On the Road Again
Live Reviews:

The Tea Party with Edwin

November 13, 1999

Shaw Conference Centre, Edmonton, Alberta

The Tea Party and Edwin. Two big-name Canadian acts on tour with each other. One with something to prove, the other was just out to have fun and play music.

Edwin was the one with something to prove. Boy oh boy did he prove it. I wasn't particularly looking forward to Edwin. And he was so kind enough to demonstrate why. First of all, his music doesn't seem to have the soul or heart that good music generally needs. Secondly, he has a nasty habit of being a huge prick (gee, maybe that was the source of the problems with IME). Near the end of his short 40 minute set, he felt the need to prove that he was better than one of the people who paid his wage for the night. He pointed out one girl who apparently, "waited in line for hours during an autograph session just to give Edwin a note that said that he was nothing without IME." So he told her to fuck off. Don't tell Edwin, but he's just as pathetic as the girl who waited in line to tell him that he sucks. Then, the irony of all ironies, he plays "One More Astronaut." Not just a partial cover, but a full-fledged cover. So much for distancing himself from IME. Loser.

Now. The band that truly rocked the house. The Tea Party had one of the most awesome sets I've ever seen. They covered ground from Splendor Solisto their latest, Triptych.Jeff Martin was in fine form, as were his bandmates Jeff Burrows and Stuart Chatwood. I started off the night in a fantastic mood. This was my first full Tea Party concert (EdgeFest '98 doesn't really count), and I was having a great time. The music was sounding great, and the band was in a good mood. Then three or four assholes behind me decided that it would be cool to launch a rather large guy so he could crowd surf. First of all crowd surfing is just plain dumb. Are you there for the music or what? Secondly, the people that the guy was thrown upon (i.e. me) WERE NOT MOSHING. We were enjoying the music. If you're going to crowd surf, do it where they are moshing. I go to concerts to enjoy the music. Thirdly, if you must crowd surf, DO NOT WEAR BIG BOOTS. This guy didn't get the hint that nobody wanted him crowd surfing because he was in the wrong spot and was wearing large boots, even after being dropped on the floor three times.

But back to the music. The Tea Party started off with "Army Ants," which got things off to a great start. Then Jeff went into a fan-favourite, "Fire In The Head." "Psychopomp" followed. Jeff won the hearts of all the ladies present by telling the crowd that he has just lost his soulmate, which he followed by "Gone" from TRIPtych.The most memorable song, however, was undoubtedly "Release." Jeff Martin launched into one of his best solos of the evening, even beating the covers of "Dazed And Confused" by Led Zeppelin and a cover of a Hendrix tune that I can't name (simply a lack of knowledge. sorry). The band also did short covers of a Depeche Mode song, and "Heroes" by David Bowie (no, NOT The Wallflowers).

All in all, this was a very memorable show.