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Back in the day one of the many wonderful by-products of the Ottawa Bluesfest for we festival regulars was the social aspect. Ottawa-based music-lovers had lots of places to go throughout the year and we all bumped into each other on occasion but the Bluesfest was generally the common denominator, the one festival that drew everyone. And so it was on July 17th, 2009, when I was onsite to see a single act (Cake) and where I found myself at the crossroads of a gradual convergence of dozens and dozens of my local music-loving brethren.
The concert pitch was quite packed even at the early hour of my arrival but I think more people were there to stake out a good spot for headliners Blue Rodeo than were there for nearly-one-hit-wonders Cake, who’s reworking of Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive easily edges out their only self-penned hit (the only one that I can think of anyway) Sheep Go to Heaven as the top answer in the name-one-song-by-Cake category. Frankly, the later appearance by Blue Rodeo was the main motivator for me leaving Bluesfest early and getting my only good night’s sleep of the festival season, but that’s just me (obviously).
And while I enjoyed every minute of Cake’s set, who’s lead instrument is undeniably John McCrea’s deadpan vocal style, a baritone with a plainspeak delivery that is akin to a rock & roll Steven Wright, for me the true highlight of the evening was the parade of friends, neighbours, and associates that sauntered by my spot in the middle of the field with a Twilight Zone-like regularity* that eventually encircled me with a virtual legion of souls collected from every scattered nook, cranny, and corner of Ottawa’s genre-rich music community, many of whom I hadn’t seen all season.
Oh, and the part where Cake covered War Pigs. That was pretty cool too. They’re pretty great at cover songs.
Then Blue Rodeo came on and I got out of there. After a bona fide get-down rawk party like that – including McCrea leading us all (with a cowbell no less) on an epic this-side-versus-that-side audience scream battle with taunts like “That side hates your side because you’re stronger!” – there was no way I was going to settle my nerves with Canada’s soft-rock champions of sliced cheese Blue Rodeo, but I won’t say nothin’ because I know they have a lot of fans. Like many of the friends I met onsite, who shook their heads with pity and wonder when I bade them early goodnight.
Weirdos.
*I was going to go with This Is Your Life, but I decided to play for the younger demographic.
Todd Man Out 