By Glen Ess (Contributor) – Email
Abbotsford doesn’t have much in the way of venues, which is disappointing; there are a lot of talented musicians in the Valley, but a lack of venues makes it harder for performers to be heard and build an audience. The Church Basement in downtown Abby is one of a small handful of places that bands can perform in, and when those bands include Abby’s own Kin — as well as other groups from the Lower Mainland like pop-rockers the Sylvia Platters and Vancouver’s Frankie, as well as Alea Rae — you’d really hope to see a good turnout. Sadly that wasn’t the case, with maybe 30 people present, 40 at most — and that’s including the other performers!
It’s true that the Basement is a very small venue, but its size just makes it all the more intimate, and with a lineup of such quality and performances to match, the show sounded great. The only source of light came from the stage behind the musicians; it was a gorgeous visual accompaniment to the music, silhouetting performers and adding an almost eerie quality to the night.
Alea Rae, veterans of the past Jam in Jubilee, kicked the evening off. Patrick Farrugia was the most noticeable with his aggressive style of playing; Alea Clark’s vocals were once again delivered in that floaty, ethereal manner that at first listen sounds mumbled, but upon further inspection, hits you hard. And my awe at how smooth and strong Jeremiah Ackerman’s drumming was only continues to grow every time I see him play.
Up next came the Sylvia Platters, who carry with them a sense of old fashioned, back-to-the-beginning rock n’ roll. From guitarist and lead singer Nick Ubels’ Buddy Holly-esque style, to drummer Tim Ubels’ unrestrained hammering away, and Simon Tressel tying it all together smoothly on bass, the band was cohesive and tight-knit. Of special note was guitarist Luke Agawin, who was playing with the band for the first time and absolutely nailed it! The Sylvia Platters’ debut album, Make Glad The Day, promises to be stunning!
Up next was the four-piece, all-girl band Frankie, who never missed a beat as the girls switched and flitted from instrument to instrument; lead singer Francesca Carbonneau actually played a triangle at one point! A triangle! Of particular note was how easily Nashlyn Lloyd moved from keys to guitar to bass over the course of their set. The ladies were also part of the evening’s best moments; with their “haunted, key-changing” keyboard finally giving up on them, it appeared they may have had to cut a song out until, at the audience’s urging, Samantha Lankester jumped onto the Church’s piano on the opposite end of the room. With the audience turning in a circle so they could see both sides of the room, Frankie launched into a cover of “Cry Me A River” and they absolutely killed it.
To end the night, Abbotsford’s very own Kin stepped up and delivered a typically smooth performance, with their unique blend of progressive traits and folk-ish vibes combined into something transcendent. With floaty, otherworldly guitars, soft-yet-powerful drumming, and a mellow bass, they’re a thought-provoking group. And at this point I honestly can’t think of a better vocalist in the Valley than Trevor Blaak.
Shows like this are the lifeblood of a local music scene, and Abbotsford really needs to work on getting more venues, or even just filling up the small venues we already have. How else do we expect young talented musicians like the members of these four fantastic bands to survive, let alone thrive?
Glen Ess hosts Rhythm & Rhyme on CIVL 101.7 every Friday from 4 to 6 p.m.
Nick Ubels is a former editor-in-chief of The Cascade.
