Sunday, March 9th, 2003
The Smell Of Our Own
Went and caught the CD release show for The Hidden Cameras last night at the Bloor Street United Church – an unusual venue for a show, but perfectly suited. I’ve had Brad and 517 preaching the Cameras gospel to me for nigh on a year now, but had never gotten around to checking out one of their live spectacles until now, and I’m happy to say that the praise is totally deserved. The Cameras put on an energetic and infectious show – I mean, when there’s over 20 people on stage jumping around like they’re having the best time of their lives, how can you not want to get in the game?
As you’d expect in a church, the acoustics were terrific and the band took advantage by playing the first three songs totally unamplified. The crowd was obligingly silent, letting the nuances of the acoustic guitar, violin, cello and voices hang in the air – a very effective opening. Then the rest of the band poured onstage and it was glorious pandemonium. Particularly refreshing was the crowd – despite this being a pretty hyped-up show, the crowd was refreshingly hipster-free. Most everyone in attendance seemed to really be there to enjoy the show, and not just be seen or whatever. With their new album The Smell Of Our Own getting its worldwide release on the legendary Rough Trade records next month, it will be interesting to see how the Cameras maintain the inclusive love-in atmosphere as they play outside their hometown where folks may not quite ‘get it’. But good luck to them regardless.
np – The Mountain Goats / Tallahassee
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3/10/03 12:09 am
We were supposed to have an inside man in on the New York show of the Hidden Cameras over at the monkey (www.sauna.org/monkey) but he, alas, missed the ticket sale before it sold out (in NEW YORK, dude)
They’ve also been to Montreal, Ottawa, Hamilton and a few other southern ontario places last year during the Exclaim Magazine 10th Anniversary