Review–Bahamas band at the West End Cultural Centre, Winnipeg, April 3 2010

– by eugene osudar

my first time
(experiencing)
Bahamas
in performance,

the Winnipeg
Folk Festival

as a “tweener”
just before Elvis Costello’s
set on main/stage.

a beautiful
Wednesday night/
July
2009.

power
ferocity
grace
simplicity

Bahamas
was the perfect
“opener”
for Elvis.

calypso punk
edge and warm
liquid lullabies.

alone, he
conquered
thousands.

alone,
he held, he
(hugged)
my Music
Loving heart/

i wanted to see him again.

again came.
last night/
Novembrrrrs
end,
2010.

minus 20
wind/chill
outside

Bahamas
on stage

plus 35
humidex
in his “long johns”
under the hot
stage lights
and a tightly
packed

Park Theatre
(sold out).

Bahamas
told the adoring
audience,
so many shows
are selling out
on this tour
and
people recognize
his songs.

he’s flattered.
and humble(d).

with rumors
of a blizzard,
the last day
of hurricane
season
in the Atlantic.
the storm
on stage
began in
calm,

an acoustic
song, in the
“deep dark
carnage
of some dirty
bar”

(let the good times roll)

before a noisy
(buzzing) electric
guitar
song

(lonely loves)

the kind Billy Bragg
still unleashes,
punk folk
singer.

the snow
the storm
blew in, amid
lovely
lullabies
and calypso punk
pickings,
Bahamas dancing
across the stage,
shuffling and grooving.

(his) soul deep
grooves

(moving)
to the beats,
Jason Tait
of The Weakerthans
behind the drum
kit.
home sweet home.

John Lennon.
Alex Chilton.

is there,
higher
ground?

deserved
(unreserved)
praise,

to feel Lennon
and Chilton

the way he sings
to his electric
soul tectonic
riffs/

(soul deep grooves)

the big sound
blues
and the messy
guitar punk,
sensual
soft
lullabies
and tropical
island
melodies/
hip rhumba
trip samba.

75 minutes
2 encores
18 songs
a couple missing
others rearranged

let the good times roll
lonely loves
till the morning
already yours
for good reason
caught me thinking
okay alright alive
someone forever
sunshine blues
southern drawl
hockey teeth
to love someone forever (?)
be my witness
what’s worse

(off stage, getting out
of those long johns)

1st encore,

solo (“i was walking around stoned/
before your sobering love”)
solo (the “i’m late” story song)
your touch
wreckless eric’s whole wide world
(the sing along)

2nd encore,

snow plow

a beautiful way
to end November
in Winnipeg/

and (if)
you
(dear music lover)
want to move and be moved
groove and be grooved

find your
(self)
a cheap ticket
to Bahamas.

less than
20$

no fuel surcharges
extra baggage charges
no pat/downs
no xrays

just a little John Lennon
and some Alex Chilton.

to take you to

the higher
ground.

(i’m in love.)

Vancouver/
he’s coming,
December 9.

Bahamas.
November 30.
Park Theatre.
Winnipeg.