The Ruffled Feathers @ Jim Green House Studio -- 07/29/17
It was an intimate Saturday night with The Ruffled Feathers bringing friends, family, and fans together at Jim Green House Studio -- a performance space next to The Cultch -- for their album release party. Their latest release, Hand-Me-Down Centuries, had come out the day before, and they were eager to share it.
Opening the show was Laura Reznek, who was initially alone with her keyboard, but was also joined for a few songs by Daniel Baxter on guitar. Her smoky voice drove the cabaret-pop, including a song she introduced as the first (and so far only) song she has written for a theoretical musical she has in mind.
It was an enjoyable set, but I feel like she is one of those artists that you would really appreciate more, if you were more familiar with their lyrics.
It wasn’t long after that The Ruffled Feathers took the makeshift stage. Lit from the floor, their shadows danced on the wall behind them, mixing the a projector from the back of the room showing a burning flame, flashing multi-coloured dots, and other abstract imagery.
Starting off with the appropriate lyrics "It’s been a long time coming" in "Burgundy", they played the new album in order (for the most part), with the band chatting between songs, telling stories like how the various band members met.
Switching between guitar and ukulele, Gina Loes handled main vocals duties while backed by the other members, who also stepped up for lead vocals for a couple songs; bassist Paolo Brian on "Strange Dreams" and trumpeteer Andrew Lee for "Only 25". Other highlights included the soaring "Cadaverine" underlaid by its darker lyrics, the huge and intense "Sea of Hesitation" (also my favourite off the album), and "Wood Buffalo" which included some beautiful violin from Molly MacKinnon.
They did slip one older song into the set, "Mockingbird" right before finishing with the utterly charming "Kiss Me In The Moonlight". There wasn’t really anywhere for them to go, however, so they just kind of stayed on stage for the "encore break" before hitting one last old favourite, "Blueprints For Our Failed Revolution" for a rapturous ending to the show.
setlist
Burgundy
How Many Days
Cadaverine
Le Marche
Caravan
(intermission)
Sea Of Hesitation
Strange Dreams
Wood Buffalo
Only 25
Mockingbird
Kiss Me In The Moonlight
(encore)
Blueprints For Our Failed Revolution