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26/02/2010
Ygk Productions Present
The Vicious Guns, Mississippi Grover, Owl Farm

Friday night at the Mansion was entertaining on many different levels. This was the first time that I was ever in the basement at The Mansion, Team Canada won a berth in the Finals and Awesome Music played through last call.

The band set times were pushed back until the hockey game was over, instead of  during the second period as they suppose to. Which was only fair to Mississippi Grover as I don’t think anyone would have watched his performance.

The set up downstairs was a little odd as the bands have a stage that is offset in a smaller room that can probably hold only about 50 people rather than in the first room as you walk in which could hold probably three times that of the smaller room. A few people took in Mississippi Grover’s performance as people were still trickling in from upstairs. But soon enough he had people filling in the room with his Guitar, Bass Drum, Kazoo and Harmonica.  This was probably about the fifth time that I have watch Mississippi Grover play and every time he is highly entertaining to watch play. What impresses me the most about his songs is the catchy guitar riffs and hooks that he has in all his songs.  It usually takes about two or three songs for people to come around to his music and tonight was no different, everybody came around and interacted come the third song. I noticed that more people were listening to what he was singing as well because of the laughter during a couple of the songs especially “Dingleberry Pie”. For those people who do not already know the Mississippi Grover is a one man band. A couple of personal songs that he played during his set was “I’m Buried Alive”, “Snakes In My House” and “The Living Bride”.   

The Vicious Guns followed Mississippi Grover onstage. I must say that I was intrigued by their sound right away because all three members stood in front of the stage in a line and grabbed two guitars and a Bass. After they introduced themselves they started up their preloaded band in a box and started to play. Their band in a box was a little different than I am used to seeing and hearing because of the bass beats and synth sound that came out. Their sound is also interesting and entertaining as well because they have managed to infuse electro and rock together and made it sound good, usually I get turned off of this sound because of mismanaged sound but The Vicious Guns pull it together nicely. What also followed along with their sound is Jennifer’s vocals, they have a hint of many different influences  a couple of influences include a small hint of Blondie and Madonna to give you a small idea. The vocals sounded great live because of the rawness in her voice and you could tell that they were picking up the energy in the room as well. People in the bar also took notice to their sound as well and started to fill up the room a little bit more as well. Their live version of their songs are a little better than their album version because they have a more alternative edge when you hear them live compared to the album version. One of my favourite songs that they played in their set was “Suicide”  by this time you could tell that they pumped and on top of their game. The backing vocals worked in the song because they were quieter than the lead vocals but you were able to pick up the bass on the vocals. The song also brought out memories of early British Punk which you don’t really hear anymore. Hopefully the Vicious Guns will be around Kingston again to play a show on their way back from their sxsw. The songs which The Vicious Guns played were “End Of The World”, “New Chain”, “Baby K”, “Don’t Let It”, “Suicide”, “Migraine”, “Landslide”.  

Up next was Kingston Owl Farm. This was the first time that I have watched Owl Farm play live. But I have probably witnessed everybody in the band play somewhere else and some point or another. By this time in the night they had everybody who was downstairs packed into the small side room. Owl Farm is fronted by J-P on lead vocals and Keys, so if anyone has ever watched him perform before you know that this was a show to watch. He busted out moves to try and match the people in the front row dancing. His vocals are also something to be reckoned with. I’m pretty sure only Owl Farm could get away with their version of Led Zepplins the Immigrant Song. Which ended up being an extra song that they threw in at the end of their set. Owl Farm also had the speakers pumping out at full tilt because you could hear them popping constantly throughout their set. Throughout their set I found that I ended up watching J-P the most to see what he was going to do next. Jay the drummer was also pounding the living shit out of his drums throughout the set as well. At the start I only thought he was going to last a couple of songs playing like he was but he pulled through the entire show playing the way he was.

Unfortunately having to worked at  7 in the morning  and doing the same on Saturday I was unable the keep myself focused enough to stay for the Stables which I wanted to see the most going into the night because of the wicked performance they did when they opened up for Cuff The Duke.

www.myspace.com/theviciousguns
www.myspace.com/owlfarm
www.myspace.com/mississippigrover


There are videos and Pictures of the event posted up around the site.