If anything was made clear at Said The Whale’s sold-out show at Ritual Nov. 13, it’s that indie bands have dedication—and their fans do too. The venue was packed with people buzzing with excitement long before the first supporting act went on.
The show opened with Alvvays, a Toronto band whose jaunty guitar riffs and clever tempo changes were mellowed by lead singer Molly Rankin’s whimsical voice and timid exchanges with the crowd between songs. Their energy picked up as they progressed in their set, feeding off Ottawa’s supportive response to their music, which Rankin humbly commented on.
Next on stage was Kopecky Family Band, a dynamic six-piece group from Nashville, Tenn. that embellished their songs with all sorts of bells and whistles—literally. On top of engaging the crowd by having them sing, whistle, and clap along, they incorporated a variety of instruments in their performance. That included a cello, a xylophone, ukeleles, trombones, and even a scrap of metal chain. Their passion and energetic stage presence left the crowd stirring.
But the anticipation for the headlining band was unrivalled. Fans were antsy between the acts and could be heard debating over which of their favourite Said The Whale songs they thought they would hear that night.
Cheers erupted when the lights dimmed and Said The Whale finally took the stage, beginning with their ballad “More Than This” and merging into the upbeat tune “Mother,” both from their latest studio album, Hawaiii. They played a mix of new and old songs that had fans pleased and singing along.
What was most remarkable was the band’s ability to command the crowd. Said The Whale played with such conviction that it took everyone from dancing to songs like “Camilo (The Magician)” and “I Love You” to listening in reverence as singer-guitarist Tyler Bancroft sang “Helpless Son,” which he said was about his mother, a cancer survivor.
Just as easily, Ben Worcester (guitar and vocals) made the audience repeatedly sing the last line of “Curse of the Currents” at a growing volume until the sombre song became something completely out of its element.
“You guys really do anything we say,” Bancroft said jokingly.
There is no denying their fans’ devotion, though.
Halfway through their set, a fan passed up an original painting to the stage. Clearly inspired by the band’s name, it featured a swimming humpback whale saying “hawaiii” in a speech bubble. The candid moments that were shared between Said The Whale and the crowd demonstrated a paralleled importance in the band’s music and the connection they have with their fans, one that is sure to bring them success as they continue to tour.
