KULAS : TORONTO RIVOLI 20.2.04

Setlist: Sweet Lips, Star Land, Pavement, All The Rage, Glasgow Rain, They Only Come Out At Night, Beginning of the End, The Only One (solo acoustic), Anyone Else, Instamatic Camera

NO ENCORE!

review by brd

Its been just over two years since the alt rock ship James smacked into a reef with Tim Booth’s announcement that it was time for him to swim with dolphins and try out some different things in life. Driving through the unseasonable pouring rain (its always snow this time of year) to tonight’s Kulas gig, his first in over six months, I couldn’t help but muse over the largely separate, but in some instances similar, voyages the seven former James shipmates had taken in the passing time.

Mark and Saul have been working with popstar wannabe Ainsley (“I don’t know the lyrics to Laid but I’ll try to sing it anyways”) Henderson on his debut single and cd.  Saul started working on his self-described Beta Band soundalike debut cd the previous year, with contributions from Mark and Dave.  Dave is currently touring with Welsh rockers “The Alarm”.  Jim is, well other than going to British Sea Power gigs a few times and partying, not doing much. Adrian has done a handful of blues based roots rock solo sets in adopted hometown Brighton and apparently has a decent singing voice (too bad that James wasted a stage microphone on Saul rather than put it to good use with Adrian).  And Tim has been all over the map (literally and figuratively): between swimming with dolphins and leading the odd dance therapy session in Manchester, he has written/rewritten a film script, contributed to a dvd & tv appearance by 1 Giant Leap, written a forward to a book, written a catalogue of songs with KK, and most recently has been “bone”ing up for his solo cd debut release in May doing unannounced gigs with his singer/songwriter bandmates Muddy Baker and Lisa.

So what’s Kulas been up to? Well most of the above. Having moved back to Toronto in 2001, Kulas has put together a five piece band and done a number of solo acoustic as well as band sets each year in Toronto and Ontario. In between gigs, Michael has started recording a third cd; written/recorded at least two film soundtracks (a song from each would be premiered live tonight); played a number of gigs backing his friend singer/songwriter Robbie Roth on guitar, bass and of course backing vocals; and he has produced, played all the instruments on as well as written/co-written  a few songs for singer/songwriter/actress (and now Kulas fiancée) Katie Griffin’s debut cd.  Kulas and band have also backed Griffin on a number of live and network tv appearances over the past year (including an opening set tonight).  Hmm, Kulas has been busy the last couple of years.

So where are we tonight? The band is pretty tight, with no change in the personnel since the addition of guitarist Kevin almost exactly a year ago, and the camaraderie and mutual support is quite evident on stage.  And the band is attracting a mix of people to gigs.  For instance tonight I had a segment of backing vocalist/keyboardist/actress Olivia Pallenstein’s raucous fan club sitting behind me, along with one of the writer/actors from a new network tv show. 

As the night would unfold, it would become obvious that the (far too short) set list (only 50 minutes long and no flipping encore) and sound was another Darwinian step in the evolution of the Kulas live presentation: gone were songs prior to the now three year old Another Small Machine (including last year’s inclusion of a James cover – still want to hear the rumoured Kulas co-authored Pocketful of Lemons – and long time crowd favourite set closer Hallellujah), the overall sound had a harder edge, and there were subtle changes in some of the arrangements.  Some of the songs tonight were delivered with a slightly quicker tempo, which in a few cases resulted in them feeling a bit rushed.  Glasgow Rain in particular did not feel as majestic as it usually does.  Maybe its that I am used to the previous delivery of these songs.  This harder edge was particularily evident in the two new soundtrack songs which were debuted tonight: Sweet Lips and They Only Come Out At Night (featuring Katie Griffin in shades on a brief trumpet segment). Further to the Red Spiders from Mars feel, still could use a bit more piano though.  Makes one wonder if the overall sound of the long over due new Kulas cd will be along the same lines. 

The night would not be complete without some touches of comic relief between songs (something which was quite obvious in its absence in a couple of last year’s Kulas sets).  Tonight Kulas crowned himself the King of guitar tuning – taking the opportunity to “break the silence” and special tune, quite a lot, in-between songs.  Good thing he is using an electronic tuner now – otherwise the set would have been twice as long!  And near the beginning of the set, in between songs, Olivia’s cell phone apparently went off – Kulas encouraged her to pick it up just in case it was a call from her agent.

Anyway, another good set, good songs, a good night. If we get a new cd from the industrious Kulas this year it could be the commercial ice-breaker for him, which would put him at the front of his former ship-er-band mates.