Wintersong

Saturday night, I headed over to City Hall for the official start of the holidays with the Calvacades of Lights. The skating rink was already packed with skaters. The night of musical entertainment started with community choir "Choir! Choir! Choir!" singing a medley of carols. Before the lighting of the Christmas tree, Rob Ford the crack-smoking mayor came on to a growing chorus of boos. It was unfortunate that he dragged his wife and young kids on stage with him. I laughed when he asked if people were here to see the tree get "lit up". Ah, too easy.

There were 4 singers, backed by a professional band and the choir, each performing 3 songs. MuchMusic teen idol Tyler Shaw came on first, to some shrieking from the teens in the crowd. He sang run-of-the-mill pop (Kiss Goodnight, It's Christmas Time). Cold Specks was the stand-out of the night. She did 3 winter-themed numbers, but no heartwarming classics for her. Her songs were bleak and cold (Winter Solstice) especially the chill-inducing cover of Fleet Foxes' White Winter Hymnal backed by 4 background vocals and that 60-strong choir. Divine Brown had a huge 5-octave voice, but her Christmas tunes were forgettable. The exception was her cover of Stevie Wonder's beautiful Someday At Christmas. Carvin Winans closed out the show with a couple of funky Christmas tunes and a duet with Ms. Brown (Lennon's Happy Xmas).

After the fireworks and laser light show, Diamond Rings and his band came on to entertain the crowd with 80s inspired dance/pop. There were some titters at his costume changes from the older people but glam was obviously part of his image. Younger people cheered at his antics and songs (I'm Just Me, Runaway Love, A to Z). Diamong Rings usually stayed in his lower register reminding me of Pete Burns (Dead Or Alive). Though his tunes varied between moody and upbeat, dance and rock, the encore number Day & Night was entertainingly pure boy band.