Stepping Out

By David Brewster and Bill Wood

Okay, so weve all attended concerts where the artists received a standing ovation at the conclusion of a fantastic performance. It happens most weekend evenings at Edmonds Center for the Arts. But until last Friday ECA concert hall had never experienced a standing ovation at the beginning of the show, nor one that extended pretty much over the entire duration of Great Big Seas amazing concert.

Great Big Sea has inspired a legion of fans from Canada and the U.S., and these followers, some from as far away as Fairbanks, were in full force throughout the show, singing along with nearly every song, pumping their fists high and dancing in place from introduction to the encores end. The joy felt back and forth between the audience and the band made for a magical evening.

The band, formed in Newfoundland in 1993 and lead by co-founders Alan Doyle, Sean McCann and Bob Hallett, performed songs from the full range of their recording career.

On selections such as When Im Up, Lukey, "Can't Stop Falling" and Here and Now the band and audience joined in full-throated song.

Much of their original material shows the influence of their Eastern Maritime roots sea shanties and story songs and the traditional acoustic instrumentation helped put the voices right up front.

Lead vocal duties were mostly shared by McCanns sweet tenor, which often rang out above everything, and Doyles baritone, which was appealingly gruff around the edges. McCann was particularly powerful in leading an a capella performance of General Taylor, a traditional from their 1997 album Play.

Hallett is a multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire, his skills on equal display on bouzouki, mandolin, fiddle, squeeze box accordion, harmonica and tin whistle. Doyle and McCann took turns engaging the audience with banter, improvised ditties and impromptu sing-alongs. The band is ably rounded out by Murray Foster on bass and Kris MacFarlane on drums and percussion.

On several occasions the band praised the charms of Edmonds and the Pacific Northwest, and it will be hard to forget the power and passion of Great Big Seas performance last week. We hope, along with the band, for their return in the future.