 - - - - - - - - - - - - - SATURDAY, JULY 3RD, 1999, EDGEFEST, RIDEAU CARLTON RACEWAY, OTTAWA, CANADA By Alex Vance When I got word in April of 1999 that Hole were to play a show at the nearby Rideau Carlton Raceway in Ottawa, Canada, as part of the Canadian Edgefest tour, I snapped up my ticket almost instantly, I couldn't wait for this show! When the time came to head out to the Raceway, I had it all in my head how this show would go, or at least I thought I did. Hole were set to hit the stage at 10:00 pm. After spending an entire day of seeing bands I didn't really care about (except Canadian rockers Treble Charger) I was ready for them. When 10:42 pm rolled by on my watch with no Hole, I decided this was not going to be the show I had thought. For 40 minutes I watched the roadies on stage messing around with guitars, playing the drums, but none of the band members. Then at 10:45, Courtney and Eric finally emerged from backstage, followed shortly after by Melissa and Samantha. The roar from the crowd almost drowned out the opening chords of "Violet", but it soon subsided. The vocals were so loud in the mix that they sounded absolutely horrid, distorted and with far too much treble. The drums were buried in the mix and so was the bass. They didn't seem to be playing very well, but got through "Violet" alright. Then Courtney talked on a cell phone for about 5 minutes, saying "I'm talking to my boyfriend". Then she handed it to a stage-hand and strapped on her guitar, and ripped into an up-tempo "Awful". Once again, the terrible mix and sloppy playing prevailed, and I was left to wonder what had happened to the band that had supposedly played awesome shows on the previous dates. When "Awful" finished and "Heaven Tonight" started, I was so disappointed in Hole that I couldn't stand to watch them anymore, so, with my hands in my pockets and my head hung low, I began making my way to the exit of the raceway. When I got to the exit, I turned around for one final look at the band that I thought would rock the Edgefest tour, and was given a truly inspiring sight. Behind me, I saw literally thousands of disappointed fans leaving the show. I stared for a moment at this scene, and then left. As I walked through the parking lot, the sounds of an off-key "Reasons to be Beautiful" floated through the night air, and then I was surprised as the song mutated mid-verse into a cover of Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl". I left that show feeling unfulfilled and disappointed. Perhaps I had expected too much of them, but I couldn't stand to listen to it, it was just bad, there's no other way to put it. I'm a fairly big Hole fan, but I couldn't stay at that show. So, I apologize for the incomplete review. Thank you. - - - - - - - - - - - - - |