| I travelled to Upstate NY one cold February weekend to catch a couple of BarenakedLadies shows, talk about dedication. Both shows were on college campuses and both weresold out, to give you an idea of BNL’s popularity up north. From the opening strainsof "Hello City", a song that sounds like a happy tune, but really describes abad experience with confusion about their name, through to the final encore of"Shoebox", the crowds are dancing and singing along to every tune. I don’tjust mean the singles released from the CDs, but every tune. Check out the complete set list. Steven Page is the primary singer, but Ed Robertsonpicks up that duty on many songs, as well as spotlighted appearances by Jim, Tyler, andKevin throughout the show. In addition to singing their own songs, they often sing campyversions of other people’s stuff like "You Oughta Know" or "MaterialGirl" and add interesting choreography and a pretty accomplished beatbox by Ed. Theyalways pick out something about the town they are in or something that happened to themthat day, and do what appears to be, a very impromptu, spontaneous number. For example,during the day in Brockport, the band was challenged by the women’s basketball teamto a game of hoops in which BNL proceeded to get their butts kicked. Steve and Ed told thestory and then Steve breaks into a version of "I Shot the Sheriff" with wordsreplaced by "I got my ass kicked, but they did not kick the rest of me". LaterEd talks about using the Olympic sized pool and having peed in it (just kidding, I think),and even later, picks up a condom that had been thrown on stage and proceeds to put itover the neck of his guitar, saying "it’s not the size of your guitar, it’swhat you play on it". At the Niagara show, there was a whole song about "We'regonna be on 90210" and how they are gonna "rock the Peach Pit AfterDark". I don’t feel I’m doing them justice with my description. Suffice itto say that any night with BNL and you’re in for a real entertainment treat. Just some highlights of songs for the unenlightened. Favorites of mine played duringthe shows included "These Apples", a peppy sounding tune that describesenthusiasm and confusion during the early stages of a relationship, "Jane",immortalizing a street corner in Toronto and a former alternative couple, Juliana Hatfieldand Evan Dando, and "If I Had $1,000,000", probably the most clever song everwritten that describes from an adolescent’s point of view what they would do if theyhad a large sum of cash. "$1M" has achieved a somewhat cult status in whichaudience members have been know to throw Kraft Macaroni and Cheese (known as Kraft Dinnerin Canada) on stage during the line "If I had $1,000,000, we wouldn’t have toeat Kraft Dinner, but we would, we’d just eat more", stuffed monkeys during"I’d buy you a monkey", art and album covers during "I’d buy yousome art, a Picasso or a Garfunkel", and green dresses "but not a real greendress that’s cruel". However, in recent shows, the Kraft Dinner throwing hasfallen out of grace with the band, due to the potential for getting pelted in the head,the disgusting smell of powdered cheese, and just the general waste of food. All in all, I had a wonderful, memorable Valentine's Day!!! Definitely worth my trip. Ifeel like I'm ranting, so I apologize for my lack of objectivity in reviewing this band,but let that be an indication of just how special they really are. I even got to take aside trip to their home of Toronto and check out some of their song references and get ataste for the culture: A beautiful city. Oh, I almost forgot to mention the opening act, The Odds. This is also a fun group thatgets a lot of play in Canada. Their most recent CD, Nest, is available in storesand includes the single "Someone Who is Cool". From Vancouver, they furtherconvince me that everyone in Canada is funny, clever, intelligent, and talented. Checkthem out… On That Note, I'm outta here...... C |
