Emm Gryner was another performer that was at ease with emotional contradictions by allowing the audience to discover her delicate intimate style as well as her subtle power by playing a passive-aggressive rendition of The Beatles' "Revolution."
Ron Sexsmith was, well, Sexsmith. He superbly covered Kim's "How'd We Ever Get This Way?" alongside Kim himself. The night reached its apex when Ed Robertson - and a couple of Ladies - stopped by for a couple of Christmas tunes.
Come on, there had to be a flaw somewhere? Well, not really. While the show was not as rambunctious as last year, my only tiny complaint is that I wished they played "Rainbow Ride." The song seemed tailor-made for the style and hard edge of Kim's band. But never mind about that. The concert helped raised funds for Children's Aid and this is what matters most.
All in all a grand success once again. The elder statesman of Canadian music took his place on the stage and was clearly well entrenched. What's an Andy Kim concert without an all-out jam session of "Sugar, Sugar?" Easily, hands down, one of the most endearing rock tunes of all time, it's the one song everyone looks forward to hearing. And judging by the artists on stage, performing it looks like a blast.
That's what you want out of music. In many ways, Canadian music has a message for its American and British cousins — keep it real. Lay off the gimmicks and play the music. Let the artist shine. Once more, Andy Kim - unwittingly or otherwise - is helping to pave a new off-road for Canadian artists.
It's an odd fact of reality that Andy Kim is often associated with "bubblegum." If this is the case, we can apply this to many great artists of the 1960s and 1970s who did not get stigmatized with this moniker. Still, for one night, if this was bubblegum, it was clear the bubble never burst.
Article comments
1 - Vern Halen
Think I said it last year - "Rainbow Ride" - an absolute classic, but a lost classic.
AS an aside, I don't get Ron Sexsmith - what is it that anyone sees/hears in him?
2 - alessandro nicolo
Hey Vern, who know what people see in a musician? I can't pinpoint it myself but I just like it. He's very good live.
3 - Vern Halen
S'pose. But what little I've seen or heard of him - ahhh, whatever. You're just plain ol' right - who knows what people get out of any given artist? I still like Motorhead, even though I shouldn't. The Monkees too, for all the opposite reasons.
I wonder if Sloan were ever fans of Andy Kim when they were younger? As far as Canuck bands go, they certainly have a pop edge to them when they want to. They could've done a decent job of Rainbow Ride.
4 - alessandro nicolo
I know someone who thinks about Blue Rodeo in the same way. I like The Monkees and Motorhead too. I may be going off topic here but there is no indigenous 'Canadian' rock music per se. There are roots music similar to what is found in the U.S. but Canada never catalogued and marketed it a-la Lomax. Mind you, bluegrass, blues, gospel etc are exclusively American genres - I think. Whatever we may have may be closer to bluegrass/country. There's interesting stuff in Canada but it's hard to get a handle on. Indie is big. I don't think movements started up here. Unless you consider Neil Young the founder of grunge. Still, all things considered, Canucks do ok. Some of the biggest acts in the world today are Canadian. By the way, I'm looking for a very good blues cite that posts blues lyrics. I'm talking Son House, Leadbelly, Blind Lemon Jefferson stuff. Know any?
5 - Vern Halen
Old blues lyrics? Sorry - not my area of expertise. Something 'bout selling your soul to the debbil & such is all I know about.