AT EDGEFEST, MOLSON PARK BARRIE 07/01/98
Welcome to my now yearly (or until I write another one)
review of The Tea Party. This review is mainly for
the unfortunate souls who couldn't make it for one reason or
another. I'll just go through my day.
We left my house at about 11:45am for the greatest Canada
Day of our lives, and the roads we took got us there in 20min
(which is the normal amount of time from my place but we
expected we would be at least 40min because of the traffic, I
love those back roads), while we were waiting to park in
Walmart a scalper came to us (witch was great since my
brother and I still needed tix) and he wanted $80 we payed
$55 which was only $10 over cost (although I later found out
some friends had payed $20 and one had payed $12). Now we
were in, almost, there was that 3 hour line up, literaly, we
got in after 3pm. The security check was not up to Molson
Parks Standards, the last 2 years (4 concerts) I had seen
there they did a full body pat down and back pack search.
This time they asked me what was in my bag and sent me in
(all that uncomfortable walking for the past 3 hours with the
tape deck turned out to be pointless, but as we all know, if
I hadn't hid it they would have done a full search and would
have found it), this taping thing is getting easier everytime 8~).
We got there in the middle of Econoline Crush's set and
I could hear that they were playing the usual set so we
watched the rest of the Killjoys set instead. Then we went
over to the main stage and waited for Sloan to come on, they
were really good but I think the size of the crowd
overwhelmed them, at the end of the set one of them said
"Here comes some bands that know how to use this size of a
crowd". Next were the Foo Fighters, they were pretty good,
but I didn't care for Dave's screeming (instead of singing).
They were followed by (the band to see on the edgefest tour
whether you like them or not) Green Day, I don't like them
but I loved their show, they were very entertaining and
destroyed their equipment (which I have a soft spot for, and
when I can afford it, I'll be doing it). Next came Moist, it
was like listening to one of their cd's, I didn't find them
very entertaining but I'm not a fan so who cares what I say.
Now for the moment you've all been waiting for, without any further delay The Tea Party.
The band appeared on stage around 10pm Jeff M came out and said
"So we've had a crusifiction (the Foo Fighters had someone
nailed to a sheet of plywood with a patch coard through his
tounge) and a drum kit on fire (Green Day) I believe, am I
right? (he asked becuase the band was in Ottawa earlier in
the day playing their first show of the day) How are we going to top that?".
Well without any hesitation they started the show off with
Temptation (Jeff M said something like that before starting)
and it was spectacular. They then plunged into a great rendition of
the Bazaar with Soundgarden's Rusty Cage in the middle,
from there they went into Fire in the Head which is always
sensational. After that they played the next single,
Psychopomp and it was great. but the band was just
beginning, they launched into Army Ants (which I believe
hadn't been played on the Edgefest tour yet) and it was
perfect. Release was next and it was just like every other
time I've heard it, absolutly beautiful. Time for some
salvation, Save Me was up next and for this they brought out
the Toronto Table Ensamble (they also joined them for the
Mush Music I&I) they added some extra percussion and when I
saw them coming out I assumed (and we all know what that
means) that the band wasn't going to be breaking into any
songs in the middle, boy was I wrong they played "The Last
Goodbye" and it was beautiful (after the show someone
couldn't get it through their head that it was a cover).
Then came the usual show closers, Winter Solstice and Sister
Awake, Winter was longer than usual, not the full song (that
would've been great) but just played a through couple times
while Mr. Burrows (I call him Mr. because I have complete and
utter respect for him, not that I don't for the other guys)
video taped the crowd (now I'm sure the band will be
releasing a home video), Sister Awake was really good too.
Now this is the point that the band usually leaves the stage,
but not tonight, Jeff M is getting a different guitar and
playing with the wah-wah, at this point I'm thinking The
River and I'm getting all tingly inside just thinking about
it (havn't seen them play it in a year), Jeff M approaches
the mic and has something important to say "I'm going to take
this opertunity to introduce to you, someone that been away
for a while, the sexiest man in Canadian rock music, Edwin (I
Mother Earth's former vocalist)". I was sitting there trying
to figure out what Tea Party song Edwin could do vocals for,
then Jeff starts playing this fimilar, amazing little riff.
Edwin starts the vocals "Johnny's in America..." and the
crowd roars, at this point a million songs are running
through my head, I'm trying to figure out which one this is,
it hits me, and I should have realized it quiker considering
it was Canada Day. Well for those who havn't figured out
what song the band was playing at this moment (about 11:15pm)
I'll let you know. The band did an absolutly amazing version
of David Bowie's "I'm Afraid of Americans", I thought I was
feeling tingly about the possibility of The River, well think
about 36 000 people all singing "I'm afraid of Americans", oh
what a great Canada Day. The thought of seeing The Tea Party
again makes me gitty.
Until next time (which I hope is soon)
Stephen Stroud