Osheaga 2011 - Day 3

The 3rd day at Osheaga was a non-stop party. I got to the main stage just in time to catch Glasgow’s Frightened Rabbit set. If you haven’t had the chance to listen to their splendid The Winter of Mixed Drinks LP, do so now. It’s a mix of ethereal folk-pop and anthemic rock that rises up and sticks to the soul (think Doves). Their set started my day off on the right foot with songs like “Living in Color” and “Nothing Like You” standing out from their brief time on stage.

The day kept getting better, as EELS were next up. E and the gang took the stage, decked out in dapper matching ensembles, and blazed through an impressive 40 minute set. New tracks like the upbeat “Prizefighter” and the sinister howl of “Fresh Blood” were pleasant to observe. Older, gentler tracks like “Saturday Morning” and “I Like Birds” were performed sans acoustic guitar at triple the speed of the original versions. After a decade and then some, I still fucking love this band.

I spent time on the mountain while The Sounds were at work with their synth-rock set of crowd-pleasers. I saw them in 2004 while they were touring behind the incredibly catchy Living in America. Back then I was blown away by Blondie-look-a-like front-woman Maja Ivarsson, and her energetic stage show. Six years later, that feeling has passed and I’m thinking they might’ve passed their “best before” date. Though their set was lively and entertaining, the music itself isn’t as appealing as it once was. “I Hope You’re Happy Now” and “Living in America” were a short stroll down memory lane, but perhaps it’s time they ditch the disco-synthesizers and go in a new direction.

It’s a shame the organizers at Osheaga had to stack Sunday’s lineup as much as they did. Deciding who to catch was that much tougher, and I missed a half dozen bands I would have loved to see. I stuck around the main stage for most of Sunday, and ended up enjoying many of the festival’s marquee names.

("Come on people, someone ordered the London Symphony orchestra, possibly while high… Cypress Hill, I’m looking in your direction")

They lit up the stage at 4:20 (get it?) and were my guilty pleasure for the day (I was missing The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and regretting it). The last time I saw them was 11 years ago at the Molson Center, opening up for the Offspring with MxPx. It was pretty much the same thing, and I was still happy to take part. Despite numerous problems with B-Real’s mic, “Insane in the Brain” was pretty ridiculous, but “Dr. Greenthumb” was the highlight of the afternoon.

(…the crowd totally smelled like Otto’s jacket….)

Malajube had the misfortune of following Cypress Hill’s raucous set. No big deal. They kept the energy level high with opener “Synesthesie” from their latest gem, La Caverne. This was my first time seeing them, but I've been a fan since 2006’s superb Trompe-L’oeil LP. They fit in well on the main stage, and were able to convert more than a few “tetes-quarees” who weren’t big on francophone music. The rollicking pace of “Chienne Folle” was one of the finest moments of the set, while “Montreal -40” was the most recognizable song to Malajube first-timers (it was featured in Rogers commercials awhile ago).

My surprise of the day came from The Tragically Hip, the legendary Canadian rockers my friend affectionately refers to as “a glorified bar band” (he has a bit of a point). Regardless, I really enjoyed Gord Downie’s oddball stage antics, and being surrounded by a large group of very passionate Hip fans singing along to every song. I supplied my vocal chords to “Ahead by a Century” and “Bobcaygeon”. Surprisingly, I knew every word.

I was planning on seeing Death Cab for Cutie, but amazing circumstances had me (and two friends) going backstage, signing release forms, and preparing to dance on stage with The Flaming Lips. They would be playing The Soft Bulletin in it’s entirety (minus “Buggin”), while I (and 20 other lucky fans) were dressed up as characters from The Wizard of Oz. I was a scarecrow, and amidst the confetti and space balls, I danced the shit outta that stage. I won’t go into massive, annoying detail, but it was one of the coolest experiences of my life. “Race for the Prize” was our cue to go on stage, but instead of dancing, all I could do for the first minute or so was jump and punch the sky. I was surrounded by Dorothys, a Tin man, and two Lions taking part in one of the most entertaining live shows there is today. From what I could see, people seemed to enjoy it.

Right before the encore, one of the dancing Lions married one of the Dorothys ON STAGE… with Wayne Coyne acting as minister; it was pretty ridiculous. Afterwards, the Lips kicked into the wonderful closer “Do You Realize?”. Following the show, I was present for the REAL wedding, with a REAL minister on hand. Witnesses included Wayne and the Lips, stage crews, Jeff Ross, Ari Shaffir, a Tin Man, a Lion, a Scarecrow and about 20 other Dorothys.

It didn’t end there, but that’s when things got a little hazy.

-Mike B hosts The Lonesome Strangers every Tuesday from 8-10pm