Concert Review: Bedouin Soundclash with Ben Stevenson and DJ Degree @ The Starlite Room’s 5th Anniversary Celebration
Ben Stevenson opened for Bedouin Soundclash at the Starlite Room's 5th Anniversary Party (Photo: Jason Bouwmeester)
(Photo: Jason Bouwmeester)
By Eri Gayler
The Starlite Room has been a staple of the Edmonton music scene for 5 years, and last night they had a chance to show their members a great time for their birthday bash. Arriving to two hours of reggae beats spun by local DJ Degree, the crowd was a perfect example of the mix that both the venue and the headlining band tend to attract: hipsters and rastas, frat boys and nerds, tattooed goth-punk types and couples that look like your parents. The club was packed, and most headed straight for the dance floor.
Former Edmontonian (now in Toronto) Ben Stevenson set a high visual bar for the night, dapper in his grey suit and tie as his band started out playing along with the last song in Degree’s set, jamming on it for a bit before getting into their own tunes. I’m not entirely sure what I expected from the former Our Mercury frontman, but this sure wasn’t it! Stevenson is completely chill and manically high-energy at exactly the same time, with a stage presence that encompasses his entire body, keeping all eyes on him. This cat is too cool for words, and bonus points for a solid, funky band that included Edmonton favourite Michael Rault. The thing that caught me again and again through the set was Stevenson’s voice, smooth and soulful with just the right rough edges, lyrics delivered with a power that seemed to suggest he was so full of music that it just had to come bursting out all night long. Trust me, you’ll be hearing more from Ben – and if you need it right now, check him out tonight at the ARTery with Rault as his opening act. The house will be rockin’, just like last night.
Bedouin Soundclash frontman Jay Malinowski (Photo: Jason Bouwmeester)
If Ben Stevenson’s band brought the house down, the Bedouin Soundclash boys-in-black blew the roof off. The volume was a little high for a small, brick-walled room, but they do say something about “too loud” and “too old,” and my 18-year-old self would probably just laugh at me. After that, though, I can’t possibly have a single complaint about this show, and might even call it one of the best performances I’ve seen.
Fresh from the previous night’s pick-up soccer game with both bands (Soundclash frontman Jay Malinowski told us proudly of his two goals, and praised the other guys for their skills), the band is excited be back in Edmonton to play for an audience that knows every lyric and every callback well enough that raucous cheers go up after the first chord of every song. From the second the music starts, there’s no way to not feel good, and I firmly believe that even the most steadfast non-dancer was tapping their toes so hard that they may as well just go all the way and shake it! (more…)
The Starlite Room is This Many.
Happy Birthday, Starlite Room! Or probably more accurately, Happy Anniversary.
That’s right, it’s been five years. FIVE YEARS. If it the Starlite were a kid, it would be starting kindergarten in September. If it were a marriage, it would be (at least statistically) right on the verge of separating. If it were a goldfish, it would have died like four and a half years ago. It’s a noteworthy anniversary for a building that is, arguably, a music institution in Edmonton.
And it’s not going unnoticed. To celebrate, the Starlite folks are having a big crazy Starlite Room party with DJ Degree, Ben Stevenson and Bedouin Soundclash.
30-year-old Julie Ogg handles booking, marketing and event planning for the Starlite Room, and has seen the whole thing unfold.
She was there when the doors opened back in 2004.
“I was even here when they were setting it all up,” she says. “It’s been crazy. I can’t believe it’s been five years now.”
Starlite Talent Buyer Julie Ogg
“I got my start because my roommate … when this was still the Rev, he used to production-assist shows. He used to … bring all the catering, and he was the runner; and he was like ‘Oh, I need help,’” she recalls.
“I basically started as a doorgirl. I worked behind the bar, I served. I worked the bar during the day, and ran doors during the night.”
Julie says that, for her, this was an unexpected career path. Her background is in psychology, and she spent time working with autistic children before starting at the Starlite. It’s led to plenty of other music-related projects too; Julie organizes an annual electronic music festival and is involved with Vibe Tribe, the Tribal belly dancing troupe. She credits her career at the Starlite with opening a world of opportunities. (more…)
Two Things I Learned from my E-mail This Morning
1) That I missed the first wave of Fork Fest.
2) That I almost missed the pre-sale for the Starlite Room’s 5th Anniversary Party with Bedouin Soundclash. Five years, eh? I remember when it was the Rev.
God, I’m old.
Oh, and 3) I really need to check my e-mail in a more timely fashion.
