Aardvark's Concert Aarchives
Over the years I have went to any number of concerts. Quite a startling number (to my way of thinking). From
fairly early on I have attempted to keep track of setlists and any kind of special happenings. This to varying degrees of success.
Bootleg recordings and the Internet have certainly helped me fill in some of the setlist and band member gaps for groups that
I only really discovered when I went to their show. You just have to know that if a band with which I was nary familiar made
a mark on me they just MUST have been killer live.
A number of websites helped out in this labour of love (for that is exactly what it has been) and I would like to take a
moment to acknowledge them. For my 1978 Aerosmith sojourn I would like to thank liveforten with invaluable setlist confirmation.
For Rush you just have to check out PowerWindows. Genesis? Check out genesismovement.
A certain degree of latitude was required as well. If some sites did not have specific information viza vie the actual show that
I attended then surrounding show setlists would have to suffice. A case in point would be the beachboys site.
Regardless of how this has all come together trust me when I tell you this has been a labour of love and actually taken up time
which I would have otherwise been dedicating to my second book, "Dire Tides".
I have tried to include pertinent artifacts for each and every show for which I have them. These may be as simple as my ticket
stub and as detailed as photographs that yours truely took at the show.
So, without further ado, I present to you the
Aardvark's Concert Aarchives.
The Change
The Change are Marcus Adrian - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar and Harmonica, Gregg McGean - Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals,
Matt "Mars" Finbow - Rhythm Guitar and Backing Vocals, Kevin Pogue - Bass, Roy Bartell - Drums and Percussion. With influences
as wide and varied as Aerosmith, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, REM and Buddy Holly (to name a few), their sound is at once very
unique and most familiar at the same time.
With one EP and one full CD of original compositions,
under their collective belts the first year as a band has seen a lot of firsts for the Change. Most recently they played a showcase
gig at one of Toronto's prestigious rock clubs, The Horseshoe Tavern, a stage whose boards have been trodden by The Rolling Stones,
The Police, The Ramones, Blue Rodeo, The Tragically Hip and Our Lady Peace (again, to name a few). That night, hosted by Toronto radio
station 102.1 FM CFNY, also marked the release of their first full length CD, called "Roll Yr' Tongue".
This is a band on it's way up folks, make no mistake. One of those rare instances when five distinct personalities get together,
strap on their instruments and gell in a way that, if it was easy, everyone would be doing. But it isn't, and so The Change
are another comparatively rare instance.
I had the pleasure of catching them live in the kind of venue that you can only ever hope to catch a rising star in it's infancy.
An acoustic gig at a coffee shop, For The Love Of Jo's in Port Perry; a location that had seen a number of the members performing
solo as part of the usual open mike Friday nights. A kind of payback to Gabby, the owner to be sure. Call it The Change's Cavern
Club; the comparison would not necessarily be that far off the mark.
For an aging music aficionado such as myself the pursuit of new music that actually speaks to me in a meaningful way is not as easy as
it once was. How can one claim to be a lover of music when the majority of new music just leaves one cold. I will be the first to admit
right here and now that I have just never, ever gotten rap, hip hop or techno. Valid musical styles I'm sure; just never for me. To me
that music just sounds unabashedly derivative.
While
I do hear the seeds of a number of artists which I grew up with and grew to love in their music the thing which sets
The Change apart is the fact that they wear their influences on their sleeve for all to see. Marcus
Adrian's vocals defy any kind of easy categorization. Kind of an unique amalgamation, if that makes any kind of sense. Marcus's
overall range is most impressive.
Gregg McGean, with his bone white Fender Strat, adds tasteful, strident fills, while his solos
hearken back to old Slowhand himself;
not trying to flash with sheer speed (although he can when he wants to) but rather adding just the right kind of musical punctuation
required to drive the song forward. Stratocasters have a very distinct voice, and Gregg takes full advantage.
While watching The Change on a small stage may not have given a true and accurate instance of their individual onstage personas
I was still, none the less, drawn back to the energy that Matt Finbow
consistently radiated. Playing rhythm guitar and singing
backing vocals his energy was infectious. While I could sense the same kind of energy from the other band members, most
demurred to
the small stage which they occupied. Even Matt himself... but only for so long. Eventually he just could not contain the energy any
longer.
There has never, EVER, been a band that I have admired that did not have a solid, killer rhythm section. The Stones with Bill Wyman and Charlie
Watts, Aerosmith with Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramner, the mighty Led Zeppelin with John Paul Jones and John Bonham; a strong rhythm section
does any number of things. They anchor the beat, giving it continuity and presence. They allow it to expand
beyond the norm; all the while
keeping up and keeping pace. They provide a solid bedrock to allow the lead vocalist and guitar players to stretch out and let loose.
Kevin and Roy are just such a rhythm section. When all else seems to be coming apart at the seams they are capable of bringing it all
back in focus. Kevin plays bass guitar almost as a lead instrument. He put me in mind of Geddy Lee in that respect. While the coffee house
show pretty much limited Roy to a pair of bongos, I none the less had to check from time to time that he had not somehow snuck a full
set of drums in, such was the beat that he was able to lay down.
And their CD? I like it; very much. The tunes are catchy in a way that stays with you even after a single listening. The harmonies are as
tight as any band with five plus years of history; never mind that The Change have had, pretty much, one year to hone their skills. All
original tunes I might add; which takes a certain amount of hutspa unless, of course, those original tunes can stand up on their own. Which,
trust me, these songs not only can, but do.
A personal favourite of mine is "Her Revolution"; a tune which showed up both on their demo EP and their new CD "Roll Yr' Tongue". "Hit's The
Spot" is another fave. "Citizen Of Grace", "I Feel Fine" and "The Change" all resonate with the same, true energy.
I hope that people who know me and know of my passion for music also know that I would not be touting these five young men if their music
had not made me sit up and take notice. Trust me folks you owe it to yourself to check The Change out; you will not be disappointed.
The Change - Roll Yr' Tongue is available on Amazon.com and iTunes (too name just two).
Don't we all need a Change from time to time.
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