On the afternoon of July 26, after a steady stream of amazing performances, it was time to see one of the circled performances on my schedule – Adrian “X” Eccleston. While the name may not be familiar to all, Adrian X’s fingerprints are on several high profile releases from Drake, Nelly Furtado and Kylie Minogue among many others. As a highly respected songwriter, studio, and tour musician – Adrian X has also toured the world performing with some of the greats.
Eccleston’s performance at Hillside was to showcase his recent release – Soulgazer, an instrumental guitar record that will not allow itself to be conveniently placed into a box. A number of different styles are evident on the album, including Reggae, Rock and Hip-Hop and it is superbly suited to a live performance. Eccleston’s own description of the record being similar to a movie soundtrack was a perfect depiction and it was a pleasure to be along for the ride.
From the get go it was clear that this was going to be a high energy act as the band blasted through tour de force guitar riffs and high powered drums. Adrian’s guitar playing evokes thoughts of other guitar greats such as Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page with a strong stage presence to boot.
What began as a small contingent of loyal concert goers at the front of the stage became a large pack of newly recruited fans as Adrian’s infectious guitar work and stage presence really took off. Many Hillsiders who were accustomed to sitting during the lower energy afternoon performances eagerly stood up to take note of the show.
Fans were then treated to a thunderous drum solo by Sekou Lumumba – which sparked an electric energy that contagiously moved its way throughout the crowd.
To have that many talented musicians on stage together doing what they do best was a tantalizing and breathtaking experience – definitely one to remember.
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The Ontarion publishes independent, student-produced news, opinion, and commentary for University of Guelph students so that they can make informed decisions in their lives. To do this, The Ontarion provides learning opportunities and training in journalism, media production, leadership, board governance, and other aspects of nonprofit news.
The Ontarion is the University of Guelph’s independent student newspaper. It began in 1951 as part of the Ontario Agricultural College and then began to represent the entire University of Guelph once it amalgamated in 1964. The Ontarion incorporated in May 1970 as The Ontarion, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation registered with the province of Ontario.