Visions

Wednesday had rainy weather but I decided to head to Saw Gallery on Nicholas St. for a concert at night. Though I grew up in Ottawa, I don't know it as well as Toronto because I didn't explore as a teen. So I was surprised to find out that the street was tucked in next to the downtown Rideau mall. Walking through it and looking at the few old buildings that remain, I caught a glimpse of how an Ottawa that had chosen to preserve its heritage might have looked like instead.

It was a much younger crowd than at the NAC but (perhaps an Ottawa trait?) they were also right on time. The downside was that, unlike in Toronto, showing up early here still meant waiting in a long line. I don't know how grungy this space was before its 2019 renovation, but it looked good with the bar and seating area facing the courtyard and the stage at the back hidden by a half-wall. This was a bonus as it forced the audience to cram together into a smaller area (than the official 280-people capacity of the entire venue) and generating more crowd energy.

Not that tonight had a lot. The audience were enthusiastic but both bands played more chill-vibe music. I saw Ada Lea a few years as a solo act. With a full band, her music had more texture and layer. But her specialty was introspective lyrics. In fact, I think her new songs were even more melancholic with lines like "can't stop me from dying" and "somebody hurt me badly, now I’m stuck in a rut". Head-liner Dizzy is also more sway than dance but they have upped their groove and melodic guitar riffs on the new album The Sun and Her Scorch. Singer Katie Munshaw still specialized in airy vocals and soft words. There was enough catchy beats to get the crowd moving.

Though the concert was sold-out tonight, I was surprised that Dizzy's 2019 Juno win of Alternative Album of the Year for their debut record didn't result in a larger venue. Their mini-tour will end in Toronto at The Opera House which can hold close to 1000 people.