A recurring theme in this blog, one that's appeared many times even as recently as earlier this week, has been the idea of discovery in a concert setting, that moment where you hear an opening artist for the first time, or where you have a new realization about how much you enjoy an artist. That sense of discovery has been a key element in my enjoyment of live music going back to the earliest shows that I attended as a teenager, and it's part of why I'm still going to shows all these years later. I'm always excited to hear something new, to find a new favorite band, it's part of what keeps live music so fresh, so exciting.
I was first introduced to Rosegarden Funeral Party when I saw them opening for Clan of Xymox at a rescheduled show at Lee's Palace in November 2019, one of those concert discoveries that instantly clicked and appealed to my musical sensibilities. Their set was an impressive blend of passion and talent, a near perfect mixture of Trad Goth and Punk aesthetics that worked perfectly in a live setting. They were a tight and ferocious quartet, and you could tell that they had sharpened their skills over countless gigs and innumerable hours of rehearsal. Guitarist and singer Leah Lane particularly stood out as fiercely talented, leading the band with blistering guitar work that stands as some of the best I've ever seen, and delivering vocals with a sincere and emotional power that suggest a true belief in the songs being played. Rosegarden Funeral Party played a wicked good set that evening and I pretty much signed on as a fan then and there, happily identifying as a Rosegardner, or a Funeral Partier ever since...
Needless to say, Rosegarden Funeral Party haven't been able to make it back to Toronto in the last couple of years, but during the pandemic they've been busy in the studio, releasing a number of singles along with a series of videos under the banner Take Cover featuring the band and guests playing tribute to David Bowie, Pulp, OMD and others. And in the absence of live shows, these offerings have maintained and further developed my interest in them through the long months of lockdowns and isolation, earning Rosegarden Funeral Party a well-deserved spot as one of my favorite new bands of the last couple of years.
While another Toronto show may still be a little way off, Rosegarden Funeral Party have recently announced the release of a new album in December of this year, to be celebrated at a show at the Granada Theatre in Dallas where they'll play the album in its entirety along with the full series of Take Cover songs. It promises to be a great evening of music, and hopefully the band will be inspired to take that show on the road, because I'd love to see them play a live version of Bowie's Bring Me the Disco King...
No comments:
Post a Comment