TicketMOMster’s Top 5 Favourite Shows of 2016 – #5
For those of you who haven’t followed this blog from the beginning (we’re now into the second year), you may be wondering what credentials I have to create such a list. Well, I go to a lot of shows. Do you want to know how many bands I reviewed this year alone? (Drum roll please)
As of today’s date…ONE HUNDRED AND ONE bands and/or shows!
Did your mouth hit the floor? Because mine did. Seriously? I reviewed that many bands IN ONE YEAR? Jeez, I was busy. I think that’s double from last year!
Anyway, I’m on a musical journey and I’m learning stuff by seeing tons of things, and now I know more stuff about things than last year, so here’s a list of stuff and things I liked from this year (those are my credentials in a nutshell – heh):
L to R: Josh Nelson (piano), Ben Williams (bass), Alicia Olatuja (vocals), Ulysses Owens, Jr. (drums), David Rosenthal (guitar). /ANNE MARTIN
5. Alicia Olatuja @ Berney Theatre
Here’s a show that snuck into my Top 5 under the wire (it was last Sunday). I had never seen Alicia perform before and I don’t like to go into concerts with expectations. But once I discovered who her bassist was (Ben Williams), I was expecting something pretty fantastic. The band delivered.
I see plenty of shows where musicians play songs. They may like part of a song and move a little or smile here and there. Sometimes they’ll close their eyes. But by and large, they stand on a stage and play notes.
Alicia and her band were INTO those songs. I loved watching their heads bobbing in unison and all the positive reinforcement between band members during solos. Every noise that came out of their mouths, every time they shook their heads in amazement, I felt that too.
Sometimes they WERE reading notes, but they were still firmly devoted to feeling and expressing that song through their instruments. There was so much talent on that stage by people who were truly honing their craft, and I appreciated every second of it.
Loved that show.
Read the full review on my Facebook page or on Community News Commons.
The countdown continues every Saturday until New Year’s Eve, when I’ll reveal my favourite show of 2016!
TicketMOMster is a Rock and Jazz-loving Mom; single-handedly keeping Ticketmaster alive in Winnipeg. Follow her musical journey here: www.facebook.com/TicketMOMsters
