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The W - Music - SLCR #323: Crash Test Dummies (October 11, 2018)
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KJames199
Scrapple
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Since: 10.12.01
From: #yqr

Since last post: 226 days
Last activity: 7 days
#1 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.76
You may recall that last summer, I saw the Crash Test Dummies at the Canada Games in Winnipeg.

You may also recall that I became a fan long ago, somehow wound up running their website, and still keep in touch with them a little bit, by which I mean mostly Ellen, and mostly through cat pictures and Letterkenny quotes. I've told that story enough.

Anyway, as a long-time fan, I've seen them go from being big stars to... let's just say the opposite of that. The band never officially split up, but album sales dropped off and everyone eventually moved on to do their own thing. That show last year would have made a perfect final chapter to their story. After years apart, the band (mostly) reunites to headline a festival in front of a huge adoring hometown crowd who's singing along with every word. The concert even ended with fireworks. Freeze frame, roll credits, bonus scene where they're all enjoying shawarmas.

However, things took a different turn. The band enjoyed their Winnipeg show so much that there was talk of a reunion tour - just a few gigs. That turned into a half-dozen dates in western Canada, eleven in the US, and others to be announced soon. And what's more, they're doing well. The press release announcing the US shows got picked up by some large outlets, and Calgary, Saskatoon, and Regina sold out. When they were here last time in 2010, they only half-sold the Exchange. This is a little unexpected (at least by me), but I'm happy and excited for them.

And then we almost didn't get into the show.

Mika and I got to the casino a little after 7:30 and went to pick up our tickets from the will call. And... nothing. No tickets printed out and waiting in their little ticket box. No record of the purchase on my file. They checked my ID, ran my info repeatedly, found other tickets I've bought for upcoming shows. But for the Dummies? Nothing. Jeff showed up and joined Mika off to the side while the boring drama unfolded. The guy at the ticket booth next to me appeared to be having the same issue. The people behind us in line were loving us. I had my phone with the email receipt, which probably saved the day. Eventually, the clerk took some blank tickets, handwrote our seat info, and sent us inside. I was quite certain that this would fail, but it didn't. And I was even more certain that someone would be waiting at our table, but again, no. Unlikely success!

In retrospect, I do remember the pre-order being particularly glitchy and having to fight to get my order through. And this might also mean the show wasn't technically sold out, since there was an empty seat at our table. I bought three tickets at a table that seats four; later, I looked into buying the fourth ticket to prevent some random weirdo from sitting with us (I only want weirdos of my choosing), but it said it had been sold. Thanks, God or random ticketing system glitch! You saved me some money. And since the seat wasn't available to be sold, I declare that the sellout stands.

With no opener, the show was underway at 8:00 on the nose. Business was meant and bedtimes were to be adhered to. As mentioned, the band was (mostly) reunited, with Brad Roberts, Ellen Reid, Dan Roberts, and Mitch Dorge joined by touring guitarists Murray Pulver and Stuart Cameron, and a keyboardist I don't think I've seen before who I'm about 60% sure was named Marc. No sign of original member Benjamin Darvill, who's still finding success as blues harmonica beatbox oddball Son of Dave. I'm mostly out of the loop these days, but the one piece of insider gossip I'd love to know is whether or not anyone asked Ben if he wanted to do the tour. I suppose it doesn't matter since I can't imagine he had any interest.

The setlist for the show wound up pretty similar to last summer's, which was mostly a greatest hits collection with a few new songs thrown in. They opened with God Shuffled His Feet (during which Ellen spotted me and gave me a subtle wave) and Replacements cover Androgynous. I've seen the Dummies six times now and these are two of the five songs that they've played at each show; the others being the only two songs most of you would know, Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm and Superman's Song, and Ellen's big showcase (and XTC cover) The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead.

After all these shows, I still heard a few songs that I hadn't seen them play live before. In preparation for their US dates, where they're playing the God Shuffled His Feet album all the way through, they did When I Go Out With Artists. During a block of songs from their most recent album Ooh-La-La (now eight years old), they played Not Today Baby. And then Ellen stepped up to sing one of Brad's songs, her favourite Dummies song. I was pretty excited for this - I'd never heard her do one of his songs before.

"And not only is it my favourite Crash Test Dummies song, but my favourite Crash Test Dummies fan is here tonight."

I may have quietly said one tiny swear word.

Ellen called me out by name, pointed at our table, and dedicated the song My Own Sunrise to me.

"Well, it's an overtly sexual song, so it's not FOR YOU. But it's for you."

That she'd say or do anything at all was really sweet, especially coming at least a full decade since I've had any sort of official involvement with the band. But moreover, it was a song I hadn't heard live before in a way I'd never heard. Over the years, I've tracked down all the rarities that are out there - I'm pretty sure that McSweeny's article was about me - but this was brand new and super exciting and honestly really special.

Mika, as soon as the song was over: "Did Ellen just sing you a song about boners?"

I mean, technically, yes. A radio-friendly song about boners. My own sunrise! Metaphors!

So. Ellen's take on the song was great, but I might be biased now and you'll have to go see them live to hear it anyway. She followed it up with Make You Mine, introducing it with "This song is about being angry, which I'm not, because I'm 52 and I'm over it." This is my favourite song off her 2001 solo album, something else I'd never heard done live before and something I definitely wasn't expecting. At this point, I was all in - hearing these two songs back-to-back made me feel like I was back at that first concert at the peak of my fandom. I had been looking forward to the show but really wasn't expecting to get this invested in it.

The main set was done in about an hour, though they did four more songs when they came back out. I may have gotten chastised for not standing to applaud. And then told to remain standing once I did get up. A highlight of the encore was my favourite Dummies' song, Afternoons and Coffeespoons, with just Brad and Ellen singing and Stuart on guitar - a real showcase for him. Of the Dummies shows I've seen, this was probably the best one musically, but hiring Stuart and Murray to play in your band is like hiring Daryl Strawberry and Ken Griffey Jr. to play on your company softball team. Just keep those boys away from the brain and nerve tonic.

The band killed it, Ellen stole the show, and Brad sounded like he ever did, except more relaxed. Really, what stood out to me was that everyone seemed to be having so much fun. Especially Brad - there were moments where he was genuinely smiling and laughing and I know that sounds super weird, but he always comes across as very performative when he's on stage, so it was good to see him let his guard down.

Here's the whole setlist:

God Shuffled His Feet
Androgynous
The Ghosts That Haunt Me
Swimming in Your Ocean
The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead
Heart of Stone
Not Today Baby
Songbird
In the Days of the Caveman
When I Go Out With Artists
My Own Sunrise
Make You Mine
Two Knights and Maidens
Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
-encore-
Afternoons & Coffeespoons
He Liked to Feel It
Put A Face
Superman's Song

Jeff headed out when it was over (after facilitating a vital Pokémon trade between me and his wife which I did my best to thwart), and Mika and I stuck around to quickly say hi to the band and get handshakes and hugs and a brief serenade. Possibly this all didn't happen quickly enough, according to the people in line behind us, but that's why we waited until almost everyone else had gone through the line. Apparently it was a day of being bad at casino lines.
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hansen9j
Andouille








Since: 7.11.02
From: Riderville, SK

Since last post: 115 days
Last activity: 115 days
#2 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.58
-This show ruled.
-I'm honored to be a chosen weirdo.
-"Hi James Kalyn!" damn near killed me.



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KJames199
Scrapple
Moderator








Since: 10.12.01
From: #yqr

Since last post: 226 days
Last activity: 7 days
#3 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.76
    Originally posted by hansen9j
    -This show ruled.
    -I'm honored to be a chosen weirdo.
    -"Hi James Kalyn!" damn near killed me.
Oh shit, I was going to mention you saying "the important thing is you have material for your review" after the ticket snafu. Because that is 100% how I think during concerts anymore.
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