Hurdy Wordy

I didn't make it to see any of the acts at the Bloor Ossington Folk Festival on Saturday due to both Riot Fest and an afternoon rain deluge. But with the sky clearing up later on in the evening, I did make it out to Christie Pits park to hear the lyrical gymnastics of The Burning Hell.

They quickly won over the crowd with their clever songs, infused with Eastern European flavour (Realists), retro 60s feel (Wallflowers), sweet (Fuck The Government, I Love You), and lots of They Might Be Giant/Cake drollness. It helped that a group of their local friends had crowded right up to the small stage, lending energy, intimacy, and humour to the set. Too bad these folks came at the last minute and blocked the views of people who had already sat down. If they had arrived earlier to stake their spot, there would have been a few less dirty looks. But I suppose the hipster credo of "live your best life" is sometimes more narcissistic than civic.