Showing posts with label by divine right. Show all posts
Showing posts with label by divine right. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Recording: By Divine Right

Artist: By Divine Right

Songs: Mountain's Friend + Field Of Trampolines [Shotgun Jimmie cover]

Recorded at Christie Pits Park (Bloor Ossington Folk Festival – Day 2), September 18, 2016.

By Divine Right - Mountain's Friend

By Divine Right - Field Of Trampolines

Unsurprisingly, the fine sunny weather accompanying the festival's final day had the park feeling much more lively and animated with dog-walkers and playground patrons. The tent was also a lot busier from the get-go and as the warm sun held overhead, the rise of the hill beyond was soon filling as well. There was more of a poignant sad undertone to the day, with organizers, bands and audience members all dwelling a little more on the idea that this was the end of the line for the festival. But, as always, the music was a balm and a call to enjoy these moments while they last.

By Divine Right has famously churned though a lot of members around singer/guitarist Jose Contreras over its two decades plus existence, but there has been some durability in its current power trio incarnation, seeing Contreras backed by Geordie Dynes and Alysha Haugen. This lineup leaves lots of room for Haugen's nimbly-lumbering basslines in Contreras' heady psych-flavoured pop nuggets, and a stomping guitar solo could tear past at any time. Although the band closed with a couple selections from their song-by-song remake of Depeche Mode's Speak & Spell album, the cover that was closer to my heart was their heavy take on the title track from fellow BOFF veteran Shotgun Jimmie's latest album.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Recording: By Divine Right feat. Ian Blurton + Dan Burke

Artist: By Divine Right feat. Ian Blurton amd Dan Burke

Song: Sweet Jane [Velvet Underground cover]

Recorded at The Silver Dollar Room ("Lou Reed: Live Tribute"), November 21, 2013.

By Divine Right feat. Ian Blurton + Dan Burke - Sweet Jane

Full review to follow. Lou Reed, in his work in the Velvet Underground and as a solo artist, created an entirely new lineage in the great tree of rock'n'roll. Any band that embraces some combination of darkness, bad vibes, unrepentant vice, noise and art can probably trace their roots back towards Lou Reed, and in Toronto, it seemed exactly right that the Silver Dollar (home, most nights, to some combination of the above) should be the place to host a night of music in tribute. A full night saw a wide variety of Reed's heirs celebrate some good songs, ranging from quiet moments of beauty to noise freakouts.

By Diving Right closed off their mini-set by inviting up Ian Blurton (supplementing Jose Contreras' fiery guitar solos) to help them back iconic Silver Dollar booker/rock'n'roll animal Dan Burke, who delivered the goods with attitude and conviction.

Bonus! If that's not enough for you, I've made the entire tribute night available to download.