Show Alert: Hard Times for Olenka & the Autumn Lovers

Sat., Nov. 17
Phog Lounge, Windsor
w/ The Allens (London) and Father Head (Windsor)

Olenka's "Odessa" knows hard times. We certainly hope Hard Times is only the title of London's Olenka & the Autumn Lovers new seven-song EP. After a preview at Home County Music & Art Festival this summer, we're looking forward to a second listen of the band's pitch-perfect layered harmonies and well-written folk music with Eastern European influences.

Somehow we missed The Allens at Home County. Maybe you know them as The Woody Allens. After checking out a video of their live performance at Home County, we get how they could sell out Aeolian Hall last month.

Show Alert: Artwalk (Sarnia), Jun. 4-5

If for whatever reason late night shows aren't for you, Sarnia's Artwalk is the perfect occasion to catch some great Canadian indie bands long before bedtime. And enjoy them with your kids as well, beginning with Maylee Todd at 1:00 p.m. on the North Stage, and ending with a bang at 5:00 p.m. when one of our favourites, Elliott BROOD take the stage. In between, we're looking forward to hearing Harlan Pepper sing about Great Lakes (2:00 p.m.), the Rest perform Modern Time Travel (4:00 p.m.), and meeting fellow CBC Radio 3 blogger RedVinyl. Don't miss Olenka & the Autumn Lovers on Sunday (3:00).

Artwalk (Sarnia) announces band lineup

We had Artwalk (Jun. 4-5) on our radar as soon as we learned that Elliott BROOD and Harlan Pepper were scheduled to perform. After seeing the lineup, now that blip is the size of a 747. There are no times listed yet, but R3 artists we know and love include, in addition to BROOD and Harlan Pepper, the Rest, Olenka & the Autumn Lovers and Maylee Todd.

Show review: The Locusts Have No King and Olenka & The Autumn Lovers

After some time off to catch our breath following September's ridiculously sublime lineup of shows, we belatedly began celebrating Rock-tober last Wednesday with a great evening at Windsor's Phog Lounge (we are back again tonight, Oct. 26, for Rah Rah, We Were Lovers and James O-L and the Villains, review to come).

Instead of the Rheostats from Sarnia to kick off the evening-- no, not the RheostatICs-- we got the Rheostat, as it was just band member John Pilat and his guitar. Pleasant enough, but hardly the opportunity to review the band.

Windsor-based The Locusts Have No King have been on the Phog bill several times this year and we'd heard the, uh, buzz, and now we know why. We debated how to describe them on the way home, and came up with quirky punkabilly, although with his full dark beard and glasses and slightly nasal vocals, lead singer David Dubois is more folk class than thrash. If you want to check them out yourself, The Locusts Have No King are opening for Nightwood at the Phog next month on the 24th.

"Oh my god," someone gasped when Olenka & The Autumn Lovers launched into "Odessa" from their new album, And Now We Sing. The outburst was a reaction to the beauty of the vocal harmonies of Olenka Krakus, violinist Sara Froese and cellist Kelly Wallraff. They're so good the band devoted two songs to "just the girls." "People like it when just the girls sing," Krakus commented with charming naivete. "I don't know why. What's wrong with boys?"


Not a thing, as drummer Daniel Mancini, the versatile Blair Whatmore on guitar, mandolin and lap steel and Simon Larochette on trumpet solidly supported the girls. The band's sound and songs might be inspired by the old country, but there's nothing dated or staid about this oom-pah-pah powered folk/country/pop. Like St. Patrick's Day when everyone is Irish, everyone's a little Polish when Olenka & The Autumn Lovers are in the house. (Photos: Russ Gordon)

Fall for Olenka & the Autumn Lovers

With a name like Olenka Krakus, a 2008 debut EP titled Warsaw Girl and lyrics like "Oj moja kochana kochana kochana... przepraszam ale wyjezdjamy dzisiaj," it's no wonder Eastern European influences are most frequently cited when describing London, Ontario's Olenka & the Autumn Lovers. But this is not your babcia's polka band.

We got to see Olenka & the Autumn Lovers perform at NxEW's NXNE showcase in Toronto this past June; unfortunately the sound in the Gladstone Hotel really didn't do them justice. Olenka's earthy alto voice was clear enough--she can mine the tenor depths or soar into soprano range with ease-- but her band's diverse instruments, including strings, accordion, brass, lap steel, mandolin and glockenspiel were not as distinct as we would have liked.

So we're looking forward to seeing them again this Weds., Oct. 20 at Windsor's Phog Lounge. Following the release of two well-received EPs and their self-titled full-length debut, all in 2008, the band is touring in support of their sophomore album released this month, And Now We Sing. Yes, Olenka is still embracing her heritage, but there are plenty of country and folk influences evident as well. Dołącz do na (join us)! 

Photos: Russ Gordon