Music

Halifax Pop Explosion 2011: Day two roundup

by Nicole Villeneuve

The rain that Halifax Pop Explosion promised came on Wednesday. It came in the night, though, which means that when we finally got out into the light of day, it was merely overcast and relatively warm. I spoke with some people and finally got proper coffee (hotel room coffee: still necessary; still revolting). On a quick trip back to the hotel before shows started for the night, I happened by this row of quality vintage shops and they said they wanted their picture taken for you, so, here you go.

The sky had darkened but thankfully it was still dry out by the time I made my way to St. Matthew’s United Church for the Rich Aucoin CD release show; I’m glad I went early (7 p.m.!) because the place was at capacity before it started. Aucoin rotated through a small sampling of the cast of 500 guests who appeared on his upcoming album We’re All Dying to Live—including Jenn Grant and her rather lovely cover of “Eye of the Tiger.” Grant would later join Aucoin on stage again (as would about 100 other people) for one of the most genuinely joyful shows I’ve ever seen. It started with Aucoin onstage solo, giving the audience a lyric lesson so that we could participate later. There were four drummers, a big choir, horns, strings, a sitar, xylophone—and on and on. Aucoin’s modesty as an animated leader kept the bombast at bay. Preach. Amen.

Word had been confirmed in the meantime that the night’s secret show would be the Thermals (!!!). The Carleton is a tiny room owned by Mike & Mike (!!!), and I knew it’d fill up quick, so I made my way right there after Rich Aucoin and was glad I did since it was quickly thereafter at capacity. I got to see the Town Heroes, a Cape Breton two-piece whose floppy hair and torn-kneed jeans matched the clean-chorded and storied hook-filled indie rock. It was a pleasant catch.

Then, of course, The almighty Thermals. They look so healthy and kept and play so engaged and happily. Starting by playing their newest album Personal Life front to back, then its B-sides, then a host of old stuff and even coming back (they didn’t get to leave the stage—it was too small) for a one-song encore. It was long by festival set standards, but so, so wonderful. Well done, Halifax Pop staff. Well done, Thermals. Do go see them tonight if you didn’t get in last night.

From there, the rain was gonna keep me close, and though Cousins and Thee Oh Sees were a block away at Reflections, I decided to check out Toronto band Wildlife next door at the Seahorse, because I’d never seen them. There was a guy wearing a band of lights on his head and him and a girl were play fighting. The band likes smoke machines and lasers and wearing matching shirts and green armbands, and after the authenticity of the two full shows I’d seen previous in the night, I couldn’t handle it. And so I left, into the rainy night, ready for Thursday.