The Sadies Live at the Biltmore

The Sadies stormed their way into a sold out Biltmore Cabaret for the second show in as many nights in conjunction with the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad. And they certainly didn't show any signs of wear and tear (any more than usual) as they ripped through a rollicking 2-or-so-hour set to a supremely psyched audience.

Now a little back story on what led me to the Sadies last night. Last summer I was lucky enough to score a free ticket and backstage pass to see Blue Rodeo at the Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park (compliments of Mark Kerry of the wicked awesome Sam Bradley Band). Though not really a Blue Rodeo fan, the Deet Street is never one to turn down a free concert. And who should be opening up for Blue Rodeo that fine summer's eve? Why Toronto's own Indie-Country-Surf-Rockers The Sadies. Not only was I floored by their set, but meeting Dallas (guitar, vocals, piano) and Travis (guitar, vocals, fiddle), the Good brothers, was a total pleasure. Talked about the rigors and joys of working with the legendary Garth Hudson and other tales of a long tenure in the music biz. I picked up their massive live album The Sadies In Concert Vol. 1 (http://www.thirdestatedistro.com/products/view/201), which features a plethora of musical talent; and on a handshake promised to check them out on their next ride through Van.

Which brings me to The Biltmore on a rainy Saturday night. Starting out the night to an already well packed and rather well liquored up crowd was rising-rocking star Rich Hope. From the opening twang of a vintage looking guit, Hope had the crowd enthralled with his rip roaring two piece in the style of the Black Keys with a heavy dose of Rory Gallagher and RL Burnside. Jumping on amps and slamming down hard on a foot operated tambourine, Hope surged through an enthusiastic 75 minute set.

The thouroughly amped crowd were now set for The Sadies, who promptly launched into a rip roarin' rootin' tootin' barn burner or a show. The aforementioned Dallas and Travis Good were accompanied as always by the highly capable Mike Belitsky on drums and Sean Dean on upright bass. Eschewing their trademark country-blues infused with hits of surf rock The Sadies blasted into old favorites I've come to love from In Concert such as "Cheat" and "Tiger Tiger". But they also showed some of their more melodic Canadiana side with tracks from 2007's toned down but still uptempo New Seasons. My personal favorites being "Anna Leigh" and the acousticly massaging "Yours to Discover", which feature the lovely and sometimes overlooked harmonies of the Good Brothers. The musical treat continued as a high energy set led into a lengthy encore with the crowd wanting more and more and the Sadies refusing to back down. They just kept uping their energy and projecting it onto the sweating sometimes frenzied crowd until, dripping with sweat themselves in their well worn suits, they departed to the open curtain green room stage right.

I picked up a vinyl copy of New Seasons (many thanks to the lovely Emily G.) and made my way over to stage right. An amicable if winded Dallas Good signed my record and we resumed our conversation about Garth Hudson from a year ago. It seems the tracks they did with him should be out in the next year in their forthcoming studio album. After getting Travis', Mike's and Sean's signatures on my new record I headed out, mindful that whatever one thinks of the approaching 2010 Olympics, this Cultural Olympiad is a great excuse to support music and the arts...and see some killer acts.