Date: March 7, 2008
Venue: The Silver Dollar Room

Another day and more Canadian Music Week coverage—only a few more posts left on the subject, so bear with me. This time around I’m delving into the Weewerk showcase at the Silver Dollar Room last Friday night. I’ll try to keep this fairly concise, as I’ve posted a video of both Jenny Omnichord and The Burning Hell a few days ago and have already discussed the latter’s live show at length. Suffice to say that this particular evening trumped any previous performance I’d seen by either act.

Jenny Omnichord (a.k.a. Jenny Mitchell) was up first and, while the stakes were higher than at her in-store performance earlier that week, her charm and awkwardly endearing banter were once again undeniable. I’m always impressed by just how much she gets out of the instrument of her namesake. In less capable hands the novelty inherent in an instrument like the Omnichord would wear off pretty damn fast, but Mitchell’s charming stage presence and well-written tunes make her a pleasure to watch.

It was also pretty hilarious to hear her take shots at Chart’s annual CMW report card system. That said, it was Weewerk label-mate, Ox (Mark Browning), that really gave it to the Canadian magazine’s grading scheme during his own set shortly after. Resenting the idea of being marked on fashion, Browning called spiteful attention to the funky shades and stripped toque that he wore specially for the occasion (which deserved bonus marks, in my opinion).

As for Ox’s actual performance, on an eccentric bill sandwiched between a solo omnichordist and a band with a ukulele front and centre (not to mention multiple accordions), being the guy with the acoustic guitar must have seemed a slightly ominous task. That said, Browning held his own. He’s clearly a seasoned performer, not to mention songwriter—with two albums under his belt thus far—whose confidence and skilled set grabbed more than a few people’s attention.

Jenny Omnichord - Ghost Flyers in the Sky

Ox - Sugar Cane

When it came time for The Burning Hell I was admittedly pumped. Sure, this might have been my third time seeing Mathias Kom and co. perform, but the first was cut short by the police and the second was a confined and low-key in-store set, so Friday night was my foremost opportunity to see the Peterborough collective at a venue where they could actually cut loose. I can safely say that I was not disappointed.

Nine people strong and seemingly fired up, The Burning Hell was out to impress with an array of interesting instruments, including glockenspiel and the previously mentioned dual accordions. Most importantly though, this is obviously a band with exceptional chemistry, as the whole gang were in top form, laughing and riffing off each other the entire time. In fact, it was a celebratory affair all around, as the night actually marked Mathias Kom’s 30th birthday, as well as an on stage admission that he’s decided to quit smoking.

All told, I’ve been increasingly impressed by this eccentric and amicable band each time I’ve seen them live, and I highly recommend checking them out for yourself.

The Burning Hell - Grave Situation pt.1

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Unfortunately I wasn’t able to stick around for the rest of the Weewerk showcase, as I had to run down to the Horseshoe in time to catch Hey Rosetta!. Fans of that band should check back tomorrow though, as not only will I be posting a live review of their Friday night set, but I’ve also got an interview with lead-singer Tim Baker.