The Best and Worst of Summer Concerts
By DENIS ARMSTRONG, Ottawa Sun
I have good news and bad news about Ottawa’s music calendar.
The good news is there’s a ton of concerts coming.
The bad news is most of them probably won’t be very good, although I’m prepared to be surprised.
Sting’s coming to Scotiabank Place this Sunday. Accompanied by the impressive-sounding Royal Philharmonic Symphony orchestra, the former Police frontman will perform classical stringed versions of Police hits such as Roxanne, Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic and Every Breath You Take, as well as songs from Sting’s enduring solo career including Englishman in New York, If I Ever Lose My Faith in You and Fields of Gold. I bet this one gets tired fast. Am I going? No sir, not at up to $150+ a ticket.
I have a confession to make. I can’t stand Black Eyed Peas. I think they’re shameless musical copyists who reduce musical genres into a stereotypes the way McDonalds makes hamburgers. Nonetheless, it should be a sold-out show when they play Scotiabank Place on Aug. 1.
Even though I don’t like country music, and look absolutely ridiculous in cowboy boots and hats, I’m looking forward to the 2010 Capital Hoedown at Rideau-Carlton Raceway Aug. 5-7. Three of country’s biggest stars — Dwight Yoakam, Alan Jackson and Vince Gill — headline, and you can’t beat country music fans when it comes to making their own fun.
Meanwhile, there’s something fundamentally wrong about Michael Buble playing Scotiabank Place on Aug. 7. No doubt about it, he’s a talented singer, a charismatic ladies man and gymnastic performer, but what’s a 30-something-year-old doing pretending to be a Rat Packer inside a cavernous hockey arena? With his big voice and rapport with the audience, Buble should be at the National Arts Centre. The venue’s wrong, and Buble’s act is starting to get a little tired. Pass.
It’s been a busy summer for Hollywood celebs doing rock and roll with Kevin Bacon and Kevin Costner at Bluesfest. Now, it’s Natural Born Killer actress Juliette Lewis’ turn. She has a nice voice and the same skanky rocker-chick quality that Courtney Love has, but I’m not sure if it carries through into her songwriting and live performance. This could be an excellent vanity project, or an intentional train wreck. Lewis plays Maverick’s on Aug. 12.
Just when you think you couldn’t stand another Blue Rodeo concert because you’ve seen them every year at Bluesfest, the veteran band surprise you with something different. This time, it’s their new album The Things We Left Behind, which is easily their best, most musically focused record in 10 years. Don’t be fooled by Jim Cuddy’s show at the Ottawa Folk Festival on Aug. 15. The show I’m looking forward to is Blue Rodeo’s gig at the Nepean National Equestrian Park on Aug. 21.
Finally, teen idol Justin Bieber is coming to Scotiabank Place on Aug. 24. I’m going to call in sick that day. Write yer own reviews.
http://www.ottawasun.com/entertainment/columnists/denis_armstrong/2010/07/22/14792611.html
