Spiral Beach/Hey Ocean at The Seahorse
I’ve never seen a lineup outside The Seahorse. As I approached it and saw this huge group of people, I wondered if it could be possible that so many smokers would be congregating outside of the bar and at only 10:00. As it turned out, they were in line, so I got in line and tried calling Ryan, Maddy and Airick to see if they could get me past the line and in for free. None of them answered. I sent Ryan a text and he called me back a couple minutes later letting me know that he’d put me on the guestlist (he’s such a sweetheart) but that he couldn’t get me in past the line. Oh well.
Once I got in I went over to the little backstage area and who should I find lounging, reviewing their set-list there, but Airick and Daniel Woodhead. We sit, we talk, we shpeil for a bit. I ask the Woodheads about the new Spiral Beach album. They’ve finished it and it will be released in June. They’re liking it, and Ryan will later describe it to me as more “in your face” than their previous releases. They also imagine lewd versions of the titles of their songs: “We Suck Ghosts” anyone?
We joke around a bit and determine that I’m going to introduce them to the Halifax crowd. I go and hang out with Ryan while they’re setting up and say hi to Maddy and Dorian. Once they’ve set up, I go up and do my little introduction and then Spiral Beach just barge right into it.
They sounded fantastic; they always do. The crowd at the Sea Horse took maybe a song or two to get into it, but once they did they got into it in a big way. Meighan Donaldson (who I produced a great song with called “Dance Partner (version 2)”, which can be heard over at her myspace) had never heard them before but said that they were her new favorite band.
Hey Ocean went on next. They started off with a cool little percussion mathinger and later on had horns and stuff but it was all just too fruity and clean-cut. And for some reason it all sounded very Australian to me (even though they’re from B.C.)…The crowd was getting into it at first but as their set went on, the crowd seemed to sort of quiet down a bit. They’re a solid set of players but the music they make is simply too safe. Maybe if Disney ever makes an indie High School Musical they should look these guys up.
I left the Seahorse and head back to King’s, still my home for at least until Monday, at which point I’ll be heading back to Toronto, the city in which I’ll live and likely die. And that’s ok, because Toronto kicks ass, as Halifax has taught me.
Tags: hey ocean, spiral beach
