Canadian indie-rock at the Guelph Concert Theatre
While Wintersleep might not be a household name, most are probably familiar with their single “Weighty Ghost” from the 2007 album Welcome to the Night Sky. The song became a hit, featured in ads and TV shows, leading to a performance on The Late Show with David Letterman, all while accruing the band a loyal following.
Some of those fans could be found braced against the wind while queuing outside the Guelph Concert Theatre on Sat, Dec. 3.
The opener, Vancouver-based Hannah Georges, created a sombre atmosphere without being melancholic. Synth tones, dance rhythms, and guitar pedals echoed from a band clad in black, bobbing behind a thick cloud of simulated fog. Georges was well rehearsed and seemed to have a plan as to how she wanted her music to be perceived. The change in sound from some of her previous work might be due to the fact that her latest album, For Evelyn, is inspired by and recorded as a tribute to her grandmother.
After a thorough instrument tuning by the band’s crew, the headliners took to the stage to the appreciation of the crowd. Tim D’eon’s energetic guitar playing and Loel Campbell’s tight drumming powered them through a mix of material old and new. Paul Murphy’s voice suited a venue like the Guelph Concert Theatre, sailing nicely over the group’s heavier songs, while captivating the crowd at quieter moments.
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The band has naturalized their sound and the relationship between the different elements of their music play off of each other well. Here, their name suits them, as they deliver a sometimes chilly sounding and driving modern rock music befitting clubs of enthusiastic and welcoming concert goers; plaid shirts and beers in hand. However, they also have a more universal and inter-generational appeal, which was obvious as the room sang and clapped along.
Highlights of the setlist included “Archaeologists” and “Weighty Ghost,” the latter creating a warmth in the room which left you longing for a few more in a similar vein. After returning for an encore, the band played “Amerika,” the powerful sounding first single off of their newest album, The Great Detachment. The 2016 album marks a new era for Wintersleep, their first album in four years after signing to a new label.
The band departed the stage, Murphy sincerely thanking the audience, espousing a humility not always common in touring rock bands.
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