What: Iceberg Alley Performance Tent
When: June 16, 2023
Featuring Arkells, Lights & Fairgale
Night three of Iceberg Alley had one of my favourite lineups of the whole festival. Featuring Newfoundland’s own Fairgale and the talents of Canadian’s Lights and Arkells, this night was certainly meant to be a memorable one.
Fairgale kicked off the night. Fairgale’s home base is St. John’s, NL. The band consists of Stephen Green (guitars/Lead Vocals), Andrew Rodgers (Guitars/Lead Vocals), Brad Tuck (Drums), and Gary Powers (Bass). According to a biography on MusicNL, the “two lead vocalists with distinctly different voices and songwriting style bring you contagious pop hooks over in your face indie rock.” They certainly have made a name for themselves here in Newfoundland.
They started their set with “Fireproof,” a track from the 2018 album Pillars. They captivated the audience who made it to the tent for the start. They also played songs such as “Drop in the Ocean” and “Tunnel Vision” from older albums, tracks that many in the audience seemed to know and sing along with.
Songs such as “Tango,” “Gravity,” “Jenny” and “Something I Can Hold Onto” from their latest album, The Way It Was Before, were introduced to the audience, showcasing further the talent of this group and how they’ve evolved since Fairgale was born.
They finished their set with “Bad Reputation” (another track from their Pillars album). A perfect track to end off their set, “Bad Reputation” is one of those high-energy, toe-tapping tracks that leaves you wanting more. And I am sure it won’t be the last time for many.
Lights took the second spot of the night by storm. Hailing from Ontario, Canada, this musician, singer, and songwriter showcased her talents and creativity through each track. Her debut album, released in 2009, was certified platinum and she has not stopped since.
Lights started off with a short intro before moving into ‘Salt and Vinegar’, a track from last year’s release Pep. Other tracks such as “Easy Money,” “Real Thing,” “Prodigal Daughter,” and “Okay Okay” captivated the audience as screams erupted.
Tracks such as “February Air” from her debut album, The Listening, created a flashback for those day-one fans. From her third studio album, Little Machines, she performed songs such as “Running With The Boys” and “Up We Go” which created electricity in the audience as they sang along with the words.
Lights had a stage presence like no other. Her ability to keep the audience captivated and entranced by the music was magical. Aiding this, was the integrated audio-visual surreal experience as images and words danced across the screens used to capture the stage antics.
“Love Me” was probably my favourite of the night. The energy in the atmosphere, the patrons of the tent singing along, what more could you ask for? Lights ended her set with “Grip,” another track from her latest album. This left the audience wanting more and I am sure it is not the last Newfoundland will see of lights, after all, she is finally an honorary Newfoundlander.
Arkells stole the show yet again, or maybe I am a little bit biased. It has been a while since I’ve seen Arkells live because of life and a little thing that shut down the world for a bit. However, the performance these guys give live has not changed.
Hailing from Hamilton, Ontario, the Canadian rock band features Max Kerman (Vocals/Guitar), Mike DeAngelis (Vocals/Guitar), Nick Dika (Bass), Tim Oxford (Drums/Percussion), and Anthony Carone (Vocals/Keyboard/Guitar). To date, they have released seven albums and have won multiple Juno awards for both Rock Album of the Year and Group of the Year.
The show started with “Past Life,” which caused the fans to cheer and sing along, before moving right into “You Can Get It.” This is another high-energy track, definitely a crowd-pleaser.
“Human Being” saw Lights being brought back onto the stage for additional vocals. She was the most perfect addition to the song. Their chemistry on stage is impeccable. According to Kerman, this track is about the multitudes of what it means to be a human. You can be many things in a day; happy, sad, expressive performer, beautiful friend, brave and afraid, silly and serious, and so on. The song is about honouring that little voice inside your head.
“Laundry Pile” is not only a track on their upcoming album but also a first dance song for someone’s wedding. Kerman’s interaction with the audience is always noteworthy. At the beginning of this track, he noticed someone holding on their phone with a message about the song. It is such a beautiful song and quickly becoming one of my favourites. It hits all the feels! This was not the only wedding song of the night, another couple let Kerman know that “And Then Some” would be their wedding song. Another great tune!
A few years back Arkells released an Acoustic Campfire edition of many of their hits. Bringing this idea to life, a few tracks were performed in the middle of the room with a spotlight on Kerman to give the campfire feel. Everyone gave Kerman their undivided attention as the spotlight shone on him in the middle of the crowded floor and he sang along to “Quitting You.”
Many fan favourites were played, such as “Whistleblower,” “11:11,” “And Then Some,” “Years In The Making,” and “Knocking At The Door.” These hits span their entire discography yet the fans in the tent knew the words to almost every song.
Arkells are well-known for their covers of various hits. Tonight’s tune was Dolly Parton’s “9-to-5” with an Arkells twist. The audience loved it as they were on backing vocals for this track.
After a quick interlude and the whole “encore encore” moment, they finished up the night with “Leather Jacket,” a true fan-favourite as everyone sang along yet held on to every move. With amazing energy, indescribable audience interaction, and all the musical moves from percussion to guitars to drums to keys to horns, Arkells have something to offer everyone. If you could only go to one show this year, I’d suggest finding a date close to you.
Night three of Iceberg Alley is in the books, I look forward to seeing what my next few nights bring.