By: Julia Grabowska and Sarah MacDonald –
Day 1
Yukon Blonde
Stage: Scene Verte
Yukon Blonde at Osheaga 2012. Photo: Sarah MacDonald
If there was ever a time that skinny jeans and beach balls looked good together, it was during the Yukon Blonde set. Slotted during the steamiest part of the day, guitarist Brandon Scott, clad in a black/grey ensemble, was right when he shouted to the crowd, “it’s a hot one!” In spite of it all, the band quickly roused a weary looking crowd from a heat slumber.
Perhaps when they sang “Wind Blows” a metaphorical breeze swept over everyone the sweat dripping off our brows didn’t seem that bad. A few technical difficulties—something of which became a staple of Osheaga 2012— didn’t damper the set.
The most heart swelling moment was lead singer Jeff Innes bouncing back and forth in a Great Bloomers tank, showing off the adoration of other talented rock bands that seem to be a staple of every music scene in this country; a camaraderie like no other.
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Dum Dum Girls
Stage: Scene Arbres
Dum Dum Girls at Osheaga 2012. Photo: Sarah MacDonald
Was the Galaxie Stage cursed on Friday? Technical problems marred the lovely Osheaga experience as the Dum Dum Girls were forced to cut their 35 minute set short to a mere 20. The band twiddled and fiddled with their instruments, talking back and forth to the sound booth, as they stood around aimless in their all black ensembles under the fiercest heat Montreal could muster.
When sound tech, roadie, and management alike cleared the band for their short but thrilling set, the band brought witchy, crooning goth girl 90s rock to Parc du Jean Drapeau. Lead singer Dee-Dee— the only blonde in the usually signature dark haired quartet— jived along songs like “Bedroom Eyes” as though there were no issues impeding their set. The band played a handful of songs, including a new track, but all in all it was tragic for the Osheaga crowd to only experience this band for so little time.
Maybe the witchy vibes felt a little too real.
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Franz Ferdinand
Stage: Scene de la Riviere
Franz Ferdinand at Osheaga 2012. Photo: Pat Beaudry
Throughout their rough 50-minute set, Franz Ferdinand delivered tunes from their latest album, 2009’s Tonight: Franz Ferdinand, including tunes like “No You Girls” and some older hits like “Take Me Out,” and “This Fire.” “Do You Want To” in particular seemed like a crowd favourite with devoted fans shamelessly singing along and shimmying. While the set also included two new songs, “Right Thoughts! Right Words! Right Action!” and “Scarlet and Blue,” no formal announcement has yet been made regarding a fourth studio album. Frontman, Alex Kapranos gave off a very electric and lively feel as he jumped around on top of speakers with his guitar all while sounding very sharp vocal wise. Kapranos also sported a new accessory in the form of a mustache. And while it’s an acquired taste for some, perhaps some fans dug the rocker’s bowl-cut/’stache combo.
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The Weeknd
Stage: Scene de la Montagne
The Weeknd at Osheaga 2012. Photo: Joon Wong
The Weeknd promptly began with “The Morning,” from his 2011 debut mixtape House of Balloons. The serene tune had everyone as far as the main stage hill swaying and singing as the sun was setting for the eve. The Weeknd greeted the crowd, proudly announcing that he was from Toronto, Canada. “Love In The Crew”, a song by Drake that The Weeknd is featured in, was definitely one of the crowd pleasers. The overall performance, also including “High For This” was sung to perfection, and was the ideal set that set everyone in a calm and reflective mood.
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Florence & the Machine
Stage: Scene de la Riviere
Florence & the Machine at Osheaga 2012. Photo: Pat Beaudry
Florence & The Machine quickly opened with the darkly harmonious song “Take What The Water Gave Me” off her latest album Ceremonials. Florence’s peaceful personality showed through the large screens as she performed with all of her heart to the overwhelmingly large Osheaga audience. In her long black gown, Florence belted tunes from two albums worth of material without hesitation and with awe-inspiring courage.
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MGMT
Stage: Scene Verte
MGMT at Osheaga 2012. Photo: Tim Snow
Since last performing in Toronto in 2010, the psychldelic rockers have positively matured performance wise. They opened with “Future Reflections,” from their 2007 debut album, Oracular Spectacular. The long instrumental breaks in the songs “Siberian Breaks” and “Of Moons, Birds & Monsters” were magical and dreamy with beautiful guitars and Ben Goldwasser’s keys. Towards the end of their set, an unexpected firework show rocketed into the air from afar.
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Day 3
Bloc Party
Stage: Scene Verte
Bloc Party at Osheaga 2012. Photo: Tim Snow
The rain cometh fast and strong before Bloc Party took to the stage Sunday night in their epic return. England’s indie rock darlings are on the verge of releasing their first record in years, entitled Four, and the anticipation for their arrival was palpable in the crowd. Kele Okereke gave the crowd a broad toothy grin before asking if the rain was going to stop the party. People in a sea of umbrellas, rain jackets, makeshift rain coverings, and even handmade native headdresses roared back a triumphant no and the rain did not douse this comeback party.
Favourites of the set included “This Modern Love”, “Banquet”, and “Flux.” Kele and co. gave it their all, pounding out song after song with impeccable timing and pace. They kept a tight set and gave a glimpse into noisy garage rock of the past at its finest.
Leaving the stage 15 minutes before their scheduled end time was the only downer of the day, even as the crowd kept up with a downpour until minutes before the end of their set. We were thirsty for more.
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Passion Pit
Stage: Scene De La Montagne
Michael Angelakos of Passion Pit at Osheaga 2012. Photo: Joon Wong
The last day of the festival welcomed everyone with rain and mud. Passion Pit graced the Scene De La Montagne stage a bit after 3:00pm in the afternoon. The electropop band from Massachusetts performed a 45-minute set that began with a heavy downpour of rain, with only a handful of prepared fans outfitted in plastic ponchos. Lead vocalist, Michael Angelakos, was non-stop entertainment with full involvement of the crowd, encouraging sing alongs to well-known songs like “The Reeling” and “Sleepyhead,” both from their 2009 debut album, Manners. Halfway through the set, the sun showed its face and boys and girls cheered that the heat was back again and Angelakos bounced on stage feeding everyone his electro happiness.
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Santigold
Stage: Scene De La Montagne
Santigold at Osheaga 2012. Photo: Joon Wong
Santigold, accompanied by two dancers/back up singers dressed in neon green/yellow outfits, appeared to the thousands. Santigold and her eclectic dancers were a treat to watch, and defined what a true performance should be. During “The Creator”, from her 2008 self-titled debut album, Santigold chose a lucky few to hop on stage and dance while she sang and rapped her way through the tune. After a quick costume change into a bedazzled black jumper, the funky lady continued the show and hyped the crowd through odd, yet in-sync dancing and on until her very last song.
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Buraka Som Sistema
Stage: Scene Piknic Electronik
The Portugese electronic dance group appeared on stage in full energy and party mode, as the rain began to fall once again. The packed audience turned into a wet and muddy dancefloor as the group performed a blend of techno beats with the African genre of kuduro. From the front of the stage, all the way to the back of the beer tent, hiding underneath the Bacardi Breezer tents and propped up on picnic tables, people were enjoying the heavy, booty shaking tunes. Unfortunately for Buraka Som Sistema, nearing towards their set, the electric power outage on stage (most likely due to rain) shut their party down a little too early.
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Metric
Stage: Scene De La Montagne
Metric at Osheaga 2012. Photo: Joon Wong
Fresh from their set at Lollapalooza in Chicago’s Grant Park, Metric performed an hour plus set which included not only their new material from their latest album “Synthetica,” they reached back into some of their older material including hits like “Help I’m Alive,” “Dead Disco,” and a special acoustic version of “Gimmie Sympathy.” Lead singer Emily Haines looked like a woman possessed as she stormed through their set has band members Jimmy Shaw (guitar), Josh Winstead (bass) and Joules Scott-Key (drums) provided the impeccable rhythm section.
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