Day Two: Heathers, etc at the Mill

Thursday we trekked down for the first of two nights during which we would be primarily camped out at the Mill. We arrived in time for dinner and drinks and a crowded bill that started with Chicago duo Kinzie House bringing us low-key but very enjoyable electronic pop music, a la some sort of fusion of the Blow and Beach House. The beats were the highlight of an otherwise subdued performance.



Kinzie House left us looking for our beers and eagerly awaiting Liam Carey, a songwriter from Oakland who runs e14 records as well as playing in the band Mandrake. Before Liam, Twelve Canons took the stage, and i took this opportunity to run over to the Picador to see what was going on there. Unfortunately, this would become a theme of the night. i was really interested in seeing Gowns, and experimental band featuring former members of the band the Mae Shi, but every time i got to the Pic they would be in between bands. My fears were confirmed, and Gowns were to play at exactly the same time as Heathers at the Mill, and i wasn't about to miss Tanner playing. So i bounced back to the Mill for Liam, whose voice took us all be surprise. Armed with nothing but an acoustic guitar, he serenaded us with some surprisingly haunting songs that left me thinking, "How did that voice come out of that man?" A truly cathartic and giant voice treated us to one of the finest sets of the entire festival. It must be lamented that he hasn't produced any solo recordings. Judging from my conversation with him prior to the concert, his focus is planted more firmly on Mandrake as a full-time band. It's too bad, because these songs really ought to be heard by many and committed to record.

Following Liam we had Winter Blanket, a band from Minneapolis who sound remarkably similar to fellow Minnesotans Low, and who have curiously worked with Low in the past. The quandry happened again, as i was stoked to see Gowns. i was able to catch a few songs of Winter Blanket before running over to the Picador, where i did finally see Gowns. For about half a song. They took the stage and i knew that Heathers would be playing in about 10 minutes, so i decided i would see what i could and then head back to the Mill. When the started, i knew the performance was going to be intimate, ear-pounding, and extremely different sounding show. As a three-piece, the singer was shredding on her guitar and using a megaphone, while the keyboardist/violinist was also singing into two microphones simultaneously and the drummer had his drums draped in towels. They bathed the limited audience in beautiful noise before i felt the pull back to the Mill.



Finally, a local and personal favourite for us, Heathers, a trio comprised of all three executive producers of the festival. Tanner plays guitar and Andre handles most of the synths while they split singing duties and Emi rips up the cello. They hit us with their normal set of acoustic folk along the lines of the Good Life, but with more synths. Lots more synths. The set majestically concludes with the dance-party portion of the set, which doesn't make any sense, but somehow makes all the sense in the world. This was made more fun by Craig, Scott, and i vocally sampling Girl Talk as we drunkenly danced like fools. Heathers might be my favourite band in the world right now.