There are benefits to being a border town by Canada. Minus hockey, beer and Tim Hortons (which is now located on every corner in Western New York) we are lucky to hear a lot of great Canadian music. A few bands that have been staples of the music scene in this area over the last 20 years are both The Tea Party and Big Wreck. Both bands are enjoying a tour that are taking them across Canada and into the States for a date in Lewiston, NY. Last Thursday they appeared at Artpark in Lewiston, NY.
Opening the show was Big Wreck. The band is still on tour in support of their 4th studio effort that was released last year called “Ghosts.” A solid rock band as you will see, Big Wreck unfortunately faced an upward battle from the beginning of the set as sound issues prevented most from hearing vocalist Ian Thornley’s voice for most of the 1st track “Inhale.” The band charged through as the professionals in which they are.
The 10 track, hour set consisted of 3 songs off of the newly aforementioned disc and other songs that have made the band like “That Song,” “Blown Wide Open” and “The Oaf.” The guys seemed to be really enjoying playing off of each other throughout their set. Guitarist Paulo Neta played an acoustic guitar for “Albatross” and Brian Doherty played a slide guitar for “Blown Wide Open” and a 12 string on “The Oaf (My Luck is Wasted.)” Bassist Dave McMillan drove the title song “Ghosts” with his upbeat bass playing.
These guys are always a treat and I’m sure it was just an off night with the sound so I’m looking forward to seeing them live again soon.
Headlining this night of Canadian music was The Tea Party. The band will be celebrating the 20 year anniversary of the release of their biggest album in “Edges of Twilight.” In fact, vocalist Jeff Martin announced that the band will be coming back around later this year to play the disc in its entirety. Before that announcement, the band opened up with the powerful and yet subtle “The River” when they took the stage. It seems the band is having more fun than ever on stage. Even at times, Martin let his bandmates have the spotlight and encouraged the audience to chant “Stu” “Stu” for bassist and keyboardist Stuart Chatwood. Martin also announced after ending the 1st song selection of the evening that Tea Party music was great baby making music, which brought a lot of laughs and applause.
The trio is known for incorporating a lot of different styles (experimental, industrial, mid-eastern, rock, world, etc.) into their lives shows and much more. Martin’s vocals are as soulful and powerful as ever. Drummer Jeff Burrows was a beast the entire show as well. Martin incorporated the theremin at the end of “Pscyopomp.” The band also threw a few classic rock medleys into their set in “Paint it Black” and “Kashmir.”
WNY loves the Tea Party and it seems by the band’s performance on Thursday that they love and appreciate the WNY fans too. They can’t wait for the band to return to do “Edges of Twilight” in its entirety.
The Tea Party setlist:
The Bazzar
Lullaby
Psychopomp
Fire in the Head
Ocean at the End
Water’s on Fire/Release
Writings on the Wall
Heaven Coming Down
Save Me (Kashmir – Led Zeppelin cover medley)
Temptation
Encore:
Sister Awake (Paint it Black – The Rolling Stones cover medley)
Big Wreck setlist:
Inhale
That Song
Wolves
I Digress
Hey Momma
Albatross
Ghosts
Lady Like
Blown Wide Open
The Oaf (My Luck is Wasted)
We would like to thank Tyler Tason form SRO-Anthem for the credentials to review the show.
