Bedouin Soundclash's Dance Party

Sound Academy

Toronto, ON

on Sep 12 2008

Stephanie Joudrey (CHARTattack)

09/15/2008 12:18pm

No matter what time of year, listening to Bedouin Soundclash makes you feel like you're on a tropical island. So there were few better ways to end the summer than with them at a show on Toronto's waterfront.

Most of the crowd, myself included, arrived with the intent of seeing Bad Brains' H.R. open with a solo set. He apparently couldn't make it, so the lineup was rejigged. The Junction were added and played first, and the Arkells followed them. If anyone was disappointed by the missing H.R., you wouldn't have known it.

Bedouin Soundclash lightened everyone's spirits with a saxophone and trumpet introduction before bursting into "Until We Burn In The Sun (The Kids Just Want A Love Song)." By the time the first few songs were done, you could see the band were having a great time. During periods when the crowd would sing along louder than the band, you'd catch a little smile on singer Jay Malinowski's face. The brass section for tracks like "Nico On The Night Train" also gave the band a bit more time to move around, interact with each other and use more of the stage than usual.

That Bedouin Soundclash were having a good time translated to every part of their show, and the effect was clear. It might have been due to the fact that this was the last time they'll play Toronto for a while, as they're going to start writing and recording a new album.

Malinowski sounded amazing. He improvised and mixed up words in songs and constantly let the crowd take over on choruses. Bedouin's newest single, "12:59 Lullaby," was run by the crowd, as was a cover of "Stand By Me."

The audience was definitely a big part of this show, as the collective pushed it into a full-on dancehall party. You couldn't move three steps without running into a wall of girls and guys shaking it to the rhythm. The crowd's dance fever was truly contagious, and you looked out of place if you stood still. When the band covered The Supremes' "You Can't Hurry Love," the combination of dancing couples and purple stage lights almost made you feel like you'd been transported back to a different time.

The show lagged a few times when Bedouin weren't playing covers or their singles. The band have a tendency to meander a bit, and every few songs you could see people slowing down. The band seemed to know this, though, so hits were carefully dealt out to keep things moving. If you were feeling down from the extended version of "Money Worries," "Walls Fall Down" was right behind it. If you didn't know the words to their cover of Beres Hammond's "What One Dance Can Do," it was just a short wait 'til "When The Night Feels My Song."

Love them or hate them, Bedouin Soundclash are infectious. If they return next summer with a fresh batch of hits ready to be played live, the dance party will no doubt continue.

Here's Bedouin Soundclash's set list:

"Until We Burn In The Sun (The Kids Just Want A Love Song)"
"St. Andrews"
"Living In Jungles"
"Bells Of '59"
"Nico On The Night Train"
"You Can't Hurry Love"
"Gyasi Went Home"
"Money Worries"
"Walls Fall Down"
"A Message To You Rudy"
"Shadow Of A Man"
"12:59 Lullaby"
"What One Dance Can Do"
"Stand By Me"
"When The Night Feels My Song"
"Shelter"
"Nothing To Say"