In Music We Trust - SHOW REVIEW: Holly McNarland/Weeping Tile/Sol

SHOW REVIEW: Holly McNarland/Weeping Tile/Sol
January 23, 1998--University of New Brunswick
By: MELISSA AGNEW

Friday, January 23, I had the opportunity to see 3 of Canada's best up and coming musical talents in the Student Union Cafeteria on the University of New Brunswick campus. Headlining was Winnipeg native Holly McNarland with Sol and Weeping Tile opening up the show. The doors opened at 8 and some time later the first band walked onto the stage. I was expecting Weeping Tile but the band on stage was definitely not them. I found out later the bands name is Sol and they are from Moncton, New Brunswick. Their lead singer and bassist, Stacy Ricker, reminded me of Alanis Morissette in the way she performed her songs but her singing abilities were much better than Alanis. The two other members of Sol that round out the trio are Robin Anne Ettles on electric and acoustic guitar and Chris Mersereau on drums. A lot of Sols songs were slow and mellow but the crowd still got down and obviously enjoyed the music. My favorite part of Sols set was when they did a cover of "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails. I'm not a big NIN fan but it was good to hear something I could sing along to. Sol did a good job at covering this popular NIN song too. Although Sol was new to me, they were well known by others as requests from the crowd were yelled out. Sol put on a most memorable performance that I nor the people at the SUB will soon forget. If you were at the show and would like to hear more from Sol, try checking out "Tribute to Hardcore Logo" or their indie EP "Small Vacation". They also have recently released their first full length indie album called "Lucdina".

Next up was Weeping Tile, from Kingston, Ontario. Weeping Tiles lineup consists of Sarah Harmer on guitar and lead vocals, Sticky on bass and vocals, Camille Giroux on drums and vocals, and Luther Wright on guitar and vocals. Weeping Tile played a powerful set of rock tunes that contrasted well with Sols set. The crowd really got into Weeping Tiles set filled with songs off their latest album "Valentino". They also played a slow country western song (that's what Sarah Harmer called it) which gave the crowd a chance to cool down after thrashing it up in the mosh pit. Those who didn't feel like senselessly being pushed around in the pit danced their little hearts out to Weeping Tiles face paced rock. Overall Weeping Tile played a very energetic set that was well appreciated by the audience. My only complaint is that they didn't play "Cold Snap" the title track off their debut album. Oh well, there is always next time.

Then shortly after 11 o'clock the lovely and talented Holly McNarland finally took the stage. Thunderous cheers exploded from the crowd as Holly and her band (Mark Pullyblank on bass, Adam Drake on drums and Joey Santiago on lead and rhythm guitars) walked onto the stage. She opened with "I Won't Stay". . Although I have Holly's album, "Stuff" it was still hard to believe that so much power and energy could come from such a tiny body. Nonetheless, Holly managed to hammer out the lyrics to 10 of the 11 songs off "Stuff", including the hit singles "Numb" and "Elmo". Not only did Holly entertain the crowd with her edgy lyrics and energetic voice, she also managed to gross us out by picking her nose and showing us the um . . . booger. She also told us how she didn't have any clean underwear so she turned them inside out and wore them anyway. Thanks Holly, we really needed to know that! Other highlights included when Holly said the Spice Girls' success is because of a lot of cock sucking and when she sang "Mr. Five Minutes" off her independently released Ep. titled "Sour Pie." Apparently, "Mr. Five Minutes" is about an unsatisfactory lover. At the end of her set, Holly left us screaming for more. After a couple of minutes she came back out for an encore and did a wonderful cover of Phil Collins song "In the Air of Night". She urged the crowd to sing along and we happily obliged. Too bad the moment was ruined by some drunk guy crowd surfing. The roaring cheers that came from the crowd when Holly and her band finally left the stage were deafening. All I have to say is that if you weren't there you missed one unbelievable show. Thank you Sol, Weeping Tile and Holly McNarland for an incredible night I will never forget!