then Tank and The Bangas, from New Orleans, took the stage and brought the soul with a dose of southern passion. Tarriona “Tank” Ball could light up the darkest corner on earth with her enormous smile and alluring vocal undulations. Their spirited sax and funk infused the overheating crowd with life and had everyone grooving along with them.
Next, the Grammy award winning Thundercat (Stephen Bruner) graced the River stage with his unique blend of progressive R&B. His masterful bass and smooth vocals had the packed crowd in a trance. The crowd came for his unique music, but stayed for his authenticity.
The poor man was being eaten alive by mosquitoes but kept a smile on his face as he joked, “this is the most Pokémon this gets” as he pointed at the bugs that surrounded him. With his ball cap on backwards he was just like Ash. He was personable and loveable as he made playing intricate bass notes look effortless in between stories and connecting with the crowd about anime. The best shows are those with a performer who loves what they do and interacts with their fans—he made it a night to remember.
While there were bigger acts on the RBC and River stages, don’t sleep on the SiriusXM Stage!
Juno Award winning husband and wife duo Digging Roots played the first evening show in the tent, bringing the celebration of their Anishinabe and Onkwehonwe traditions on stage. The couple have toured the world for over a decade spreading the indigenous awareness mixed with sounds of blues, soul and rock’n roll. Singer ShoShona Kish delivered a powerful message to the audience, encouraging not to forget the past, leading to the duo’s song ‘Cut My Hair’, which serves as a tribute and a painful reminder of all the indigenous children buried in the unmarked graves on the grounds of residential schools.
Jupiter & Okwess brought the raw energy as they bewitched the crowd with their powerful funk rock songs. With nods to his roots from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jupiter was a delight to watch and listen to. The smooth beats and lively guitar had the crowd captivated and swaying.
