DSTRCT staged Bad Reed and Modern Space on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016.
Bad Reed took the stage with an aura of confidence, jumping right into a cover of “Take Me Out” by Franz Ferdinand. The four-piece Brantford-based band surfaced in March of 2015. Bad Reed is comprised of Sydney Sollazzo on keys and vocals, Graham Walker on guitar, Austin Sharpe on bass, and Costa Chatniz on the drums. As their first song of the night ended, Sollazzo introduced the band and they dove back into the night’s electric feel with one of their originals.
“This next song is an O-Rig!” said Sollazzo as the band broke into their original “Cassava.” Bad Reed then unveiled an unblemished cover of “No Sugar Tonight, New Mother Nature” by The Guess Who, and then right back into the ‘o-rigs’ with “Punch It.” The Brantford band played a cover of Hozier’s “From Eden” and a few more originals before covering the dreamboat “Magic Man” by Heart. Between all of the Bad Reed originals and covers, it became very apparent that Sollazzo’s voice has very few limitations. Each pitch and note rolled smoothly into the next, harnessing the energy of her audience.
Bad Reed presented an original and distinct sound that was exceptionally versatile. For the duration of their performance, Sollazzo provided smooth, chilling vocals while dancing—shaking her hips and hair side to side, and jumping around the stage with Walker. All the while Sharpe and Chatniz laid down a steady, driving rhythm—keeping the fans in a trance.
Modern Space, a Toronto band that formed in 2014 and has recently been signed by Warner Music Canada, mounted the stage for the night’s finale. The band is comprised of vocalist Sean Watson Graham, Sam Arion on keys and guitar, Alex Laurie on guitar, Cody Steele on bass, and Tay Ewart on drums. They opened up their set with an original that got the crowd roaring, and when it was over Graham introduced the band before introducing the next song, “This song’s about being with the right girl on the wrong terms,” and they quickly returned to their set of New Romantic pop with an original song, “Carpet Diamond.”
Modern Space was very well rehearsed. This was the band’s first show in Guelph and their first show of the year.
“We couldn’t have picked a better spot,” Graham said. They kept their fans jumping in an impromptu sync to the beat, while they danced the night away in a choreographic sequence. Modern Space came to their show prepared, which verged on appearing staged and directed. Modern Space had their fans on a hook as they broke into a very eerie and grungy rendition of Beck’s “Loser.” It was a make-or-break moment as fans decided whether to sing along or cringe. They then played their first single “Pen and Paper,” and as Graham introduced the song he high fived one of his newfound fans. “Pen and Paper” was a shining moment for Modern Space; the band and the room were singing the lyrics back and forth to each other like an echo. Like an echo. Like an echo.