Common Deer, The GALACTICATS!, Reynolds Creek, and Shore Thing
On Saturday, Feb. 28, GAIN music presented The GALACTICATS!, Shore Thing, Reynolds Creek, and Common Deer came together to put on a show at Van Gogh’s Ear.
The night kicked off with The GALACTICATS!, a garage band from Guelph that have been making their way through the music scene with new recordings and a charismatic stage presence. Made up of Kieran Lehan (Guitar, Keys, Vocals), Alex Harris (Guitar, Bass), Vanessa Tignanelli (Bass, Keys, Vocals), and Ross Baird (Drums), this is a band that knows how to show a crowd a good time.
Shore Thing took the stage next. Merging together the cultures of Guelph, St. Catharines, and Toronto, Shore Thing brought the crowd back down-to-Earth with their groovy surf-indie rock tunes. Made up of members Jordan Nicolaides (Guitar), Wilson Hadfield (Guitar), Ben Goerzen (Cello), and Eric Rudling (Drums), the crowd coasted along with their music, making for an atmosphere of beer and great vibes.
Reynolds Creek, a Toronto based band, picked up the pace with their folk-indie music. The combination of Jennifer Melvin’s masterful fiddle-playing and Evan Hadley’s smooth bass lines made for a unique combo that got the crowd on its feet and dancing. Peter Dann’s love for performing was apparent all over his face, as he couldn’t help but grin at the crowd along with his performance, and Dan Murdoch’s dance moves and enthusiasm were contagious. Though the entire night was awesome and filled with talented bands, Reynolds Creek’s performance was the highlight of my evening.
Toronto-based band, Common Deer, took the stage last, and had the privilege of having a crowd that was pumped and ready on their toes due to Reynolds Creek’s noteworthy performance. Common Deer did not disappoint, playing hits from their self-titled EP. The band’s cellist, Adam Hart-Owens, stole the show. From Guelph, Owens talent had a force on that stage that set the tone for the rest of the performance. Overall, the crowd was stoked and released the anticipation that was built by the previous bands throughout the night.