Wakestock 2008
By: Cheryl Stornelli
A successful festival is not always determined based on ticket sales or the size of the audience during a band's performance, and Wakestock proved that.
On Sunday, around noon, Wakestock's Telus Stage started out with only a few handfuls of spectators. Many festivalgoers saved their voices and dance moves for their preferred band, while others were gawking in awe at the intense motocross demonstrations by the stage.
Kicking off the day with the catchy, feel good songs of Port 26, the guys never blinked an eye at the somewhat small crowd. Each song was filled with energy and punch that made them easily danceable with sing-along choruses. As spectators took notice, the small crowd added a few dozen extra fans.
"Our set went great. The whole purpose was to get people up to the stage, have a good time and start off the day, and that's what we did. There weren't that many people at first, but we're a very catchy band," admitted singer Dave Ricci when I caught up with him later.
Up next was the passionate and smooth styling of Toronto's Shawn Hewitt. The audience couldn't stand still as he danced across the stage with a captivating and commanding presence. With lyrics full of spiritual and inspirational notes delivered with smooth, sexy vocals, Hewitt took the crowd on a ride with every high or low note he sung.
"It's always amazing when the songs come alive, these songs are meant to be lived and experienced," said Hewitt after his set.
Taking over the stage late in the afternoon was Dragonette, who gives any typical front women who uses only sex appeal and little talent to gain publicity a run for her money. Considered a breath of fresh air to the festival and music industry, the whole set was packed with in-your-face danceable tunes the crowd went crazy for. Hopefully at least some of the crowd noticed that Dragonette proved a woman doesn't have to be over-the-top scandalous to have sex appeal to gain a fan base. Their lead singer and somewhat feminist, Martina Sorbara, chooses to have unshaven armpits (which society doesn't view as attractive) and yet she remains sexier because of her confidence and empowerment, which today's music scene severely lacks.
Meeting her later, she explained, "It seems there's one kind of sexuality that's allowed and it's completely accepted. My kind of sexuality is not accepted or something."
"It's the idea that if a woman sucks boys off and shows it online she'll make money and get publicity. Pathetic acts like that are saying that's what you've got to do if you're a girl. It's bullshit," added guitarist, William Stapleton.
It was a late start for We Are Scientists after technical difficulties on the Island. Their set was the most crowd-interactive with witty banter between songs that got a few laughs, including telling the crowd two people on side stage suggested cutting two songs from their set because they suck. The band obliged and decided to just get to the meat of the set.
From the front of the stage, right to the back of the field, excitement and energy were widespread. The set was bursting with unique, catchy songs the crowd belted right back at the band, especially the chorus "my body is your body" of the popular song, "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt."
Closing out the festival was Metric, almost an hour later than scheduled due to earlier technical difficulties. As if on cue with the start of the set, the rain poured as Metric opened with "Dead Disco". And the rain only got heavier as they played.
It didn't stop the majority of the crowd as they went crazy for Emily Haines' robotic-like dance movements and continuous synthesizers. It appeared the crowd was most excited for Metric, even though their lyrics were somewhat depressing. A thoughtful gesture of throwing the crowd five red umbrellas was a little late as the rain stopped about five songs prior, and only their encore was left.
Where most bands choose a feel-good song for the encore, Metric did the opposite with a rather sad one. Most continued to brave the possibility of the rain returning and sang along with the sad song. Hopefully Metric felt the projected love from the fans. About halfway through the song the crowd began to filter out to the ferry docks, leaving the true fans watching right up until the last second.
Overall, Wakestock was packed with raw and talented bands that each brought something unique to the stage. No band was exactly the same except for their common interest to put on a kick-ass rock show for their spectators. And together, they did just that.
