Fight For Your Right

My summer of free concerts continued Friday night as I headed down to World Pride to catch a show. I was curious to see Carly Rae Jepsen, but that stage had a line-up 5 blocks long. At another location, there was a good crowd but no queue. This showcase was entitled Decades and would profile some veteran bands important to the gay community.

Blurred Vision fitted in with that mold. Though a modern band, they mined the same 80s territory of guitar solos, rock ballad, and vaguely inspirational lyrics. This classic rock sound was pleasant to listen to but didn't leave much of an impression with me.

The next two bands were long-time queer pioneers on the Canadian scene. It was interesting to see their different approaches. Lorraine Segato (and the Parachute Club) was the activist. Her reminiscence was about the marches and fights. Her songs such as Rise Up and Boys' Club, addressed inequality and rights. The poly-rhythmic latin-flavoured arrangements were upbeat and held up well, sounding modern and not dated. Carole Pope was the challenging lesbian, bringing a voice to non-hetero sexuality. Not surprisingly, her call-outs were for all the bygone bars and clubs. Her music was a big hit-and-miss: some was of their time and has lost the edge. I oved the comedic wit of the elder stateswoman that she brought to new song Lesbians of the Forest, with a cameo by Peaches, in which she skewered the popular portrayal of lesbianism as just drum circles and tofu dogs.

The sound was loud but impeccably mixed. Along with the light show and a competent stage crew, it was one of the best technically managed concerts I've been to in a while.