Van Gogh’s Ear presents Andy Ferguson, Terra, and Participation
Beer on the tables of customers and artificial flowers in the hair of waitresses, Van Gogh’s Ear was warm with anticipation on Sunday, May 22 while their musical guests carried equipment to the stage, all the way from Alberta. Having spent the past few weeks touring Canada, Terra and Participation came ready to lock into the downtown hotspot an enticing night of entertainment.
[pullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Their high energy lured more people in…[/pullquote]On the stage of the restaurant/bar illuminated with orange-red lights, Guelph’s own Andy Ferguson started off the evening, his blond hair aglow in the light beneath his black hat. With bright eyes, passersby and Van Gogh’s regulars tuned in to enjoy his well-titled new song, “Bright Eyes” which began his set. Between Andy and his acoustic guitar was an intimacy comparable to that of a hybrid 2008 Dallas Green with Death Cab For Cutie. Spilling into the air, his personal lyrics about feelings shared between people and the bonds we as humans form with one another represented passion, while succeeding in the craft of storytelling.
Plugging in after Andy was Terra from Medicine Hat, Alberta, playing all four songs from their 2014 EP Couldn’t Save This. Their high energy lured more people in while their comfort on stage and with each other brought a pleasant sense of legitimacy to their set. While each band member broke a sweat, it was also impossible for audience members not to move along with their groove. Terra’s music is undoubtedly indie rock, with a hint of psychedelic rock brought on by lead singer Chris Kessler’s voice, reminiscent and similar in style to popular ’60s bands such as The Who and The Doors. Many tattoo-bearing fans later purchased copies of their EP, which was on sale after the show.
[pullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]…it was also impossible for audience members not to move along with their groove.[/pullquote]Finally, Participation of Lethbridge, Alberta stepped up to conclude the night, turning the atmosphere a full 180 degrees away from the acoustic lyric-driven zone Andy Ferguson had previously set up. The group formally known as Internet Love danced together and rocked hard in an effortless manner, right down to their final theatrical collapse at the very end. During their set, people in Van Gogh’s stood and danced to the thrilling guitar slashes and drumbeats amplified through the small space. The orange-red back lights glowed and flashed in the movement of their guitars, creating a fitting light show for the head banging riffs being spun out. Participation is an experimental punk band with rhythm breaks and tune changes stylistically close to art rock artist St. Vincent. Their explosion of sound has been described by Electric Eye Music Festival as being a “frantic guitar suicide with splintering, interwoven rhythms and shouted unison vocals.”
After the show, to enhance the positivity generated within the atmosphere these talented musician’s created, Participation singer Rob Rice, having already spoken to many remaining members of the audience, came to thank me for supporting the show. His polite gesture was a refreshing and delightful way to end the night.
Victoria Day weekend cottage-goers and lake-swimmers certainly missed a night of originality, genuine passion, and entertainment. Terra and Participation’s Canadian tour continues until the first week of June, taking them through northwestern Ontario, Saskatchewan, and ending home in Alberta.