I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: March 27, 2024] The Rural Alberta Advantage

I saw a video of The Rural Alberta Advantage at Massey Hall in 2018 (it was from 2014).  This was the first real exposure I had to the band and the first time I saw how intense they were live.

Since then, they have played Philly three times.  I don’t think the first one registered.  But the second time I was ready to see them. But I already had  tickets to a different show that night.  I decided, however, that I’d rather see RAA, but when I went to get a ticket, it was sold out! (good for them).

But this time, there was no way I was missing them.  I arrived early, got on the barrier and marveled at the stage set up.  Keys, guitar and drums, with the drums on the right side and the drummer facing the other two.

The came out of the mystery door at the side of the stage and immediately started playing FSHG as they walked into the crowd.   Nils Edenloff walked around and sang while Amy Cole sang backing vocals.  I’m not sure if Paul Banwatt played any percussion as I couldn’t really see him.  But soon enough they were marching the song up to the stage.

And then they played CANDU, the lead off track of their new album and I was blown away by the power of this seemingly acoustic trio.  Amy Cole plays bass food pedals (like Geddy Lee) and it was wild watching her tap dance her feet on the pedals while also playing the melody on the actual keyboard.  She also did essential duty as the secondary percussionist, slamming on a floor tom that was incredibly loud.

But no drumming could compare to Paul Banwatt.  He has a fairly small kit, but it’s amazing that it’s still standing by the end of the show.  He throws in all kinds of fills on the snare and even the hi-hat.  He has speed and power and is simply amazing to watch.  I think that since the songs themselves are fairly simple, it gives Banwatt the ability to fill in any open spaces as needed.

Banwatt, who is also a lawyer (!) has to be the most underrated drummer out there.  The way he plays the drums in counterpoint to the guitar in “Drain the Blood ” is just incredible to watch.

But the main focus is on singer/guitarist Nils Edenloff.  He plays acoustic guitar exclusively.  But he has at least two different guitars, one of which has what sounds like looser metal strings that vibrate loudly.  On a couple of songs he plays keyboards.  The keyboard songs are not appreciably queiter or anything–they just give a different vibe.

And then there’s his voice.  It’s really powerful (he sang unamplified from the audience with no problem), but often feels like he’s straining.  It’s also quite distinctive (and polarizing, I believe). I happen to really like it and it feels somehow even more exciting live.

They played for roughly 80 minutes, running through songs from all of their albums.

Nils told some amusing stories about a couple of the songs.  Like in Vulcan, AB when he talked about a mutual friend saying a line that he eventually used in the song.  But when he finally played the song for the friend and worried about the friend being annoyed, the friend just said “Nice.”

Nils played one song solo and told us that North Star talks about them seeing Stars and they were actually watching the band Stars at an outdoor venue under the stars.

There was a lot of clapping along–Amy and Paul both started the clapping and we all happily clapped along.

I was right in front of Amy Cole and it was really neat watching her multitask.  She has a lot to do in the songs, but she also has parts where she doesn’t do anything.  So she skips around the stage, claps, or just hangs out in the back of the stage until one of her responsibilities is called upon.

Like her fantastic harmony vocals.

She also told us that “Three Sisters” is her favorite song on the new album.  She also told a funny story about someone bringing up an album after a show and asking her to sign it.  The fan then asked when she joined the band.  She had actually left for a couple of years during which time they recorded The Wild.  She said even though she didn’t play on the record, she loves to sing “White Lights.”

They ended with “Terrified” which has a big “oooh oooh” melody sing along, which we all did both during the appropriate parts and while Nils sang the final verse.  Amazingly, instead of chanting for an encore, the crowd just continued to sing the “oooh oooh” melody while they were backstage.  It was pretty cool.

During the encore he told us about playing a show in Red Deer and there was a woman who was totally into the show until he said it was the last song, at which point she stopped abruptly and looked pissed.  Apparently she was really mad that they didn’t play “Alright.”  So they have put it back into rotation.

And then there’s the drums.  The drums sound good (if not great) on the records, but the live experience is just amazing.  It’s hard to believe he can do so much without looking like he’s showing off.

After playing the amazingly titled “The Dethbridge in Lethbrigde” they came out into the crowd to play the final song of the evening, “Good Night.”  And just as when they started, it was powerful and perfect.

I am so glad that I got to see them.  I’m now bummed that I haven’t seen the more.

SETLIST

1. FSHG ⇔ (begun in the crowd then moved on stage)
2. CANDU ⇔
3. Don’t Haunt This Place ∇
4. Three Sisters ⇔
5. Four Night Rider ∇
6. Tornado ’87 ♦
7. Vulcan, AB Ø
8. AB Bride ⇔
9. Drain the Blood ∇
10. Stamp ♦
11. North Star ♦ (Nils solo)
12. Don’t Wake Up ⇔
13. White Lights ∉
14. Plague Dogs ⇔
15. Edmonton ∇
16. Frank, AB ∇
17. Brother ∉
18. Terrified Ø
    encore
19. In the Summertime  ∇
20. Alright ∉
21. The Dethbridge in Lethbridge ∇
22. Good Night ♦ (sung in the middle of the audience)

⇔ The Rise & The Fall (2023)
∉ The Wild (2017)
Ø Mended with Gold (2014)
♦ Departing (2011)
∇ Hometowns (2008)