26th
My (Predictably Awkward) Run-In With 3/7th (/18th? /100th?) of Broken Social Scene
THE NAMES HAVE NOT BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT ANYONE
(Immediately after Broadcast’s set, behind Scott and I)
Brendan Canning*: I think I almost bought a Broadcast album once. (launches into inappropriately melismatic Trish Keenan impersonation)
Girl With Crazy Hair In BSS Who Is Not Emily Haines, Feist, Amy Millan Or Liz Powell: (nods)
(Minutes later, exiting venue)
Me: Oh my god, Scott, that was Brendan Canning, because that’s Kevin Drew! And the crazy-haired girl again!
Scott: Mm-hm.
(Outside, approaching Kevin Drew/GWCHIBWINEHFAMOLP on Lake Street as the Green Line passes overhead, everyone pulling back for a second)
Me: Excuse me, I just wanted to say that I really like your music.
Kevin Drew: Well, thank you.
Me: I’m not sure what brings you here but… [I don’t even remember].
KD: Well, we’re here. That was scary, eh?**
Me: Yeah, kind of. I own pretty much every Broadcast album, but they definitely took it in in a different direction tonight.***
KD: No, I mean, THAT. (pointing at the train tracks)
Me: Oh…I guess I’m used to it by now.
GWCHIBWINEHFAMOLP: …
Me: Well, anyway, I really like your music.
—————
* I honestly didn’t think it was Brendan Canning at first, both due to the improbability of the scenario and his derisive comments about Broadcast. Really, it was GWCHIBWINEHFAMOLP’s ‘do that convinced me. I’ve only seen her play with the band maybe twice but that nest makes an impression.
** Not playing for laughs, dude really said “eh”.
*** They were in full-on art-hippie mode tonight. To wit, their set commenced with a 20-minute seriously loud tribal/drone instrumental accompanied by a seriously psychedelic art film. To their credit, they pulled it off - generally very intuitively. I’m not sure whether I’m inclined to like it because I’m such a big fan of the band, and it’s still definitely not my usual cup of tea, but it was genuinely well-executed. Looking back, I reflexively tried not to like it at first but was drawn in. The only downside was the occasional “phasers-on-stun” noise, both during the instrumental and in later songs (even “Corporeal”!). They were already more than filling the space without needing to resort to such a cliched, distracting effect. But anyway, it would totally have been legitimate for someone (although in hindsight, probably not Kevin Drew) to call their set “scary”. Oddly enough, we were not the only ones to leave after their set, though; as the bouncer noted, it was a bit of an exodus. The cult of Cox may be smaller than it seems.
