Winter Sunrises Are Running Out

Time changes and spring are on the horizon. The snow is starting to melt and it's actually comfortable up on the mountains of Thunder Bay first thing in the morning. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Adam Sabaz on Instagram @thunderbaylandscapes/@at0mpub
Blair Wright on Instagram @bmwphotoca
Music Selection - Meadow (Cyberlink Background Music) Software - Cyberlink PowerDirector and Photodirector
Gear - Nikon! Of course!
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Photo walk near Lakehead University

When the cabin fever kicks in it's time to get out into nature. Fortunate for me I live in Thunder Bay where nature is in abundance and you don't have to go far to take in some tranquility.  I took these shots in around where I live - just minutes from my humble abode.

Poor Young Things Return

LU Outpost saw the return of Thunder Bay’s prodigal sons – The Poor Young Things.  Perhaps a rougher and  grittier Poor Young Things.  PYT you see moved to Toronto a while back. They immersed themselves in the Toronto music scene and their latest collection of songs due out in the very near future capture the essence of their surroundings.

Take your pick - the lyrical commentary of big city life, the comforting guitar melodies a mongst a soundscape of raw distorted chordings, or the harmony laden anthem like choruses – PYT showed they've evolved and matured in their musicianship and song writing. Their songs have a bit more drive, edge and power to them - no doubt attributed to their big city influences.

Poor Young Things dedication to their music showed as they put in an inspired performance to the allegiance of fans that filed into the Outpost.  Their new found energy was quite evident in their enthusiasm as the guys left no part of the stage untouched.  Putting it all out there – every song rode a wave of honesty and authenticity.  What was a vacant dance floor moments before PYT hit the stage – was turned into a frenzied surf of fans, friends and family. 

Poor Young Things have been working with acclaimed producer Jon Drew (The Arkells, Alexisonfire, Tokyo Police Club, Stars,).   Their new album release date is to be announced in the very near future. They have also just released their latest video - Let It Sleep.



PYT will be cris-crossing the country again on another  tour.  They'll be back in Thunder Bay in December.  

Pavlo

This blogs was featured on Tbnewswatch.com/live

The Community Auditorium was alive Wednesday night when Pavlo performed cuts from his new album Six String Blvd.  Pavlo the consumate performer played as much on stage as he did amongst the crowd making sure his fans got their money's worth.

Whether he was sitting in a seat next to a fan playing - or dancing with others, Pavlo played his heart out and really showed how much he appreciates his followers. Between songs he'd tell tales and really connect with the audience.

Pavlo has certain flair about him.  His command of his guitar is paramount.  With an almost machine gun like attack, his fingers fly up and down the neck of his guitar at break neck speed.  Accompanied on almost every single note, is his Bazukee  player.  The combination of the nylon stringed classical guitar and the chimey steel strung Greek guitar give 'Pavlo' his distinct Mediterranean sound.

With most songs  arranged in a traditional theme, the crowd could not help itself and clapped along in unison the entire night.

Guest performer Luke McMaster shared the stage with Pavlo to showcase his newest single in which Pavlo collaborated.  Quick history note: McMaster wrote a song which was picked up by producer Jay-z who developed the song into Rihanna's chart topper "Girl Like Me".   Luke is now establishing himself as a solo artist. McMaster would again  come out later to sing on Pavlo's rendition of a classic Gordon Lightfoot tune If You Could Read My Mind.

I brought a friend and fellow musician to the show.  He had never heard of Pavlo, nor had he been exposed to much classical/flamenco style music.  He was completely  overtaken by the music.  When the last song was starting out, he could not contain himself any longer.  "I have to Dance!" he remarked, as he threw his jacket down and headed out of the aisle and down to the front of the stage.  The following ensued, which put the final exclamation point on the night's festivities.

Sepultura Brings The Energy

I got to Crocks late. The one time i plan on the head liner playing a long set list into the wee hours - they go all Cinderella and packed up at Midnight. However short my experience - it was pretty awesome.

Sepultura has played to literally - a 100 000 people in their hey day. Tonight they played to a couple 100 hardcore fans here in Thunder Bay. I had made my way to the bar after bumping into old high school friends who all had ear to ear grins on their faces. Not the cute cuddly type of grin - but the more sinister type of grin with the glint in their eye. You could feel the energy that this type of event generates as soon as you walked through the door.

If you haven't been to a loud metal show let me explain. Its mostly dudes. Young and old they come out of the wood work for these types of shows. They drink some booze and shake off the rust and head into the pit. The music is loud and very rhythmic. The crowd jumps in unison and a wave of people literally washes up around the stage. It is a rough sea - but there's a sense of brotherly love as everyone pushs and shoves each other with a sense of community.

The band aggressively assaults the venue with their particular style of hard core blistering guitars, kick you in the chest drums and the 'call to war' guttural yell of the singer. The band feeds off the energy of the crowd and the crowd in turn amps up the energy of venue. A symbiotic synergy is grown and the roof eventually comes off the joint.

Tonight was no exception. Sepultura with their giant of a front man whipped the crowd into a frenzy as he reached for the heavens and screamed like hell into the microphone. The 'pit' was churning and bodies where floating in the sea of people all night long. Fists pumped, heads banged and the sinister mischievous smiles of all in attendance were as bright as the flood lights that back lit the band in unison with the groove.

Damn - i wish i got there sooner and got my grin on.