February 2, 2011

A pair of slush-soaked socks and sneakers sat drying on a heater at Call the Office this past Friday as the comfortable and intimate venue hosted The Sadies, a Toronto-based psychedelic-alternative-country-ish band that since their 1998 formation have been known for having a fresh sound that continues to be difficult to define.

Opening for The Sadies was The Hounds Below, an alternative rock group from Chicago, played a quick string of songs, including their blues ballad “Love’s No Longer Here.” Unfortunately, the band suffered from stragglers and was overwhelmed by the continued buzz of conversation, essentially serving as background music.

Suit-clad and seizing the stage, The Sadies halted the conversation and filled the intimate venue with their high-energy and largely instrumental piece “Dying is Easy.” Pleasing fans, the band played a set of new and old songs, including “Loved on Look,” “Another Year Again” from their new Dark Circles album, and “There’s a Higher Power” that saw Travis Good swapping his guitar for a fiddle. Finishing with “Tiger, Tiger,” the upbeat audience easily persuaded the band to take the stage for an encore that treated fans to eight more songs, filling earlier requests.

While the band’s performance prioritized music over dialogue, members Mike Belitsky (drums), Sean Dean (upright bass) and brothers Travis and Dallas Good (guitars and vocals) were very personable. The seamless string of songs energized the audience, and the band members directly interacted with individuals post-performance, personally thanking them for their support.

While The Sadies are not a typical band that Call the Office hosts, the venue’s intimate atmosphere was perfect for the band to perform for their tight-knit fan-base in the area. The Call the Office staff was as friendly as the band, addressing each person as they left the concert feeling energized.

The Sadies will no doubt be giving another London performance in the near future, stating that the audience here is always great and they always feel welcome at Call the Office.

Check out their Myspace page (myspace.com/thesadies) and their official website (thesadies.net) for more information. For information on future performers at Call the Office, go to calltheoffice.com or follow them on Twitter (@Call_The_Office).

*Originally published in The Gazette 104.67, University of Western Ontario (London, ON), February 2, 2011.