Big/Brave impressed everyone as openers for Godpseed. Really intense. Godspeed met all expectations. I loved how each song rose to fantastic crescendos. I think a few of the songs were in 3/4 or 6/8. The video screen added a nice level. It gets warm in that church and should be worse tonight. I expect longer lines and a larger crowd for Friday show.
Christians from Prince George were the best discovery of the festival for me so far. Just one guitar god and his blistering drummer. Talked to him after and he is an awesome guy, with quite a jazz background. One of the best guitar players I have seen.
Oxbow was amazing and the frontman was riveting. He stripped down to his underwear eventually.
Mascaras won a lot of fans upstairs, but I only saw a bit of that.
Lightning Bolt were impressive after some technical difficulties. When the attack started the whole room just exploded into a mosh pit.
The Legion is hot upstairs but not bad downstairs.
Met a talent scout from Treefort Festival in Boise (March). Details to follow, it it sounds a lot like Sled but with even more bands.
Today: Broken City - Local 510, Palomino, then back to the Legion.
I enjoyed Mladic as much as I've enjoyed any song live ever. It was amazing but the whole show was (not to sound like an ***hole) a pretty transcendent experience.
They have a taper friendly policy and have a bunch of stuff on archive.org. Hope someone who knows what they are doing is taking advantage of that at these shows.
Excited for Band Dialogue today. Should be a good unique experience.
Somehow I saw Fury Things twice - they always have a good set.
The patios at Local and Palomino were comfortable.
Legion added some fans upstairs and was okay until the crowds arrived around midnight.
Stopped in at Flames Central for a few songs by Yo La Tengo. It was gross in there - an absolute sauna. The band was playing soft songs and they could not be heard over all the people talking.
The Legion became a sauna too after midnight. G Baywatch were fun but it was too hot for me to stay long. I knew I could see King Tuff today.
Lots of Sled celebrities hanging around the Palomino - Godspeed and Ex Hex were there last night.
Find the shade!
You can tell I don't cope well with heat!
One other note - people don't jam your bikes into racks where there is no space. A real tangle.
Great few days of music. Personal highlight was Godspeed You Black Emperor, been wanting to see them for years and they didn't disappoint.
Also really impressed by Viet Cong, what a great band. Nice to see some great talent coming out of Calgary.
I'll definitely be looking to get the festival pass again next year, probably plan a little better to take in even more.
__________________
A few weeks after crashing head-first into the boards (denting his helmet and being unable to move for a little while) following a hit from behind by Bob Errey, the Calgary Flames player explains:
"I was like Christ, lying on my back, with my arms outstretched, crucified"
-- Frank Musil - Early January 1994
Saw Godspeed Friday. What a great set, but I can't get used to sitting down for a rock concert. Was a freaking sauna in there as well.
Missed out on Olympic Plaza yesterday as Folk Fest scheduled a wonderful 3 hour meeting in the afternoon to talk about how to use a radio. Thank you Folk Fest.
Worked the door at Broken City last night and got to see Overnight, Obnox and The Coathangers, all of which were great, then went over to the Legion to catch Technical Kidman. They played in 2013 at a floodisland houseparty Troutman and I were at, but I missed them last year so they were high on my list to see this year and they didn't disappoint.
Finished off at the Nite Owl to see Keys N Krates, but that really isn't my kind of music.
If anyone is going to the Republik today I really recommend the Technical Kidman show. They are great.
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Saturday was pretty much a perfect day - 10/10 for me.
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble were great - they had to start at the hottest part of the afternoon, so not so many ventured out of the shade to the stage.
Clouds started to form by the time Ex Hex began, so it got more comfortable. They were terrific - Mary is a great guitar player. They were having a blast and could be seen all night supporting the other bands.
King Tuff put on a real crowd pleasing show. They are as fun as can be, and all the songs are immediately catchy.
Viet Cong were even better than I expected. They belonged on the stage with all these other great bands.
I took a bit of break in the beer gardens during Drive Like Jehu and did not get to have a good listen.
Television were wonderful.
The Legion was not as hot or busy as other nights. Enjoyed Big/Brave and Technical Kidman again. Body/Head was challenging, but I enjoyed seeing the great Kim Gordon. I loved her standing on the amp and dangling her guitar.
It was great running into so many friends from the local music scene.
Might be the best edition of Sled ever. I think I will go say goodbye to the Republik tonight.
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First up in the new year: we can hardly wait to announce our 2016 guest curator on January 19!
Last year, guest curator Godspeed You! Black Emperor blew us away with two incredible shows at the Central United Church and selected some of our favourite festival artists including Body/Head, The Ex and Mdou Moctar.
What does 2016 have in store? Watch your inbox on January 19 to find out!
