THIS DAY, MICK DAVIS AND THIN LOVE, BIG SUGAR & BUSH
JUNE 23, 2024
ICEBERG ALLEY PERFORMANCE TENT, ST. JOHN’S, NL
All Photo Credit: Tara Thompson
Night 5 of the Iceberg Alley Performance Tent began with a quick set from local alt-pop band This Day. The band was added to the performance after being a finalist for a contest a local radio station was having to open for Mariana’s Trench. With so much great local talent, the group was given a chance to play with this pairing. Pretty awesome right?
This Day played some original songs, such as ‘Sad Movies’ and ‘On My Mind’, each with a catchy tune that are sure to make them memorable. The band also showcased their talents by branching into some cover songs, such as Fall Out Boy’s ‘Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down’, which ended their set on a high note.
Next up was another local favourite, Mick Davis and Thin Love. Consisting of Mick Davis (vocals, guitar), Jill Porter (guitars, vocals), Craig Follett (bass, vocals), and Allan Brake (drums, percussion), the group recently released their latest album, Garbage Street.
The set began with ‘Yes Is The Answer’, followed by ‘Doo Doo Wop’ from their album Education Week. These tracks kept the audience moving and set the scene for a memorable set, complete with a song Davis described as being a bluesy number which showcased their talents through its musical medley.
The group also played some tunes from their latest album, a treat for those fans who have not had the pleasure of hearing these tracks live thus far. These tracks included ‘Garbage Street’, ‘If You Really Wanna Know’, and the album’s first single, ‘Vibrations’.
Members of Mick Davis and Thin Love claim different parts of the province as their hometown. Davis, hailing from Wesleyville, threw homage to his hometown through the track ‘Same Old Boy’. This was not the only treat, as Porter took the lead vocals on ‘Tainted Love’ (a Gloria Jones cover), bringing us back to the music of that era. ‘Twist and Shout’, a cover of a well-known song by The Beatles ended the set and left the crowd hyped for what was to come.
Big Sugar entered the stage with a cheer, dressed to the nines in suits and ties playing homage to their Blues-inspired sound. Featuring new bassist and fellow Austinite Anders Drerup and 22-year-old drummer Root Valach for this tour, lead Gordie Johnson exclaims that “our music has always been about roots and culture and this is a perfect piece of that evolution.”
The trio started their show with ‘Ride Like Hell’ from the 1993 release of Five Hundred Pounds (an album that was recently re-released in a 25th anniversary edition, with praise with Jack White claiming it is “the best blues-based record to ever come out of Canada.”) Other tracks from this album included ‘I’m a Ram’.
Big Sugar has been gracing the airwaves with a unique combination of Jamaican rhythms, blues-inspired melodies, and heavy rock aggression. This includes one of my favourites, ‘Diggin’ a Hole’, along with ‘If I Had My Way’, and ‘Turn the Lights On’, which boasts a Roots Rock Reggae style.
With so many great ‘older’ tunes, Big Sugar also showcased some of their most recent hits from the album Eternity Now. According to the bands website, this “leaner, cleaner rock and roll sounds swings from Tejano border rock to prog and psychedelia”. Tracks from this included ‘Everything You Want It to Be’ and ‘Ultraviolet’, both of which did not disappoint.
One of the songs in this set was ‘All Hell for a Basement’. This is a track that definitely hits home for many Newfoundlanders as we are a province where many travel for work, ironically enough to Alberta. The lyrics “I have lost my way / But I hear tell / About a heave in Alberta / Where they’ve got all hell for a basement” could almost be an anthem for those who have had to either uproot their lives and family or do rotation work. If there was only one track that the people in the tent had heard before, this would be the one. The Iceberg Alley choir did not disappoint on this one.
The last band to hit the stage was Bush. This is one concert that was highly anticipated by many who grew up in the 90’s/00’s era. Formed in 1992 in London, the band found major success outside of the UK with the release of Sixteen Stone. This debut album was certified six times multi-platinum. They went on to be known as one of the most commercially successful rock bands of the 1990s.
Bush in its current form, consisting of Gavin Rossdale (vocals/guitar), Chris Traynor (guitar), Corey Britz (bass), and Nik Hughes (drums). opened with cheers and whistles from the audience, as the band started into the rhythm for ‘Everything Zen’. Other well-known tracks from their debut album also enlisted cheers from the audience, as many sang along to the lyrics for ‘Machinehead’ and ‘Little Things’.
Bush played many of their earlier hits, including ‘Swallowed’, ‘The Chemicals Between Us’, and ‘The Sound of Winter’. Cheers could be heard through all of these, as the audience was captivated by every movement and every word.
Although most probably came for live versions of their earlier hits, Bush also played some newer tunes from their 2020 album, The Kingdom including ‘Bullet Holes’, ‘Quicksand’ and ‘Flowers on a Grave’. They also played ‘Identity’, ‘Heavy is the Ocean’, and ‘More Than Machines’ from their 2022 album, The Art of Survival. Being a fan of 90’s Bush, these were new to me but it definitely won’t be the last time I hear these.
The audience was captivated by Rossdale and hung on to his every note. All he had to do was stand there and the audience erupted in the cheers. Giving back to these patrons, Rossdale left the stage and made his way to the crowd. This happens at a lot of concerts, as the singers interact with those near the stage and/or on the floor. However, Rossdale took it to the next level and made his way to where fans were seated, holding the audience in the palm of his hand once more.
Like most, I was highly anticipating hearing ‘Glycerine’ and ‘Comedown’ live and I was not disappointed. It is also interesting to note that ‘Comedown’ is said to be the first song that was written and featured on the first album. With a song like this, no wonder Bush has compiled a list of 23 consecutive Top 40 hit singles on the Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts, with 6 of these being number 1 hits! Everyone sang along to every word to each of these tracks. It was such an amazing experience, one that will be living rent free in my memories for some time.
It has been about a week since this show and I am still singing songs from that night. This may have been my favourite night as 90’s Rock will always hold a special place in my heart.
