Three Fun Showcases for Great Canadian Acts at NYC’s CMJ Music Festival
During CMJ in NYC last week I attended showcases sponsored by Canadian Blast, Saskmusic.org, and M for Montreal. Good seeing Cara Wodnicki-Buckley; JP Ellson, Michael Scott Dawson; and Mikey Rishwain Bernard, respectively at the fine events they put on, Each organization put on terrific acts and provided a genial setting to listen to and enjoy great Canadian indie music. Among the bands I enjoyed was Kandle, a 5-piece from Montreal fronted by Kandle Osborne, a dynamic young female performer. Here’s a music video for Kandle’s new single, “Demon,” followed by pictures from the three showcases below.
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- With a booming voice Ben Caplan (http://bencaplan.ca/) from Halifax played a great opening set on the 1st night of CMJ
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- Caplan collaborated with his friend Taryn on a keyboard & voice duet that had a theater-like quality with their voices soaring and plummeting and keys clashing.
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- Caplan’s glasses flew off while he was singing and playing.
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- Bear Mountain played next at the Canadian Blast showcase. They had a nice R&B sound mixed in with electronica.
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- Megan Bonnell, part of the SaskMusic showcase, has an exciting voice that leapt over interesting lyrics that at times sounded like mere shards of words.
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- Grounders was a fun band to listen to.
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- Slow Down Molasses at the SaskMusic showcase.
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- Singer Akua was the first act I heard at the M for Montreal showcase.
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- Kandle is the leader of her own self-named band.
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- Kandle’s friend Hannah works at CBC w/George Stroumboulopoulos.
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- Hannah told me that Kandle’s lead guitarist had been part of Broken Social Scene.
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- Kandle has a strong voice & fun personality on stage.
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- Kandle’s bass player is named Jason.
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- Kandle’s three guitar players intertwined w/one another nicely.
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- Yamantaka//Sonic Titan’s an exciting 6-piece that is an art-rock outfit that really rocks out.
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- Yamantaka//Sonic Titan combines eastern influences with metal.
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- I liked YT//ST’s sound a lot.
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- The drummer for Yamantaka//Sonic Titan seemed to lead the inscrutable band.
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- Camp, a four-piece, with bright high harmonies.
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- Montreal singer Pat Jordache w/Camp as most of his backing band.
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