Montreal’s vibrant music community shows up to party because “Even Sad Boys Like to Have Fun.”
When I walked into La Sala Rossa on Saturday night and saw so many warm and welcoming faces, the old adage “show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are” came to mind.
I have never met Samwoy, but I do know some of his friends, and they’re not just brilliant creatives but kind and sensitive souls. So when I was invited to this record launch party/concert and saw the lineup, I could not resist.
First up was Brad Barr, whom I’ve seen perform so many times I’ve lost count. Standing alone in the centre of the darkened room, cloaked in his striped djellaba that hid his face, like a rock wizard. Brad took his time setting up his looper, pulling us in as slowly and masterfully as he did the strings on his guitar.
Next was Mishka Stein, who also did a solo set. It was my first time seeing him perform. Actually, it was my first time seeing a lot of artists, and it was a great chance to see them all in one night.
I felt the party vibe began when Samwoy came to the stage. Dressed in a formal black suit, he thanked everyone for coming and gave us a funny back story about a message he found inside the case of the used guitar he had bought (“Si Vous Trouvez”).
He was joined by Jeff Mitchell and Mishka Stein. Stefanie Parnell, Cassandra Angheluta, and Virginie B. did backing vocals. They also did “Life Goes On.”
Caro D joined in for “Beat Up.”
Kandle Osborne lent her ethereal vocals on “Diamond Eyes.”
There were so many talented artists going on and off the stage that I lost track. I didn’t know all of them, and I wasn’t familiar with too many of the songs, but it didn’t really matter.
They did “Sbwriel,” “Poison,” “Hate Me,” and “Simon Says” (feat. Virginie B.).
I loved Virginie’s energy on “My Body.”
Performers: Sam Woywitka, Jeff Mitchell, Mishka Stein, Dylan (piano), Simon Angell (sax), Drummer (Olivier), Virginie B. (guest vocals).
One of the highlights of the night was when they performed “GUTS” with Apacalda (Cassandra Angheluta) on vocals. There was an intense sax battle with Simon Angell and Jeff Mitchell. I had seen Jeff perform with Kandle before but hadn’t realized how ridiculously talented he is. He would switch from bass to keyboard to sax so effortlessly, and I think he was even filming the whole show.
The tone then shifted to a heavier and more melancholic feel. There was a beautiful piano piece by Dylan Phillips (Half Moon Run), and then he accompanied Samwoy for a very touching performance of “I Miss My Dog.” There were video projections of old photos of Samwoy and some of his beloved dogs, followed by the gut-wrenching “I Can’t.”
Connar Molander (Half Moon Run) recited a poem.
Devon Portielje (Half Moon Run) joined Samwoy for “Let’s Go for a Walk.”
The energy picked up for the last two tracks, and I really enjoyed “Sub in the Trunk” and “Enjoy the Silence” by Depeche Mode. All the musicians got onto the stage and it was like a bunch of friends jamming and having a good time.
I didn’t stay for Janette King’s DJ set, even though it looked like a lot of fun. The whole night was kind of surreal and I had sensory overload. Imagine dropping acid and then crashing a party where you don’t know the host but everyone there is a super talented musician.
I almost forgot — there was even an artist on site who was painting and sketching during the show: Kael Mercader.
Even as I’m writing this, I kind of find it hard to believe that any of it ever even happened. What I do believe, though, is that there are people who can create a safe space where vulnerability and humour can be shared and expressed through art and music. And we all could use a lot more of that.
Review – Annette Aghazarian
Photos – Steve Gerrard
