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Argosy (Sackville, NB) - September 21, 2006
Dust Poets deliver dynamic performance (Live Review)
2006-2007 Performing Arts Series makes a strong start
Although Harper Havoc seemed to be on the minds of most students last Friday night, those who attended the opening show for the 2006-2007 Performing Arts Series knew that they had made a wise choice. Hailing from Manitoba, Dust Poets brought their brand of fun, country folk-pop to Convocation Hall for an energetic and impressive evening.
Dust Poets consists of five superbly talented individuals who, when put together, make up a sound that is unique, fun and at many times very heartfelt. The group started six years ago, although this was their first time performing in the Maritime region.
The genius in their performance was their ability to flip into so many varied moods of music while keeping their core sounds of a folk-pop group intact. The group opened with the upbeat song “Gone, Gone, Gone,” but was quick to move into more sentimental and thought-provoking pieces like “Borrowing Faith,” which looked at the controversial sides of the way religion is being used in our world.
Throughout the evening, lead singer and guitarist Murray D. Evans was pushing out some amazing melodies. His voice has a pure tone with a slight prairie twang that is very likeable. At the same time, most of the songs allowed for each musician to show his or her skills and there wasn’t one disappointing moment. Karla Ferguson’s accordion consistently added a neat dynamic to the sound while Corey Ticknor’s mandolin solos were complex and impressive. Gord Mowat kept the groove going the entire night on the upright bass and his one solo in the second half was a delight. Lastly, Sean McManus on the clarinet added so much to each song through his perfect arrangements and solos. On top of this, the group had vocal harmonies for virtually every song that added an interesting and impressive element to each piece.
The nice thing about Dust Poets is that they came to entertain and share with the audience. They told many hilarious anecdotes that demonstrated the great chemistry among the group.
Dust Poets have so many elements to get attached to. With their upbeat and quirky lyrics, certain songs give off a Barenaked Ladies vibe. At the same time, their ballads are able to stand out on their own level. In fact, their song “Lonesome,” an emotional and simple ballad, was the best song of the entire evening.
The audience’s response was extremely positive throughout the night, so much as to merit an encore. In the lobby afterwards, many purchased their CDs and met with the band to have them autographed.