Day Three of Bluesfest had a number of acts I was looking forward to taking in, all on the River Stage.
Starting off the evening was local band Kalle Mattson. With a connection to Carleton’s music program through lead singer Kalle Wainio, the group played an inspired set of original indie rock material before an appreciative crowd. The band was exceptional in breaking the barrier between audience and performer, having numerous moments of crowd participation. The band also previewed some new material from their upcoming second record, which will be recorded this year.
Up next were Hamilton alt-rock darlings Arkells, making their third appearance at Bluesfest. Kicking the set off with the title track from their sophomore record “Michigan Left”, the group had the crowd up and dancing in no time at all. Frontman Max Kerman was energetic and animated, delivering an excellent vocal performance while keeping the crowd enticed at all times. While playing a large number of their hit songs, the band also did some more jam-oriented pieces, with Kerman addressing the crowd during the songs.
“This is an international festival! You guys have to understand, this is a lucky time for you!” he said.
Having met the band at Bluesfest last summer myself, I can tell you they are a group of humble musicians, and I wish them nothing but success. My autographed copy of their debut “Jackson Square” will definitely be getting a few more spins this summer.
The final act of the evening on the River Stage was Sleigh Bells. Having seen them back in April opening for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, I knew they would be better suited to an outdoor venue than in the confines of Scotiabank Place. Consisting of two electric guitars, a drum machine, and a vocalist, the group’s musical output is quite unique, interesting, and incredibly loud. With the bass seemingly turned up past 11, vocalist Alexis Krauss pranced around the stage singing over loud drums and wailing guitars. Heavy use of fog machines in the back coupled with an array of different stage lights gave an interesting dynamic to the visual side of things, and the two walls made of eight Marshall guitar amps each were quite a sight to behold as well. It was pop music that had a hard edge to it, and the crowd knew it. Many in attendance (including myself) opted to headbang to the pulsing rhythm of the drums and distorted guitars. A comparable band in my eyes would be Death From Above 1979, albeit without the emphasis on bass guitar, live drums and keyboards. With a large part of the crowd engaged in the music, it’s clear to me that the outdoor Bluesfest environment was more suited to Sleigh Bells than an arena ever could be.
Tomorrow will definitely be another exciting day at the festival, with the return of heavy metal legends Iron Maiden on the main stage. I feel quite fortunate to be seeing them twice in three years!
