By Jen Doerksen
I know I can trust Real Love Winnipeg Winnipeg to host a great evening of music; and Thursday Dec. 3 was no different. The variety kept me intrigued from the moment each act set up. Ben Figler, vocalist of local, avant, doo-woop soul group, Somebody Language, playing as his other alter-ego, Sal Paradise, opened the show. He said Sal plays “roots” tunes in response to a song request. The dynamics brought life to each song, especially when Sal belted it and you could hear his soul.
Juvel, a group four women, played second. Watching a double bass hauled onstage caught my attention and these women held it fast. They played a helluva set, sticking true to the genre of gypsy jazz. As a fan of jazz, I enjoyed the typical approach to soloing in turn for each tune. With two guitars, a double bass and a violin, Juvel helped me appreciate an old-timey sound through a conventional swing style. Each member could sing too, creating a soothing four-part harmony for their last song.
BUNNY, a duo of women playing ukulele, played next. This was their first show with a full band. B-Rabbit and Hunny Bunny, the uke players, started the show by acting out a short and familiar scene — losing a friend to the depths of cyberspace. B-Rabbit had the audience help her yell at Hunny Bunny to get off of her phone, after explaining she’s addicted to Instagram. They then smoothly segued into an original tune about Instagram. The ladies both played ukulele and sang, but the sound of the uke couldn’t overcome the band’s volume, at times. Regardless, they performed energetically and theatrically, emphasizing the vocals to carry each melody.
Solo act, Smoky Tiger ended the night, filling the Handsome Daughter with a totally different sound. I’ve seen him play before, so I expected his weird and fun approach to dance music. He played some classics, like Ring of Fire and Heart-Shaped Box, in a new, weird and upbeat way. Smoky Tiger plays an organ and sings, modifying the sounds of both, electronically. The resulting sounds remind me of a cool, hyped-up abandoned circus where young twenty-somethings experiment.
Each act brought something different to the stage, like a delicious mix bag of instruments and inspiration. People in the crowd were either friends or familiar from summer festivals, and I realized I ought to be at Real Love Thursday more often. The sense of community in the room reminded me of festivals I think of daily.
Editor’s note : Our editor Gil is proudly involved in hosting Real Love events.