KULAS : MISSISSAUGA HERSHEY ARENA 22.2.03 

Set list: Pavement, Star Land, Instamatic Camera (? new song with unknown title), Glasgow Rain, A Clever Mess (solo acoustic), Anyone Else, Beautiful Day, Bringing Down Hollywood, All The Rage, Beginning of the End (no encore).

review by Brd

Here we were in deepest darkest Mississauga, a bedroom community on the west border of Toronto, slopping through the fresh snow in the packed parking lot trying to locate the front door of the Hershey Centre, home of the minor league hockey Ice Dogs. Tonight's Kulas event was a bit odd - a twenty four hour charity spinning get together with various bits of entertainment. When we stepped into the arena, cold and wet, we saw about three hundred stationary bicycles which were being continuously occupied for the next day to raise funds for cancer research as well as provide non-stop white noise through the evening's show (and a truly captive audience).

Kulas was the first of three name Canadian bands to appear tonight, right after a Niagara Falls casino magician and his herd of tigers (I kid you not). Showcasing a new four piece backing band (and a number of occupied stationary bikes on either side of the stage), save for returning keyboardist/backing vocalist Olivia Pallenstein, Kulas' set had what seemed to be an even harder edge than before despite having three way backing vocalists from time to time.  This was particularly noticeable in the new arrangements of standard set songs All the Rage and Beginning of the End.  In fact, tonight's rock shuffle feel of All the Rage reminded me of Michael's one time rendition of James classic Sit Down last year at his live recording session at Toronto's Clintons.  Noticeably absent tonight was the use of the acoustic guitar to add texture, except for the solo acoustic A Clever Mess, which featured Michael's usual long Hispanic/classical flavoured intro.  Perhaps the lack of acoustic colour was in recognition of the noisier circumstances tonight, or maybe the more pop metal sound of the new Instamatic Camera (just guessing at the title as no intro was provided) is indicative of where Kulas is headed in the studio with his eagerly awaited third cd. 

Beautiful Day, off Kulas most recent cd Another Small Machine, continues to move closer to the reggae/ska touched workout that I think its meant to be (its the only Kulas song that I think should be served up for a remix - says I who hate most remixes). And it was nice to hear more of Olivia's background and duet vocals in the mix in songs like the "vibey" Glasgow Rain - but it's still not enough.

While I'm complaining, it's a surprise that Michael still doesn't include in his live set one or two James songs that he recorded with the band during his five year tenure with them - say Wisdom of the Throat, Getting Away With It, Runaground, or even She's A Star (which marked Michael's first appearance with James on Letterman in 1997).  When playing an opening set to a large number of people who may not have heard you before, it wouldn't hurt to touch on the recognition factor by playing one of the songs that they may be familiar with from your former life.  The edgy Sit Down he played at Clintons last year demonstrated the portability of the James catalogue.  And their selective addition might provide the wedge Kulas needs to get the airtime he deserves.

OK enough of the advice column - it was a decent set tonight in a challenging venue. And hey, I forgot to collect my pay cheque on the way out tonight  - maybe next time ;-)

{you had to be at tonight's concert to get this one}