by Scott Roos
photos by Tracy Creighton (Copperblue Photography and Design)
This past Saturday, Sept. 7th, punk rock icon Frank Turner alongside his band The Sleeping Souls, took the stage at Saskatoon's Coors Event Centre. The opening acts featured the one two punch of Bridge City Sinners and Bedouin Soundclash. Overall, it was a fun filled evening full of stunning performances from each of the three acts.
Taking the stage first was Portland, Oregon based Bridge City Sinners with their cabaret-style vagabond folk punk which evoked an atmosphere akin to a punk/goth, Appalachian old timey mashup. Characterizing their songs as either "good sads" or "bad sads," vocalist Libby Lux appreciated the shared emotional connection with her audience. Her performance, filled with energy while playing the banjolele, was enthralling, emitting sounds reminiscent of a banshee but accompanied by a wide, joyful smile. The whole setting sonically painted a cinematic picture.
Next up was Toronto based Bedouin Soundclash. From the moment the group stepped foot on the stage it was evident that Saskatoon is a city filled with their enthusiastic fans. Throughout their set, fans eagerly called out for songs and cheered when the band confirmed they would play them later. The band even acknowledged the fans who made the requests, dedicating the songs to them. It's also important to point out that this particular Bedouin Soundclash concert coincided with the 20th anniversary of "When the Night Feels My Song," letting the audience enthusiastically finish the song for them before leading straight into a rendition of "Country Roads Take Me Home." The band closed with another fan request, "Nothing to Say," concluding with a clap-along.
Amid the enthusiastic applause of the energized crowd, who had been cheering since the band's banner was unveiled by the stage crew, headliner Frank Turner stepped onto the stage and announced his preparedness to present a proper punk rock show. After a few songs, he took a moment to establish the ground rules for a respectful mosh pit before launching into the initial songs were that full of vigor. Turner and his band, The Sleeping Souls, were off and running, giving what would prove to be an exceptional performance.
Turner captivated the audience with his narrative style, particularly evident in songs such as "Letters" and "Be More Kind," where he shared intriguing anecdotes about the inspiration behind each track. At one juncture, he even delighted the audience with a solo acoustic interlude to offer a brief respite before the band returned to showcase the grandeur of full-fledged punk rock once more.
The concert wrapped up with an encore rendition of "Four Simple Words," during which Turner encouraged the crowd to perform ballet pirouettes, and they eagerly joined in. The audience's familiarity with every song fostered a strong sense of community, underscoring the unifying influence of music. Overall, each band, Bridge City Sinners, Bedouin Soundclash and Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls gave 110% and the audience no doubt left satisfied, confident that they had seen and heard something truly memorable.
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