Monday, January 25, 2010

IDOW:: John K. Samson

With the annual IDOW festival kicking off this weekend, it's about time we got a more in depth look at the lineup. We already offered up our thoughts on the lineup in general - seeing names like Justin Rutledge, Bahamas, The Wooden Sky, CR Avery, Jim Bryson and local talent like Jon Mckiel present and accounted for means that IDOW will continue it's rapid maturation into one of Hali's best festivals. Even with all those terrific acts, the name that will draw most people's interest is that of John K. Samson.

As the end of the decade comes close - and for the purpose of lists, I guess it's already past - The Weakerthans' front man has his fingerprints all over the best Canadian music written in the last 10 years and with the release of his solo 7" - City Route 85 - it's fitting he's going to play by himself, benefiting from the blissful acoustic of St. Mathew's Church on Friday night. Coupled with the fact he's got Bahamas opening for him, this easily becomes the show of the festival and one anyone with a few extra bucks should be attending.

Here's a couple of tracks - the confident, simple strums and a classic car/freedom of youth narrative that makes up Cruise Night - and a classic from a CBC session that has been traded online like it was property of one of those annoying talking babies from the e-trade ads.