Sounds and Spaces

There is so much talk around Kingston right now about "getting space" - transforming spaces, getting the right space. As if someone can just give us culture.

But...a big part of the going out experience for me is the combination of space, event and people. New Ideas/Old buildings (isn't that the Jane Jacobs line?) Mixing the familiar with the unknown.

I do prefer intimate spaces, in general. Which means you only get the small acts or semi-known acts the presenters can afford, or individual seat ticket prices have to be too high. Or subsidized...That's another story. This week I saw the great Swamp Ward Orchestra with Vagabond Opera(a sort of twisted cabaret troupe) at the Mansion Living Room, which now has tables not sofas, to fit in more people. Great room, in general, from my view, acoutics seem good. Not many people there on a Monday night. Oh well. Your loss, Kingston.

An "artignite event" was Basia Bulat and the Luyas from Montreal at Sydenham U. Church on Tuesday. Basia is sort of a combo between Tracy Chapman, Michelle Shocked and Dolly Parton - but Canadian, and has great power, plays a mean autoharp (I think it was) and guitar. But she should get more back ups. I felt like a really old woman listening to the Luyas...who seem to be more a dance group that's trying to dredge up the new music cacaphony sound from the 70's... But why sing with lyrics if we can't understand a word???Just because the singer enjoys them isn't good enough. Some folks say it's the S. U. church...not good for a group with drum kit, but there's a fad with young singers who mushmouth words. Articulation is a customer service thing. Ask around for help if you don't know how. Consonants.

Finally - not much time here to go with --but the long awaited Theatre Kingston/Salon Theatre King's Conscience (the "hip hop Hamlet) really turns the Baby Grand space into THE room to be in for Kingston. I'd love them to keep it that way and keep doing cabaret style theatre there.