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CERTIFIED BY CARFAX - ONE OWNER, REMAINDER OF FACTORY WARRANTY STILL APPLIES, REAR BACK UP CAMERA, BLUETOOTH HANDS FREE, LANE DEPARTURE, ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, NON SMOKER, Corolla LE, 4D Sedan, 1.8L I4 DOHC Dual VVT-i, CVT, FWD, Galactic Aqua Mica, ABS brakes, Electronic Stability Control, Fully automatic headlights, Low tire pressure warning, Remote keyless entry, Steering wheel mounted audio controls. 28/36 City/Highway MPG
Welcome to Arlington Toyota! More than three decades ago, Mr. Eyrie Brooks opened the doors of Arlington Toyota in Jacksonville, Florida at a time when a gallon of gas cost just .63 cents and Jimmy Carter was president. Much has certainly changed since then, but Arlington Toyota's commitment to quality, service, dependability and excellent pricing remains stronger than ever. That commitment has been recognized by Toyota with the Toyota President's Award, which is given to dealerships throughout the U.S. That achieve high standards of performance in all facets of the automotive dealer profession. In fact, Arlington Toyota has won the prestigious award eleven times! We have also been recognized with the Parts and Service Excellence Award, all of which gives the Arlington team greater motivation to attain even higher levels of achievement. At Arlington Toyota, customer satisfaction is our top priority, and we are dedicated to providing our valued clients with the highest quality vehicles and services to cover their automotive needs.
* 2018 KBB.com Best Resale Value Awards * 2018 KBB.com 10 Most Awarded Brands
*Tax, tag, title and dealer fee (service & handling fee of $694) are not included in vehicle prices shown on all used car inventory and must be paid by the purchaser. All vehicles subject to prior sale. While great effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this site errors do occur so please verify information with a customer service rep. This is easily done by calling us at (904) 201-4060 or by visiting us at the dealership.
Dealership has the right to correct any errors in pricing that may occur on the website at any time for any reason.
No security deposit required.
*Number of views in last 30 days
† Based on 2018 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
Dominick Barksdale was very efficient. Super nice. All around lovable guy. Best salesman ever. Personal and unique. Thanks Dominick Great service. We will always come to Dominick
Dominick Barksdale did an awesome job. Worked with me for a week to get us the best deal and the perfect new Tundra. Thanks Dominick. We really appreciate how you treat our family.
Dominick Barksdale made our car buying experience very simple and easy. He knew exactly what we was looking for and made it happen. He demostrated great customer service. If your looking to buy a car he will be the one to ask for.
Dominick Barksdale was a joy to work with, he went above and beyond to find the vehicle I requested and always gave me a few options to make me feel comfortable throughout the purchasing process. If your in the market for a vehicle, go check him out, he won 't disappoint
After countless hours of haggling back and forth with dealerships, Arlington Toyota came through with the best deal. I had 3 of 8 total dealerships tell me flat out that they could not beat the final deal I received--One dealer didn't even call me back after telling them the deal! The highlight of my experience was having Dominick Barksdale as my dealer. He literally put forth so much effort to ensure I left happy with a great deal. He answered all of my questions and went above and beyond to correct a miscommunication I had with a different representative. His efforts saved the transaction and I will recommend all of my friends and family to him and Arlington Toyota. Thank you guys for the excellent service. I am very pleased with my purchase.
hands down the easiest and best experience we've ever had purchasing a vehicle. If you need a new or used car, truck, or suv call Matt Romero. He was our salesman and he took great care of us. He never pushed or blew up our phones but when he did contact us it was always with the exact thing we's asked for.
Matt Romano definitely won my business. He is such a great employee. He knows all about his cars and inventory. I was interested in the RAV4 XLE and he gave me options and information that I couldn't just look up online. I usually hate having to buy a car because of the sales process but he made it so easy! I would recommend him to anyone!
It was a long day but everyone I dealt with was helpful and informative. In the end I walked off the lot with the car I wanted.
Loved our salesman but was a little troubled by how long the process took. We are loyal Arlington Toyota customers.Have been for twenty years since moving to Jacksonville.
I had a great experience with Matt Romano in purchasing my pre-owned Rav-4. I absolutely love this car. Matt contacted me Saturday night after I sent in requesting info. He went out to the vehicle and took a short video of the vehicle and we made an appointment for Sunday at 12 to look at the vehicle. Matt took care of everything and made this purchase very smooth. Thanks Matt
He is the best give him a raise.......... very goog sales men . Caring understanding sweet person knows what he doing. I'm from NY thanks
I felt welcomed, didn't feel pressured, or rushed throughout the whole deal. Mr. Mallard (salesperson) and Mr. Hillary(Finance Manager) were GREAT. This was a great car buying experience, and I would recommend this dealership to others. I love my 5.0 Mustang GT😍
Had a great experience here, all the staff were so helpful, Edric Mallard(salesperson) and Ahax Hillari (Finance Person) went above and beyond to help me to buy my dream car. Also, thank you Mr. Mallard and company for bringing my old car home (42 minutes drive). Arlington Toyota is the best Auto dealership in Jacksonville without questions.
Great experience working with Edric Mallard and very happy with the vehicle! Everyone was friendly and helpful. It was an easy and low-stress experience.
Gil did a great job of working with us. We had not planned to buy the car on our first visit but the staff worked with us.
The car buying experience at Arlington Toyota (AT) was very low-pressure and the professionalism of the salespeople (Monica and Gil) was more than I could have asked for. My decision to buy from Arlington Toyota was a combination of need and price. Monica had incredible patience and helped me find alternatives to what I was looking for within the price-range I budgeted. Not only that, but she was always available when I had questions. Her assistance and relaxed attitude was what ultimately convinced me to purchase from AT. At no point did I ever feel like I had to make a decision or was pressured to make a hasty decision. It was a breath of fresh air from some of the other dealerships I'd dealt with in the past. Gil was great too! He was very prompt, friendly and helped to expedite the purchasing process. Gil was very thorough and explained the purchasing process and provided the transparency one looks for when making a significant purchase such as this. I would recommend AT for your next car purchase based on my experience with both Monica and Gil alone. They both are an asset to AT and I will seek them out if the need arises again in the future. Thank you.
Gil was very nice and a pleasure to work with! We had an awesome car buying experience. Ask for Gil and he won't disappoint!
Outstanding customer service. Gil is courteous, knowledgeable, and friendly. He will do his best to satisfy your needs and stay within your budget. Mahalo for your excellent assistance.
Best experience ever in purchasing a new truck . Even when financing was great. Thanks Gil n rachid for all your assistance We definitely will be back again
Our salesman was Andrew Fagan. He was the reason we purchased from Arlington Toyota. We shopped at many dealerships, he proved to be the difference.
A long day but everyone was great and went above and beyond. I had a toolbox on my truck I traded they moved it over
Thanks to Dwight Cobb and Andrew Fagan for being patient with me and helping me get a vehicle of my choice the second time around at Arlington Toyota.
Andrew Fagan was awesome!! So patient, answered all my questions and got me a great deal. I hope he's here in three years when I need my next lease!
I spoke with two salesmen, Jacque Harris and Andrew Fagan. Both are in the internet sales group. However, they were very helpful on line thru email, over the phone, and in person. Both were very responsive, knowledgeable about the vehicle I was looking at, very personable, and very straight up guys. I would highly recommend Arlington Toyota and either of these two salesmen for the purchase of your next vehicle.
We are extremely happy with the service we experienced at the Arlington Toyota dealership. Our sales person, Matt Ellingboe was terrific. He assisted us with professionalism, curtasy and patience. Matt was also quite knowledgeable. Actually, everyone we came in contact with at Arlington Toyota treated us as if they had known us for a long time even though this was our first visit at the dealership. We highly recommend that people in the market for a new or used vehicle treat yourself by going to Arlington Toyota. You will not be disappointed.
This place does a great job or hitting rock bottom prices without taking all of your time when you're car shopping! Go with Matt Ellingboe, he is really awesome!
Excellent saleman not pushy but very informative. He made the whole experience easy for us. Thank you again Matt Ellingboe. And he pronounce my name right😀 Tcherline
Excellent customer service and communication from beginning to end. Will definitely recommend to other clients. Very good deal on vehicles. I had a wonderful experience.
Matt was a fantastic salesman. He seems genuinely honest and willing to help. We felt zero pressure to buy, but did not feel neglected at any point. Great overall experience.
I felt welcomed, didn't feel pressured, or rushed throughout the whole deal. Mr. Mallard (salesperson) and Mr. Hillary(Finance Manager) were GREAT. This was a great car buying experience, and I would recommend this dealership to others. I love my 5.0 Mustang GT😍
So very happy with my recent purchase. Came in to look at a used vehicle thinking that was all I could afford, but thanks to the awesome staff that I worked with I now drive a brand new vehicle that I absolutely love! So many thanks to the awesome staff for their help! Thanks again James, Josh and kyle.
Prompt, efficient and friendly service. Always a pleasure dealing with the staff at Arlington Toyota. Drive 25 miles to get there with 3 other dealerships closer but it's worth it. Thanks, Tom!
Great service, no pressure, knowledgeable and friendly staff that understand what a big decision it is to buy a new vehicle. Great deals too! Salesman Matt R. and Daniel in finance made buying my dream truck the best experience I've ever had buying a vehicle- thanks guys!!
Dominick took great care of his customers. It was really nice having him. Highly recommended!! Great experience You should go and check. Amit was awesome
worked so well with me. every single one. would do business with them again in the future. i may have left ppl out but they were all great.
Alexis was extremely helpful and personable. She made the experience of buying my new Rav4 painless and enjoyable. The entire staff seemed friendly and ready to help with anything.
I had a very pleasant experience at Arlington Toyota. I bought a 2019 Jeep Wrangler. They made everything simple I would buy from again and definitely recommend this place
Amazing people, very welcoming. Would definitely recommend. Helped us find the right car for the right price. Definitely coming back next time for our car needs.
excellent service And great job! all very polite and attentive! you find the car you're looking for in that place. you can look for the warley salesman who will be well attended.
Everyone was very courteous and helpful. I did not spend to long buying my truck so it made it enjoyable. Mike answered all my questions about the Tacoma tthat i had.
Mathew Sethi. Brandon Litmen did a wonderful job helping us buy and set up a new car and get it going onto the road. Love Arlington Toyota service.
Mathew Seth and abrendon Litmen did a good job helping me purchase my new car and get it on the road! Arlington Toyota was very good
Make sure you ask for Sam and Matthew Sethi when you go into Arlington Toyota i got the rav 4. Thst i wanted. Both are great
New York Mathew was straight forward and very professional. Refreshing to have a no nonsense experience. He represented Arlington Toyota perfectly. Great job Mathew Sethie.
Ellison and Aris were absolutely amazing! I had such a good Toyota 4Runner TRD PRO buying experience. Elison Dapi asked if he could help me while he was busy, made immediate time, and was so down to earth, genuine, and everything but salesy. If he didn't know something he didn't pretend, he said I'll find out, and he did. Aris Prifti was the manager who assisted us and Aris was the exact same.. genuine, intelligent, well informed, and extremely knowledgeable in all areas. These two made an incredible team and worked so well together making me my first ever Toyota and first new car buying experience the best I could imagine. Toyota is extremely lucky to have such a genuine salesman, and manager, especially that can work together flawlessly. Thank you!!! Bravo Zulu from a Military Veteran too. Thank you Ellison, and Aris! Thank you John in parts, and Ed in Service and everyone at Toyota! What a good team front to back!
I was very pleased with the service I received at Arlington Toyota. We are happy we came here to look for a vehicle and excited about the one we chose.
Found the hubby's dream truck online. Came right out and our salesman was courteous and straight up with us. Had a great experience here.
I was pleased with the service that Ari's Prifti and Matthew Sethi provided me. I found them to be quick and attentive to my needs. I would recommend Arlington Toyota to someone who needs a car.
Met Aris for the first time today and what a wonderful experience. Polite, courteous and exceptionally knowledgeable. Aris exemplifies what every Sales Associate should aspire to be. Arlington Toyota is fortunate to have someone who absolutely makes the customer feel special. I look forward to being able to tell friends and family what a wonderful experience I had when purchasing my new Tacoma!!!
Saif was outstanding. He did an amazing job in making sure I left with the right vehicle. He went over and beyond with customer service.
Saif was outstanding and very helpful!!! He was very honest and upfront with me about my choices. This is very rare in this type of business. I will definitely be a repeat customer and refer my friends and family to their services
I had a amazing experience buying my car. Van was so helpful and very knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend Arlington Toyota to friends and family.
From the initial look into a vehicle, Saif was there at the moment I looked online. 100% the best service I've ever had with buying a vehicle. Then, arriving at the dealership Saif met me at the doors and walked me entirely through the whole buying process. With my Tacoma being my second vehicle to own, will definitely be a Toyota member for we from Saif's great customer appreciation skills, professionalism. Highly recommend Saif as your next car dealer.
Got my first new car from Saif. He was great to work with, very quick and easy, and the best customer service. If you go to Arlington Toyota, make sure to ask for Saif.
Appreciate the ride home and back. I think your twenty five word minimum is pretty off the wall and makes me just want to a at write something meaningless like this sentence.
My first time dealing with Arlington Toyota. I was starting to think the deal was gonna fall through but with the hard work of Luis Allen of the sales team and Robert Santiago in financing they got it done. The level of customer service was incredible. These to gentlemen were nothing but professional. Very happy with the service.
Luis Allen was very helpful and everything he told me I would get he made it happen. He even came in on his day off to get my 2020 Tacoma detailed and gas tank filled. He corrected an oversight on my paperwork with the financial department in a timely manner. I would highly recommend buying your next vehicle from Luis!
Everything good better as expected Luis Allen helped my husband and I in everything we needed on a safe and good car for the family very good experience will recommend to everyone
Great experience Good sales man Great car service Good at explaining car themes colors and sets for everything very good experience and would and will recommend.
Best experience yet at Arlington Toyota! Everyone very pleasant and helpful. J.P. Cruz exceptionally easy to work with and Frank Millan skillfully tolerated me and my banks difficulties. Thank you all for my best purchase yet!
Came for a Toyota Tacoma and JP Cruz and Chris was Awesome!! They met all my needs perfectly. Was a pleasure shooping at Arlington Toyota.
excellent service And great job! all very polite and attentive! you find the car you're looking for in that place. you can look for the warley salesman who will be well attended.
We needed to upgrade our vehicle because the vehicle we had did not have seat belt extenders available for the rear. So, JP helped us purchase another vehicle that was more suitable to our situation.
JP Cruz was amazing! You should definitely check him out! He made me feel comfortable and not rushed. JP is very knowledgeable about the vehicles and genuinely seemed to care!
We purchased a 2020 jeep wrangler for my wife Tracy. Alan Thornton was a professional and friendly salesman. This was an easy purchase and I highly recommend using them
Bought my Toyota RAV4 from Alan Thornton and he was so helpful & patient the entire the process. We were able to test drive as many cars needed until I found the right car for me!
Alan was very patient and knowledgeable. I am a very picky shopper so It was great to get Alan as my salesman. He isn't a fast talker too. That helped me trust him.
I enjoyed working with Alan Thornton. He really knows how to please a customer. Everything I asked for, he found a way to make it happen.
Alan Thornton was very patient and flexible. He put his best effort towards helping me get a new car. The dealership was clean and everyone was polite.
Our Sales Professional was Ali Amirov, who went above and beyond and stuck with us through all the changes and challenges in getting us into our new Caravan. Man is a rockstar on the sales team.
They did really good with meeting with my needs and to get me my truck!! This is my first time buying my own car with my dad co-signing and I absolutely love my truck!!
We had an excellent sales/finance experience with the salesman Ali here at Arlington Toyota! The staff were courteous and extremely helpful. Please ask for Ali !! Thanks 😊
Ali helped us and was very nice. He wasn't pushy at all. A very nice dealership as well. It was a pleasant experience. Thanks!
Straight to the point. He's real, that is what you want. No sugar coating. And helps you get the deal you can and will like.
Really great experience. Everyone that we dealt with was very kind and jumped through a lot of hoops to help get us into a new vehicle. Superlative.
Had a great experience with Adam and team, took longer then I wanted but settled with the car I wanted so I am happy with my experience
My experience was very very wonderful and great I appreciate all the workers that help me find my new ride credits goes to them great
Thanks so much Jeremy for helping with our new 2020 4 runner purchase. You have been so patient and helpful throughout the whole process. Thanks again for all you did
I had a great experience at Arlington Toyota like always ! Saif and Amir helped me pick out the perfect vehicle for me and my family! This will be my 4th vehicle that I have purchased at Arlington Toyota and I won't shop anywhere else then here! Amir and Amit are my number 1 go to ! Great Gentleman they are and now that I have met Saif he is great also! Thank you again for another wonderful experience and my brand new Tacoma!
I have bought 3 vehicles in the last year through Sylvia Brummett and I love working with her and all of the people I come in contact with at Arlington Toyota. I live on the Westside and will drive 45 minutes anytime to visit this dealership. I hope to keep this relationship with them as long as possible. I am always looking for another vehicle to buy for someone through them. Thanks so much.
Excellent service from the original sale, to the financing, to driving out of the dealership! Props to Sylvia Brummitt and the G.F.M. Ben, for giving me the price I received.
Started the purchase process via email. Sylvia responded quickly and provided answers as fast and as well as she could. Once I took delivery she prepared everything ahead of time for a quick and easy purchase.
Prompt, efficient and friendly service. Always a pleasure dealing with the staff at Arlington Toyota. Drive 25 miles to get there with 3 other dealerships closer but it's worth it. Thanks, Tom!
Sylvia is awesome! Friendly and easy to work with. We went in to look at a car we thought we wanted and she showed us the car then showed us a car that was even better at a better price. Awesome!
Thank you Jared for assisting me through my obstacles so I can purchase a Rav4. Professionalism at its best! Awesome! Clean, sanitized environment for business!
Arlington Toyota is an outstanding dealership and will recommend them to everyone. My salesman, AJ Shurelds was very professional in every aspect of the sale. He is a great asset for Arlington Toyota !!
I went into Arlington Toyota on Monday the 14th of July and received great customer service and help from AJ and Ricardo. They help me see all the available options and get the financing I needed in order to drive off the lot with the car I choose. I wouldn't have been able to get it without their help and I'll always be grateful for what they did.
Very pleasant atmosphere. I had the opportunity to work with Dominick Barksdale. Prior to coming to the dealership, Dominick had began answering many of my questions by phone. Once I arrived to the dealership he showed me cars that meet my request and was patient until we found the perfect fit for my needs. He also made sure I understood the ends and outs of my purchase and has since followed up to ensure that all of my questions were addressed and that I was satisfied. I also meet with AJ who introduced me to the features of my new vechicle and assisted with the transfer of my personal items from my former vechicle. Both men were great to work with and was not in a hurry for a sale but made sure I had no reservations. Very polite, willing to assist and providing exceptional customer service. I am very happy with my final decision. Thank you!!
Salesman gave us no pressure and worked out a good deal for us. Will be going back for another car next year. Happy new year.
Outstanding way the transaction was handled for this Highlander. No problems. Look forward to next transaction. Juan Velez is a superb person and Manager. Armando Escoriaza takes great care of people.
Gracias Armando Scorza por ayudar a mi hermano José marquez con la compra de su Toyota, a la comunidad latina les aviso que si mese citan ayuda llamen a Armando Scorza
Gracias armando scorza por la ayuda prestada para comprar mi carro , gracias Arlington Toyota por su ayuda , fue una excelente experiencia les recomiendo mucho a armando
Súper satisfecha con la profesionalidad de Julián , gracias a él pude obtener el carro que quería y a muy buen precio, gracias a todos en Arlington
Gracias Armando scorza por la ayuda prestada gracias arlington toyota por hacer mi sueño hecho realidad si necesita un buen vendedor en español comuniquse con Armando Scorza
I love how they take a good care of my car, excellent service at its finest.I never have a problem with them their stuff at service department is friendly.
Gabe helped us out to get a 2017 camry. Smooth process and very fast. Gabe really knows what he is doing. Recommend Arlington Toyota and Gabe as sales person. Won't regret
Recomend this dealership. This is the second vehicle from Gabe Rivera. Very patient salesperson and knowlagable. Smooth process very easy. Will Keep Buying cars from Arlington
Tremendo servicio el de Gabe Rivera. Me ayudó para que yo me llevara el carro que quería al precio que quería. Da el 100 por sus cliente.
Gabe was outstanding and professional. Though this sale didn't work out, he did everything he could for me. I just bought a home so my credit took a hit and I need to go back and resolve some accounts before coming back. But, when I do, I'll ask for Gabe! Great service and staff.
Very nice experience. Loved Van and Brent! Will definitely recommend my friends and family to your dealership. Just wished when my vehicle was delivered it was detailed. Other than that I couldn't be happier!
I had a amazing experience buying my car. Van was so helpful and very knowledgeable. I would definitely recommend Arlington Toyota to friends and family.
Personable and did what I asked and needed. Listened to our needs. Manager had key for safety told or sales man Van crank it up I want to here it.
Great service. Very friendly. Van, our sales person was great to work with. Also, Bo and Roger did a good job. Speedy and effective. They did a great job!
Van took the reigns since neither of the original people I had made the appointment with were present. I'm glad because I'm not sure it would have gone as good as it did with anyone else. Bo was great in finance and really looked out for us. Both were really great with our girls and made them feel welcome. Great experience, great staff.
My brother and I purchased a 2009 Honda Element SC from Sandra Howard At Arlington Toyota and we couldn't be happier. She was very professional and even though the process was a little slow because of the CV19 rules. We still had a great experience and would buy another vehicle from them again. If you looking for a local dealer with a good selection of used quality used vehicles and a professional staff, choose these folks as we did.
We set out from South GA to look at a Jeep Wrangler for my wife with no idea if we could make it happen. We had done a lot of research on autotrader and the one we found at Arlington Toyota stuck out to us the most. Our sales rep Sandra Howard found us looking over the Jeep we had found online. Even though Jeeps aren't their specialty she did everything she could to answer our questions. she was very kind, patient, and attentive throughout the entire process. When working the numbers the sales manager was not pushy and exercised patience as well. It took a few times but in the end we were able to get our numbers right. Most importantly they were willing to negotiate to make the sale. It has now been a few days since bringing our new to us Jeep home. We have gone through it with a fine-tooth comb and I have to say that it was everything they said it was and more. The online listing was 100% correct in my opinion. After the sale I have been contacted two times by the dealership to ensure that we were happy with our purchase. Overall my experience with Arlington Toyota and their staff was great. My wife absolutely loves her late-model low-mileage new to her Jeep Wrangler. We will be back
I am a first time car buyer, I came just to look but after talking with Sandra Howard and telling her a little of what I was interested in. She gathered a bit of information from me and made the whole process really easy, she found a few cars that matched what I was looking for we narrowed it down and she made sure I understood every bit of what was going on. I never felt pressured or bullied into anything definitely going to be a forever customer.
I had an awesome experience at Arlington with Ms. Sandra Howard. She assisted me as a first time buyer and guided me through the process.
SANDRA HOWARD IS THE BEST SALES ASSOCIATE! Sandra made us feel comfortable during the whole process. She was very diligent and very nice woman! Also we want to thanks Mr. Jared the financial officer! Sandra Howard is really an excellent resource at Arlington Toyota! Five stars for Sandra Howard!
I'm 54 and have purchased many vehicles. Today was by far the best experience I've ever had! Marilyn was respectful, knowledgeable and kind. She was never pushy or rude. Today was a very pleasant experience and I'm extremely pleased with my new Fourrunner
Marilyn Harrison was a great sales woman. Very painless and enjoyable process. Thank you for the great deal. They made my deal even better that I expected!!
Marilyn Harrison was our sales associate! She was very helpful from beginning to end of our car buying experience! Very happy with my Camry that she got us into!
Marilyn Harrison was fabulous! No pressure, yet professional and helpful. Best car buying experience ever! I've been coming to Arlington since it was on Arlington and am always pleased. Mike S has been absolutely incredible and I'm thrilled with what Marilyn provided. Thank you Arlington for finding great people to take care of us!!
I had an outstanding experience purchasing my 2020 Toyota Camry on February 29th. This is my first Toyota purchase and I will definitely come back to Arlington Toyota for my next purchase. Marilyn Harrison was totally outstanding
From the initial look into a vehicle, Saif was there at the moment I looked online. 100% the best service I've ever had with buying a vehicle. Then, arriving at the dealership Saif met me at the doors and walked me entirely through the whole buying process. With my Tacoma being my second vehicle to own, will definitely be a Toyota member for we from Saif's great customer appreciation skills, professionalism. Highly recommend Saif as your next car dealer.
Matthew was very helpful; transparent and professional; I changed my color preference at the last minute and he easily accommodated; I truly love my new car; everyone is so pleasant from the receptionist to service staff and salesperson Gesy made the financial transaction a smooth easy process
Matthew Sethi and gesy canaj. Sold me a new tundra by Toyota. I am very happy with Arlington and Toyota. They are both good people
muy Buena persona me ayudo con el vendedor para cojer el carro que yo querria este es el segundo carro nuevo que compro 2019 grasias Tony de parte de luis y marina
Dominick did a great job ushering me thru the process and wining a good deal for me! Would buy thru him again! I would highly recommend them to anyone in the market for a new Toyota.
Elmir was amazing thank you! And then Juan from internet financing was extremely helpful and hurried the process along as best as he could but it still took quite a long time.
Came in with a specific need and time frame and were able to achieve our goal. We were both happy with our sales person today.
Straight to the point. He's real, that is what you want. No sugar coating. And helps you get the deal you can and will like.
Visited Arlington Toyota on a whim. Was I surprised, from talking to Matt Romano immediately he showed me the Highlander and I just loved it. He followed up with me and we made a Sweet deal. Will definitely return to Arlington Toyota in the future. Ask for Matt he's the bomb!!!!
Great car buying experience Professional services given to us through out your team . Financial Dept as well Give 5 star rating to this team . Well deserved
Our Salesman Charlie Dillard was very professional, knowledgeable and he knew what he could do for us! He knew what cars he had to offer us. He was Honest, Nice and Fun!
I met Charlie Dillard back in 1998. The professional and courteous service Charlie, Ben and your whole staff provides is outstanding and second to none. Charlie is very knowledgeable about all of your Toyota vehicles as my wife, daughter and I all drive Toyota's. Since 1998, Charlie has been helping us with all of our cars and trucks It is always a pleasure buying a vehicle from Charlie and Arlington Toyota. Thanks again. Joe and Alice Sortillon
Always have had a good experience here. Charlie Dillard has been my salesperson for 4 trucks over the past 12 years. Top notch man. Service department has never let me down. I can recommend this dealership without reservation.
Charlie is the best. He works hard to get you in your ride. He made me right at home and kept me updated on everything
Alexis Hunter gave exceptional customer services! I would refer to anyone. She was very professional and helpful. She was very knowledgeable and very kind! Thank you sooo much Alexis for everything your AWESOME!
worked so well with me. every single one. would do business with them again in the future. i may have left ppl out but they were all great.
I had an amazing experience at Arlington Toyota, my sales men Anthony Puccio was Amazing and very knowledgeable on the 2020 Rav 4 and I would recommend to anyone and everyone I could
I went into Arlington Toyota on Monday the 14th of July and received great customer service and help from AJ and Ricardo. They help me see all the available options and get the financing I needed in order to drive off the lot with the car I choose. I wouldn't have been able to get it without their help and I'll always be grateful for what they did.
This is our 6th Toyota that my family has purchased. Alan Thornton has been our sales rep for all of these purchases. Very highly recommended!
Very professional and friendly service. Spent time to help me make the right purchase. Will definitely refer to my friends. I love my new car.
Saif is awesome! Not only did he go out of his way to make and send me a personalized video of the vehicle that I was interested in, but he also made car shopping/buying easy and down to the point! Much better service here than what I have experienced at other Toyota dealerships!
I recommend Arlington Toyota to everyone. They were extremely helpful and friendly. They will check with you later to be sure you are still satisfied. No pressure to buy. Only concerned with pleasing you.
Irvin "Big Rick" Ricks was a great salesman and dealer representative. My experience was beyond expectations. Very accommodating with a can do attitude. Chance Morgan handled the final details of the deal and again was excellent. Overall my expectations for purchasing a car were exceeded at Arlington Toyota. I visited 4 dealerships and Arlington Toyota topped the list.
Enjoyed buying a car from this dealership. The car is in great condition!! Would recommend this dealership. Very nice service and very friendly as well..
The sales people are very friendly. My sales person Irvin gave me excellent customer service. Great job " Big Ric"👍 I will send you a couple of referrals.
This was one of my best car buying experiences. I recommend using dawn she was super nice and worked out a good deal on one of my dream cars.
I worked with Dawn Chandler and Matt Romano in search of a Toyota 4Runner. I was treated with the most respect showing all the vehicles that meet my expectations. They found me my next vehicle. I came in for a safety recall and got a new ride. The maintenance and customer service teams have been great. I would recommend stopping by and checking out the inventory. You too could find your next ride.
Had a great experience as a first time buyer! Wasnt satisfied with my first deal but Jacque worked until all my needs wer


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Children of undocumented Mexican immigrants have a significantly higher risk of behavior problems than their co-ethnic counterparts with documented or naturalized citizen mothers, according to a new study.
The difficulties come in two forms: sadness or social withdrawal — what the authors refer to as internalizing behavior problems — and issues such as aggressiveness towards others — which the authors call externalizing behavior problems.
A new study reveals that while homicide victimization rates declined for whites, blacks, and Hispanics in the United States from 1990-2010, the drop was much more precipitous for the two minority groups.
Skin color is a significant factor in the probability of employment for male immigrants to the United States, according to a new study by two University of Kansas (KU) researchers.
Most people who meet a new acquaintance, or merely pass someone on the street, need only a glance to categorize that person as a particular race. But, sociologist Asia Friedman wondered, what can we learn about that automatic visual processing from people who are unable to see?
Friedman, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Delaware, set out to explore that question by interviewing 25 individuals who are blind. She will present her findings in a study at the 110th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association (ASA).
A new study of young people finds that, with one exception, whites are more optimistic — sometimes drastically so — than their minority peers about their likelihood of living to 35.
Racial attachments are understood to be socially constructed and endogenous to gender, socioeconomic, and religious identities. Yet we know surprisingly little about the effect of such identities on the particular racial labels that individuals self-select. In this article, I investigate how social identities shape the racial labels chosen by biracial individuals in the United States, a rapidly growing population who have multiple labeling options.
Although several studies have examined the association between religious involvement and physical functioning, there is no consistent empirical evidence concerning the true nature of the association. The Hispanic population is also surprisingly understudied in previous work. In this article, we employ seven waves of data from the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly to examine the association between religious attendance and performance-based mobility trajectories among older Mexican Americans.
A large literature has documented that Hispanic immigrants have a health advantage over their U.S.-born counterparts upon arrival in the United States. Few studies, however, have disentangled the effects of immigrants' arrival cohort from their tenure of U.S. residence, an omission that could produce imprecise estimates of the degree of health decline experienced by Hispanic immigrants as their U.S. tenure increases.
Despite growing acceptance of a "new fatherhood" urging fathers to be engaged in family life, men's relative contributions to housework and child care have remained largely stagnant over the past twenty years. Using data from in-depth interviews, we describe how identity processes may contribute to this persistent inequality in parenting. We propose that the specificity of men's identity standards for the father role is related to role-relevant behavior, and that the vague expectations many associate with "new fatherhood" both contribute to and result from men's underinvolvement.
Having more physical limitations predicts greater depressive symptoms. However, relatively few studies examine self-conceptions as potential explanations for this association. Using ordinary least squares regression on panel data collected in Miami-Dade County, Florida (2001 and 2004, N = 1,362), we examine the effect of functional limitations on five dimensions of the self: self-esteem, mastery, mattering, introspection, and emotional reliance.

subset: commoncrawl


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by EARL O. CONDEZA, ACE R. MORANDANTE, JOHN RIZLE L. SALIGUMBA, TYRONE A. VELEZ Davao Today DAVAO CITY (12:00 nn)…
Posts by tag: Comelec
Young mother carries her newborn as they make way for voters' register at the Comelec office for the upcoming Barangay and SK (Youth Federation) elections are set this October. (davaotoday.com photo by MEDEL V. HERNANI)
Youths gathered in a bench to fill up their voter registration forms at Davao's Comelec office in Magsaysay Park as registration deadline draws near on July 31. Barangay and SK (Youth Federation) elections are set this October. (davaotoday.com photo by MEDEL V. HERNANI)
By CHERYLL D. FIEL
Davao Today
"Sadly, personality politics is still at play in the partylist contest. The system even goes to the extent that winnability hinges on traditional politicians' endorsement and money." — Carlos Isagani Zarate, Davao-based human rights lawyer and Bayan Muna second nominee
By MART D. SAMBALUD
Davao Today
As per total canvassed votes released by Comelec-Tagum City, Rellon got 54,492 votes while Gementiza got 51,845 votes.
By DANILDA L. FUSILERO
Davao Today
Canvassing was temporarily stopped due to the malfunctioning compact flash cards and the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines in two clustered precincts of two villages. The Comelec said they are anticipating for more or less a thousand votes to be canvassed.
Davao Today
Benigno Andamon, village captain of Tibal-og, was proclaimed as the town's Mayor-elect with 17, 189 votes while Daniel Batosalem Jr. won the vice-mayoralty post with 27, 595 votes.
By CHERYLL D. FIEL
Davao Today
First District election supervisor Aimee Ampoloquio was then asking a teacher who served as Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) chair from the Catalunan Grande National High School about how the transmission of the ERs was conducted because the ERs were not reflected in the Canvassing and Consolidation System (CSS) laptop stationed at the SP session hall.
In Malabog village, Davao City, the chairman of the Board of Election Inspector has to bring the PCOS machine and…
By MA. GIGI A. TENEBROSO
Davao Today
In a statement released Monday, Ka Simon Santiago, NPA political director, said four village captains in Paquibato district "surrendered" to them and reported of receiving money from re-electionist Representative Mylene Garcia. In Mapula village, 27 envelopes with PHP 300 each were allegedly seen, PHP 15,000 in Lumiad village, PHP 20,000 in Paquibato village and PHP 15,000 in Panalum village.


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The Wonders Of Arnica Topical PSC
In the event you believe you are affected by water retention (often known as fluid retention, or generally oedema or edema), you probably have a swollen tummy, or puffy hands, feet or face. Benefits of any such coaching embody heightened physique consciousness and thoughts focus, tension launch, increased vary of motion at the joints and an overall sensation of extra stability in life. Classes happen in each the fieldhouse and the Studley Dance Studio, as indicated on the group fitness schedule.
Teacher class assignments can be discovered on our pdf schedule but are topic to alter. This class will fluidly move from one pose to the following and incorporate power, flexibility, balance, cardio and bodily and mental stamina. This class is ideal for every fitness stage as all the workouts may be modified in range of problem from beginner to advanced.
Try out lessons on Dedication Day, sign up for …


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Car Rental in Burwood
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bouche reacted to jimmy skyline for a post, Slippery People
Part musical concert, part dance, part performance piece, part kinetic sculpture, David Byrne's latest American Utopia Tour settled into a slightly abbreviated stop at CityFolk Festival in Ottawa. The show has been gathering an endless stream of positive reviews, and fan appreciation. Really, the reason why this seems to resonate so deeply amongst the wide-ranging demographic that makes up David Byrne fans base is a little perplexing. Minimalist in design, the performance is endlessly engaging and transforming. Within the somewhat self referential opening of the show, (so similar in idea to Stop Making Sense, with David Byrne at centre stage in bleak surroundings and alone), the audience is drawn in and seduced by the stark setting, grey leisure suit, bare feet, desk, chair and a "brain" carrying showman. David sucks you in and before you know it we are living in Dave's Byrne Big World. With no explicit narrative, there is the thread of positivity, and hopefulness that permeates the overall exploration of design, form, and movement. The overall effect of the show is Kinetic Sculpture… using humans and the occasional simple prop, Byrne leaves enough room to transpose your imagination onto the dance and the forces that cause and create movement.
The latest record, American Utopia, deeply benefits from the continued collaboration with Brian Eno, making it Byrne highest chart topping success. The time is ripe for some positivity, but American Utopia and recent projects are filtered through the eyes of the modern condition. Tracks like, "Lazy", and "I Should Watch TV, which are both collaborations with St. Vincent, were sobering reminders of the bleak separation and general malaise that encompasses so much of our daily encounters. On stage, the band was watching a "tv" that was simply a beam of light glowing off of the hanging chain link strands that boxed in the stage's back and sides. David Byrne rolls up his sleeves, miming shooting up, and sings "touch me, and feel my pain", suggesting that the drugging of our nation is a response to the alienation from the advent of technology, and an environment where we can be instantly be connected to each other, but still suffer the painful isolation and solitariness of being lost in society. The idea of "Utopia" is not a delusional pipe dream, but one tempered by an understanding that it is an ongoing struggle, and that it is a work in progress. It is often overlooked that "Utopia" is part of a larger project that David Byrne is engaged in. The project, which borrows a title from Ian Dury and the Blockhead's song "Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part 3", which ironically was written in the U.K. during the Margret Thatcher years. Within the context of this bigger project David Byrne 's "Reasons to Be Cheerful", looks at the complexities of the urban environment, and the subtle but transformative cues, like the changing impact of increased bicycle use on our daily life, our outlook, our habits, and the environment. Byrne is looking at the ways to change our perspectives by engaging with the world in more direct and meaningful ways. The bombardment of images and messages that promote fear and dread, largely propagated by media, corporations and the government, is what the authorities want you to feel. This is part of a "Hegelian dialect", that keep the power structures oppressing individuals in society, and allow the exploitation of those individuals at the same time. "They" want you to live in fear, keep you at bay and use this as leverage for policies and attacks on freedoms and liberties. The "Reasons to Be Cheerful" project, is a plea to turn off the fear mongering media messages, and re-engage in your community, make real human connections and participate in civic issues. In other words, he is hoping that people simply get involved in a direct and meaningful way to make the world a better place, no matter how small the contribution may seem. Walk to the store instead of driving, bike more, grow your own food, and to be really subversive, smile more. Yes, smile more, and if you do, you may soon notice, people will smile back.
All of this is a subtext to a performance which is at its core is a celebration of joy, music, and movement. The fluidity of the dance, the freedom of the musicians to move freely, the stripped-down aesthetic gives a lot of opportunity for the audience to celebrate alongside. The entry point into the performance is easy, nothing really stands between the performer and audience, and this transforms the event into a giant kinetic experience. The energy of the dance was infectious for the audience at CityFolk. With the side screens that usually give the back 40 a good close up of the performance, were black. The only way to experience the show was by directly watching it. There was no way to filter the experience through another medium. The stage design was as striking from the dead centre 30 feet out, as it was from the back of the Great Lawn. The stage glowed with a shimmering intensity, the dancing so bold and engaging that no matter where you stood, you were in on the action. Of course, it was the music that propelled the dance, and the Ottawa crowd dropped it usual conservatism and boogied right along. There were more balls out dancing then I have ever seen at an Ottawa show. It was very heartening to be in the middle of this energy, and be able to dance with abandon at the foot of the master of polyrhythmic cross-cultural musical mayhem. I have seen David Byrne perform over the years, including the small understated tour that he did after the St. Vincent collaboration. On that tour, he played mostly his back catalogue of Talking Heads material. Although this tour was incredibly satisfying, in all sincerity, Ottawa shock their collective money maker just like I remembered at "The Remain In Light Tour" of 1981. This was a watershed moment for me, at only 14 years of age, (with The English Beat as an opener), my life was transformed. I danced for the first time that night. And I mean really danced. With abandon. Forgetting time and space, and dissolving into rhythm and movement. Pure joy. Pure celebration.
And smiles.
Lots of smiles.
Just like Ottawa.
Two songs were dropped from the set list that has been commonly played on this tour. Both "Bullet, and the unrecorded live song, "Dancing Together", were dropped from previous shows. A slightly different song order was also an unusual feature of this rare outdoor festival performance. Most venues have been sit-down theatres, like the two summer shows in Toronto, at the Sony Centre. So, it was very heartening to see Ottawa take advantage of the setting, and cut a deep rug on The Great Lawn. The bulk of the set list was from "American Utopia", and smatterings of the Talking Heads back catalogue. A little less then half the show saw a survey of some of the Talking Heads best material, and there was a lovely shout out to David Byrne's many collaborations with a light-hearted Fatboy Slim (The Brighton Port Authority) number called "Toe Jam". Deep tracks like "I Zimba", "Once in a Lifetime", and the "Great Curve", had the most resonance with the audience. I suspect, as was the case with me, that the older Talking Heads pieces transported us back to our youth and the start of our musical awakenings. I heard many a side conversation re telling which album and at what age people discovered the Talking Heads. From "77", through to "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts", to the underrated last record "Naked", everyone seemed to hold high reverence to their David Byrne initiation. Now, I'm a realist, and not someone prone to using my rose coloured glasses to view my past. As awe-inspiring as this tour is, I can not shake the idea of how notoriously difficult David Byrne is to work with. Often, and especially for this incredibly intricate performance, David Byrne gets a pass on his curmudgeon demeanor. I suspect that as free-flowing and celebratory as the performance appeared, there is an iron hand driving the performance and its aesthetics. Initially, the "American Utopia" tour was booked into several venues and then canceled… Burlington and Montreal come to mind. It is my understanding that the stage set up did not meet David Byrne's minimal requirements, leaving several cities out of the mix. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, it is his tour, and his vision, and a fine one at that. One opinion that i seemed to share with only myself, was that the band was not near as powerful as "The Remain in Light" band that had Adrian Belew, and Busta Jones and, well everyone really… in the shadows of my mind, this band was different than the Talking Heads. I would like to think that comes down to ownership… the fellow founding members of the Talking Heads, Chris Frantz, and Tina Weymouth owned the material, shaped it and created it. When the original Talking Heads played, they were nothing short of dangerous, and provocative. They were a machine with many moving parts, that sometimes felt like they would implode, but rarely did. The "American Utopia" band felt like they were hitting their cues, and marks, but not free enough to soar above the clouds. Wonderful they were, and I appreciate that this is at best nitpicking, but 1981 this wasn't. What we did get was a peek into the future of stage performance. With the advent of technology freeing our collective constraints, this novel approach to an unfettered musical experience will become more common, and perhaps even the norm in a few years. Bravo to David Byrne for using a minimalist approach to high light the physical freedom and collective dynamic energy to bring a joyful celebration of music, dance and performance art to the wonderment of all in attendance. This was a real coup for CityFolk and a very high water mark for next years performers.
Set List David Byrne September 14, 2018, CityFolk The Great Lawn Landsdowne Park Ottawa
Here Lazy I Zimbra (Talking Heads song) Slippery People (Talking Heads song) I Should Watch TV (David Byrne & St. Vincent cover) Dog's Mind Everybody's Coming to My House This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) (Talking Heads song) Once in a Lifetime (Talking Heads song) Doing the Right Thing Toe Jam (Brighton Port Authority cover) Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) (Talking Heads song) I Dance Like This Every Day Is a Miracle Like Humans Do Blind (Talking Heads song) The Great Curve (Talking Heads song) Burning Down the House (Talking Heads song) Hell You Talmbout (Janelle Monáe cover) (with Merrill Garbus) (also with Ani DiFranco) If you want to explore more about the Talking Heads, David Byrne and the Reasons to be Cheerful movement, check out the links below. Well worth your time. Now smile, dammit.
An Introduction to The Talking Heads
Well How Did We Get Here? A Brief History of Talking Heads
An Audience Video of the American Utopia Tour (complete performance)
Reasons to be Cheerful
Lecture/Talk by David Byrne
David Byrne - Reasons To Be Cheerful talk - Jan. 8, 2018
bouche reacted to jimmy skyline for a post, Tedeschi Trucks Band Convoy Arrives at CityFolk
Tedeschi Trucks Band Review: September 12, 2018. The Great Lawn at Landsdowne Park, Ottawa
Mid-set of Tedeschi Trucks Band at the Ottawa CityFolk Festival, I was quietly reminded that I first saw Derek Trucks play with the Allman Brothers in Toronto when he was a tender 21 year old. Now, by 21, Derek was a seasoned veteran, making headway with his powerhouse slide guitar on stages and in front of audiences for several years. He was an acclaimed guitarist, and by age 13 was sharing the stage with Buddy Guy, and ThunderHawk, and could be found guesting with Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton. By July 30, 2000, Molson Amphitheatre performance, The Allman Brothers had just kicked out Dickey Betts (a founding member) from the band only days before. Much to my initial disappointment Jimmy Herring and Warren Hayes were holding down the dueling guitars. Jimmy sat in a chair the whole night, with a pair of headphones on, and Warren was the guitar slut that he would later be known for. However, it was the playing of Derek Trucks that stood out in my memory.
I had heard that the nephew of Butch Trucks (the on and off again drummer for the Allman's and an original member), had been tearing up the coast. And memorable it was. In fact, this particular Allman's Brother show was so powerful and had rung every single high note of my expectations, that I swore i would never see them again. For me, The Allman Brothers would never play such a perfect show again. They tore it up, leaving everyone exhausted as the last notes of a complete Mountain Jam ended the second set. Derek Trucks left a major mark on the 21st century Allman's, and this era was faithfully recorded on "Peakin' at the Beacon", that same year. One of the high water marks for the band.
Derek never stood still, marrying Susan Tedeschi, breaking up the Derek Trucks band and forming the Tedeschi Trucks Band by the year 2010. Since then, the TTB has been road warriors, paying countless festivals and headlining concerts. The 12 piece band has hit their pace, as was evident in the stunning performance at CityFolk at Landsdowne Park September 12, 2018. If there was any doubt that Derek Trucks was one of the greatest guitarist going these days, that notion was left behind after a blistering and inspired set that lasted just over 90 minutes. Their official time slot was listed at a paltry 70 minutes, but TTB came out 10 minutes earlier than their set time and finished a good 15 minutes after the curtain call time.
Still, by TTB standards it was a shortened set. Twelve songs, and one encore later, the Ottawa crowd was treated to a spiritual, positive, and intricate evening of jam-infused songs. Susan's voice was pure and strong, with hints of a gritty Bonnie Raitt, and a whole bag of soul to boot. Her guitar playing was the perfect foil for a band with a lot of musical muscle. When she stepped out on lead guitar, she played with initial poise and constraint, building her soaring leads and pushing the jams forward. Lead vocals were traded off a couple times in the evening, allowing the backup singers, Matt Mattison, and Mark Rivers to have their due. But it was Susan's soulful poignancy that gave credit to the plea for peace, love, and acceptance (a philosophical perspective shared by most Jam Bands of this era). The Joe Cocker song (written by Mathew Moore) "Space Captain" which ended the set, was sung convincingly by Susan as she repeated the refrain, "Learning to live together, Till we die."
Overall the set reflected the Great American Jukebox… every night TTB plays a different show. Sometimes a song might be repeated, but show to show, night to night, anything could happen. CityFolk got two brilliant Bob Dylan covers, "Down in the Flood", which had an incredible break down in the middle which deconstructed Dylan's music and sent it into the stratosphere, and another cover off of 1974's Planet Waves, "Going, Going, Gone". A spiritual centre piece of the set, Susan was able to give us a "bring me to Jesus" moment.
There was no shortage of musical highlights. Kofi Burbridge on flute and keyboards took out the Hammond B3 organ and the two Leslie Horn speakers for an early set break out that reminded everyone why vintage musical equipment is so magical. Derek spent most of the night nestled into the back corner near the bass player Tim Lefebvre, where both of them had the physical impact of those spinning Leslie's at their feet. It seemed that every time Derek was not stepping out on a lead, he would venture to the back, and stand squarely between the Leslie speakers.
Derek's stage presence is so understated and his demeanor is so humble, it's easy to underestimate his real virtuosity. With a band with so many moving parts, the focus is still on the flow. The occasional trading of leads is mostly superseded by more organic exploration. Derek navigates the waters only captaining the ship when needed. His subdued stage presence speaks to his humbling approach to the big band sound. Where just a few years ago TTB was a solid bet for a great night of blues-infused music, we are now seeing the genesis of a live juggernaut. CityFolk will do well to have TTB return in future festivals.
Set List
Tedeschi Trucks Band
September 12, 2018
CityFolk Ottawa, Landsdowne Park
Anyhow High and Mighty Let me get by Midnight in Harlem Down in the Flood Let's Get Stoned Don't Know What Shame Going, Going, Gone Sky is Crying I Want More Space Captain E: Made Up My Mind
bouche reacted to Booche for a post, 3 Day Recap of Bluesfest
Photo Courtesy of Mark Horton and Ottawa Bluesfest
Change is inevitable and one must embrace it in order to keep moving forward. Bluesfest is a prime example of that ideology. 20 years have seen the location go from Lebreton to City Hall and back to Lebreton. No longer do we have 6 stages and we are now dealing with dead air rather than sound bleed, which was the biggest issue as far as I am concerned but it's easy to get used to. Which do you prefer? Running from stage to stage like a jack rabbit or being like a lion after a satisfying meal? Both have their positive points. Recently, people wanting to sit down in lawn chairs are cordoned off far quite a ways back and that might be the single most important aspect adding to the experience.
Purchasing a 3 day pass seemed perfect while essentially becoming a 'buy 2 get one 1 free" deal. Capitalism begets the ideal of smart purchases and this one made sense because the Foo Fighters had a very high price point for their first show in Ottawa since 2008. They still sold out the venue which is a massive rarity.
Stepping onto the grounds it was immediately clear that security had ramped up their efforts but that is now the norm with any large collection of individuals. Go to a Sens game or any concert at the Canadian Tire Center and you will find the same thing. Long lines while bags and pockets are checked along with metal detectors. These moments are no longer a stroll in the park so planning accordingly with a schedule of the bands you want to see are of the utmost importance.
Photos Courtesy of Mark Horton and Ottawa Bluesfest
The War On Drugs has been a band I have been dying to see so Friday July 6th was the first pick of the 3 days pass I held. Having missed them at Folkfest a few years ago it was an obvious choice. Their studio work is perfect, the song writing is praiseworthy and their style is comforting. The question remained; can they pull off what they do in the studio? The answer is a resounding yes. The biggest surprise was discovering that Adam Granduciel is a monster player as well as a solid front man, which ended up being a common theme amongst many of the acts gracing the stages. Much of the material in their hour long set was culled from their last two albums, Lost In The Dream and A Deeper Understanding. It's easy to wonder what a full show from them must be like. Towards the tail end there was strong, yet intentional, feedback emanating from Adam's guitar during Red Eyes when all of a sudden one of the stagehands let him know they only had 5 minutes left. Adam then changed guitars while stating "We were about to do Under The Pressure but we only have 5 minutes left. Here's one that we don't often do." They launched into Lost In The Dream which became immediately satisfying considering the expectations of what hadn't occurred.
Photo courtesy of Scott Penner and Ottawa Bluesfest
After that it was time to check out St Paul and the Broken Bones on the Claridge Stage but that was an exercise in futility. The tent was packed with people spilling out every which way but loose. As wonderful as that music is there was no way it was being felt in any meaningful way. There were too many conversations with people milling about and it became a waste of time. Making way towards the Blacksheep Stage I noticed there were people all the way at the back on the top of the hill. That alone was intriguing but once crested it became obvious why so many folk were seeing this band. Brockhampton were throwing down some serious hip hop. The energy level coming from the stage was palpable in a way you can only explain if you experience it. The crowd was much younger but were hopping in unison. Music is best when there is a collection of individuals all feeling the same thing and this was it. Theoretically that is why we keep going and this proved it. At a certain point when they mellowed out for a bit, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to check out Jethro Tull. My presence didn't last very long because I kept wondering what I was missing on the Blacksheep stage so I ended up heading back that way. They were an absolutely perfect discovery and I look forward to seeing them again in the future.
Photos Courtesy of Mark Horton and Ottawa Bluesfest
The second choice of the 3 day pass was a no brainer. Being a huge fan of Dave Grohl's song writing brought me on Tuesday July 10th and from the moment we arrived we knew we were in for a massive crowd. Getting there just after 6pm knowing there might be a lineup is one thing but getting there that early while witnessing such a sea of people is another. It was shocking. We figured out the quickest way to get in thanks to an amazing eye but things could have been so much worse. By the time we were getting scanned with metal detectors Greta Van Fleet were onstage with their heavily pulsating sound. The interest level in seeing them was quite astounding, however it was very difficult to get into their set thanks to it being so early and only an hour long. We had just enough time to get in, grab a beer, get a spot, coordinate with those coming and before we knew it the band only had 2 songs left. That was enough for us to know we will be keeping tabs on these kids. There was plenty of "Led Zeppelin-esque" talk amongst our crew with none of it being negative. They wear it like a badge of honour.
At this point it was pretty much impossible to get anything from the concessions offered and if you didn't have an insider you were going to deal with what had to be at least a 45 minute line. Thankfully the concert overlords graced our group so all we had to do was laugh at one another while waiting for the Foo Fighters. When they hit the stage they hit it running and opened with what I consider to be the best opening song almost any band does, All My Life. Learn To Fly followed and then The Pretender, which was the opener the last time the band was in town but it was time to move. By the time we found a more palpable spot, Dave Grohl had invited his daughter on stage to sing back up to The Sky Is A Neighbourhood which Is from their latest album Concrete and Gold. The singalong during My Hero was perfectly entertaining from our new vantage point. Not long after there was the inevitable drum solo. Taylor Hawkins is pretty much the human equivalent of Animal from the Muppets so it didn't come off as incredibly cheesy but the majority of drum solos do showcase a solid level of talent. A particular section introducing the band members was really entertaining. Taylor sang Queen's Under Pressure but the highlight had to be the Imagine/Jump mash-up. Picture the arrangement of John Lennon's Imagine with the lyrics to Van Halen's Jump. I couldn't do it simply reading that line but the Foo Fighters put those puzzle pieces with perfect execution. It was musically geeky and comedic all at the same time. The rest of the show featured a few more heavy hitters like Monkey Wrench and Best Of You and shortly followed with Dirty Water from the new album. They came out for the encore and never let up, in fact one could suggest they went for it even harder and it would be hard to argue against that point. There were a couple of shout outs to Alanis Morrisette because Taylor Hawkins used to be the drummer in her band. Apparently she introduced him to Dave Grohl. You Outta Know offered a quick hello at the start of the encore followed by Big Me, Times Like These and finally Everlong. Just about as perfect as an encore one can envision.
Photos Courtesy of Mark Horton and Ottawa Bluesfest
Friday the 13th was the final pick of the 3 day pass and expectations were sky high. Sturgill Simpson on the City Stage followed by Beck. We got there really early again thanks to our Foo experience but this was vastly different. It felt like no one was there. You could go anywhere, order anything and be in the bathroom in a second. That's what I always loved about Bluesfest so it was nice to feel like a return home. Having said that, it's amazing so many people opted out of the music from this night because they opted out of a fantastic experience.
The last time seeing Sturgill was during his Grammy winning Sailors Guide To Earth album tour. He had horns backing him as well as this insane lead guitar player named Laur Joamets and we wondered which band we would be seeing. Turns out it was the bass, drum and keyboard core of that band. For a brief moment I was disappointed but then a friend turned and said "Sturgill can rip it on guitar". Sure enough, that boy can play. He tore his country songs to shreds but they were no longer country. This was "the Allman Brothers minus one guitar player" as Todd put it. Strugill approaches his live songs much like Bob Dylan. If you think you only know it in one key then get ready. They will change the key and change the tempo to the point you might not know what song it is until they hit the chorus. He was destroying his Tele whenever that was in his hands and was easily the best guitar player I witnessed at Bluesfest. It's simple to label him as a Waylon Jennings clone when you hear him sing but that is a disservice. Most of the songs came from A Sailor's Guide To Earth and Metamodern Sounds In Country Music but there were at least a couple of songs that I had no idea whether he wrote them or covered them.
Photos Courtesy of Mark Horton and Ottawa Bluesfest
Everyone enjoyed Sturgill's set so the break was welcomed as folks discussed what had just happened while feeling excited to see Beck. We all grew up on his music and the vast majority were finally seeing him live for the first time. What was it going to sound like? That was a predominate idea but when Beck finally took the stage and opened with Devil's Haircut the City Stage turned everything into an old school dance party. Loser followed and bodily streams started flowing perfectly, complete with a mini sing-a-long. Que Onda Guero was up next and that's the moment when it became obvious the bass player in this band was the real deal. His tone was perfectly aligned with our favorite bass players on this website, Phil Lesh and Mike Gordon. It wouldn't be a surprise if he played a Modulus because he was throwing fastballs with his piece of wood while also creating an earthquake. The acoustic interlude dulled a few people who wanted the dance party to keep going but it gave others a chance to catch their breath. "Beck clearly went to Prince University" so when he dropped Raspberry Beret on the crowd, complete with a glowing purple light showcase, everything was lining up and shit got lit. The rest of the set was unfamiliar to our crew but no less harmonious. Make no mistake this was a really quick set with regards to time. I think it was no longer than an hour and a half. Where It's At brought the dancers back in full force and then segued into a band introduction. During this medley we were privy to Miss You by the Rolling Stones, Cars by Gary Numan, Once In A Lifetime by the Talking Heads and In The Air tonight by Phil Collins along with at least 1 or 2 that are forgotten. Where It's At came back around to complete the circle.
Bluesfest was positively tremendous this year with one of the best lineups they have offered in quite some time. Local food vendors, plenty of amenities and a bevy of conscientious music lovers helped take things over the top. Experience has formed their logistical thinking and I look forward to seeing what next summer, and beyond ,has to offer.
bouche reacted to gentlemonkey for a post, Jazz Fest Report - Bella Tagaq-a
Thursday night featured an unusual, eclectic pairing both satisfying and surreal in downtown Ottawa. Enjoying the last reasonable summer weather before a looming heat-wave, revelers arrived early in anticipation of glimpsing something elusive and jazzy floating into the scene: an overweight pink animal in tilted hat and shades.
Once I arrived, the scene was set.... for the rare.... storied elegance of the infamous, grass fed.... Kyla Ramsey. (Full disclosure: My wife has been an amazing co-conspirator this past week, often developing some of the finer turns of phrase in these reviews: Chaka Gon?- all her. Thanks Kyla!).
Together we sat in the humid humus and hot-doggedly relished the arrival of Bela Fleck the Flecktones, and although no flying hippos were sighted, the evening was certainly cosmic. Bela and the 'tones sounded tour-fresh and dexterous as they worked through a 90 minute set of new and classic material, flanked artfully by the stoic multi-coloured, possibly acrylic Jazzfest columns (or Roman spouts, or trumpet holes- whatever those things are) which have peppered the stage for the last 30 years. Trotting out returning Flecktone Howard Levy on piano and harmonica for his first appearance in Ottawa since the departure of Jeff Coffin, renditions seemed slightly scaled back or re-imagined, which was fine. I did crave the intensity of Coffin at times, but it didn't matter as Levy definitely adds his own flair. Forever young, Victor Wooten's playful style is riveting. He attacks his bass with merciless joy and skill. Joking and smiling on stage, it is clear the band are close friends enjoying these time on the road. Their relaxed approach is, however, incongruous with the music, which maintains a relentless intensity, and a note-count somewhere in the upper trillions. Even still, somehow their compositions remain booth soothing and thrilling. In a heartfelt moment, Bela Fleck shared a piece written for his recently born son, entitled 'Juno' and then the group finished with classic 'Sinister Minister' encore to the great delight of my better and I. Futureman tapped it out methodically all night- though by the look of his weathered hat, and face, it appears the future past may be catching up with his pirateering a bit.
On the (new) late night OLG stage at Confederation Park, (FYI- After Dark Tartan events are now taking place at Confederation Park, and as a result, some of the earlier events have been affected). This night, Tanya Tagaq emerged with violinist Jessie Zubot and drummer Jean Martin for a set of heavy, at times somewhat uncomfortable, but most surely thought-provoking improvisation. It was by no means a groove-fest, but rather a holistically invasive cerebral aural experience. Polaris winner Tagaq easily charmed the audience with her authenticity, modestly introducing the band. Once underway, her set was genuinely intense and at times even monstrous. Her vocal abilities are quite literally unmatched and include everything from traditional Inuit throat singing, to howling, operatic singing and scatting. Tagaq has a natural confidence and musicality that allows her to employ this arsenal with devastating effect. Her themes and rhythms rolled with a rare natural ebb and flow, evoking magic and terror symmetrically. For a set with few deliberate words, themes and connections could be made, often between pleasure and pain in a masterpiece of subjectivity. Tagaq's bravery as a performer is also, frankly, stunning as she dissolves into her performance baring everything of which she is comprised; blood, guts, love and hate, pain and leasure. It's almost impossible to take your eyes off of her- she is a total powerhouse. Without knowing how to quote specific sections, I enjoyed the movement that I recall as "rage/fuck/row/resist'. Her music incites disruptive reflection as she evokes both the struggle and joys of not only Inuit people, or First nations women, but anyone ready to confront themselves on some level, and feel things they can't remember having felt. Go see Tanya Tagaq!
bouche reacted to gentlemonkey for a post, Jazz Fest Report - Terrific Tuesday
Tuesday night the Ottawa Jazzfest delivered the kind of satisfaction usually reserved for an All-you-can-eat Sizzler, thankfully without the inevitable heartburn and diarrhea. After leaving underwhelmed Monday, every turn taken on Tuesday brightened the spirit and entertained the soul, in a truly buzz-inducing evening. The absolutely perfect summer weather was a great place to start, (one of the two or three perfect nights we can typically expect in Ottawa) with an ethereal airy pink painted sky and a warm soothing breeze.
The Dusty Drifters kicked things off early at the OLG stage in Confederation Park with an entertaining set of favourites and surprise covers including a new arrangement of a 'Big Sugar' tune. The group's vocal harmonies and stage banter have really progressed, with local legend Pauly Roberto at the helm, so much so, that they charmed the pants off the shirtless. (If you're reading this, Ronny: Not cool!). Great to see so many smiling supporters demonstrating their pride in this talented local favourite.
Ghost Note was already underway on the Tartan Homes tent, I was thankful to catch the last 40 minutes or so of this power house funk band, featuring members of Snarky Puppy and bass Phenom MonoNeon. Masters of timing, colour and groove- the band packed their short, early slot with more action than a Burt Reynolds movie.
This band was in fact, so fun, talented and engaging- it was like high thread Egyptian cottons had been laid out artfully over the stage, after Knower's borderline bed-shitting the night previous. Total palate cleaner. It's not often I can be found literally jumping up and down in sandals, at 7:50pm on a weeknight- or buying shirts that don't fit because I want to support a band, but it all happened this fine night. SEE THIS BAND.
Alison Krauss packed Marion Dewar Plaza with the most attentive crowd I've seen in recent memory. Though a little bit quiet through the main speakers, and muddled by wine-tent yakking, the audience tried their best to catch every breath and fiddle twiddle the songstress shared.
Her band was comprised of Nashville magicians, softly singly sweet songs of love and sorrow in unmatched harmony. You know music is working when you are truly taken away- and at moments during this set I found myself exploring deep recesses of my mind, just freely wondering... Where will it all go? (I'm not sure) - Is Mr. Dress Up still alive? (no- Ernie Coombs died in 2001, I Googled it) - Should I be trying to write fiction so there is no accountability? (Probably). It was a lovely set, and definitely primed me for the jaw-dropper to come.
Tartan stage hosted The Jerry Douglas Band, in what can only be described as a close encounter of the 4th kind, the Jazz-Grassian kind. There was a power and energy on that small stage which is not often available to mankind- it was almost divine, or maybe alien. Spacey, exploratory and dense music danced into our hearts with grace and precision.
The combination of tenure, experience, confidence, and genuine delight in music-making seduced revellers to the point of ecstatic convulsion (That is just how I dance, Ronny!). Jerry looked like a mature southern ranch owner, with a twinkle in eye and a knowing flash in his toothy grin. He's the uncle we all wish we had, with his perfect leather boots and winky smarm. He could be a character in a Quentin Tarantino movie, played by Don Johnson, or Jeff Bridges. Jerry earns his reputation, and as 'the best dobro player in the world' it comes as no surprise that Jerry would have the best Nashville hot-shot soon to be elites in his band, and he gave them all an opportunity to strut their stuff.
They collectively sashayed the audience through a mesmerizing 90 minute masterclass in musicianship, style and excitement. With some of the most riveting interplay and compositional creativity I've enjoyed in a long time. All members were off the charts, but guitar player Mike Seal was a show-stopper, calmly picklessly picking his matte Ibanez like a modern Roy Buchanan with something to prove. His speed and tasteful layering often brought Jerry to smile, and their mutual grins were exceptionally cute, and kind of heartwarming.
I guess, I'll include my phone note: It was like Zappa was arranging for Garcia and Rice. Departing on my bicycle with a strong soberish music high- the world seemed just a little more beautiful.
bouche reacted to gentlemonkey for a post, Jazz Fest Report- Chaka Knows her Fet Nat.
Monday night's lineup at Ottawa Jazz fest stood-out like a beacon of hope for me for several weeks leading up to the event. It was the kind of bill that was like a mysterious and exciting hooded rider..You know the kind? With a leather satchel, on a dark horse.. in that, you don't know what's under the hood, what's in the satchel (like bread? or firecrackers? who knows!), or if the horse is fast or lazy. Or lame. What a bloated, unsatisfying metaphor, I know, I apologize- but it fits here. Frankly, for so much hope, the evening ultimately provided only diminishing returns.
The event kicked off with a taste of Jazz-Punk from amazing local heros Fet Nat in the Tartan Homes tent- another brave booking in a desirable time slot. Really, what better way to celebrate St-Jean Baptiste day, than being musically terrorized by a group of Quebecois nationalist noise-anarchists in the heart of English Canada's Golden Triangle? I guess the wise elder crowds got the memo, as attendance was poor. Regardless, the band performed with memorable energy and positivity in a riveting though short set. They are a lot like early Pod-era Ween in their sounds, with no interest in traditional songwriting or money-making. Fet Nat tore through heavy dissonant grooves and distortion with screaming and vocal modulations which brought me personally, great delight. The band used social commentary with humour to get a reaction, and leave you with something to think about. For example: the 'singer' / 'host' directed the sparse crowd to shift their seating comically using cute handmade child-like signs and traffic police-like direction, while other band members were screaming aggressively and pointing accusatorially at audience members. Then, the group thanked everyone cordially for their participation sheepishly, in a high pitched mouse voice- again very satisfying. I did have difficulty at times understanding the all-French lyrics, and felt bi-lingually inadequate, as per usual. Time to tune into French CBC a little more often, I guess. Local sax player Linsey Wellman adds some wonderful texture to the group, and their drummer Olivier Fairfield is one of my favourites to watch, using only a kick, snare and hi-hat to great effect. One of the set highlights was his son climbing onto the stage and cozying to his kit as the ferocious drumming continued. Looking forward to seeing this band again.
Chaka Khan on the main stage provided a rare opportunity to scream 'Chaka Khan!' loudly and specifically- which was also a delight. Especially when it draws an irritated look from my favourite CBC voice, Lawrence Wall. Chaka took the stage with her huge backing band of world class players- and brought the smooth funky disco of the late 70s to the Plaza. Her band was most certainly super badass. It's not often you see a leather do-rag coupled with aviators glasses, a pink Stratocastor, rhinestone everything, and infinite sparkles all in one place without irony- and it somehow worked. The group had some great choreographed struts and rock squats, and kept the groove moving all night. The sound was a little bit on the harsh (digital?) side, and sorely lacked the necessary warmth of disco vinyl. I suppose this is a result of the concrete. After thrilling the audience with 'Tell me Something Good", and 'I'm Every Woman' - she shuffled off the stage without an encore, and just like that - Chaka 'Gon. I can't say if it was a good set for her, but it felt a little bit flat for me.
Over to the Tartan Home's stage for - Knower - one of my most anticipated events of the festival. A weirdo duo from Los Angeles who incorporate funk, and upbeat dance rhythms in their tunes, have produced a series of ridiculously irreverent songs and videos which are impossibly catchy and clever; including - 'The Government Knows (when you masturbate)", "Butt N Tits N Money", and others whch have recently captured my heart. I enthusiastically sang their praises to several friends throughout the evening- but ended up slinking out of the tent sheepishly, hoping they wouldn't notice when things weren't going as well as I'd hoped. It was kind of like when you really want to take a friend (who has never been) for a great sandwich at Dirienzos, and the day you bring them the bread is staler than those packets of McDonald's orange mix at the back of your cottage cupboard. That kinda thing. First problem was that the show began at 10:40pm, almost 50 minutes after Chaka ended. This is not an acceptable amount of time to go without music at a 'music festival'- but especially on a Monday night. Producers need to start the Tartan Tent stage at 10:15pm, or earlier, even if music overlaps a bit. This way the 'fans' or those who want to shift stages can make that choice. It would also keep music playing and avoids useless lineups, and also prevent the chair-people from staking out inappropriate real estate on the dance-floor.
Anyway, the band took the stage to an seemingly epic backing track intro, and then timidly stumbled through a few tracks and motions. They certainly got their groove at certain moments- but the confidence of their playing was lacking and they seemed quiet and concerned. I wondered if they had been introduced to some of Canada's over-potent, soon to be legal, recreational herbage backstage: it was that kind of awkward. Singer Genevieve Artadi looked bashful from the get go- and her voice lacked tone and clarity. The whole band seemed intentionally quiet, which is never a good sign. Drummer Louis Cole played with intensity in compensation. He made some snide remarks about the sponsor, then admitted the duo only met the guitar player and keyboardist that day, so not to judge too harshly. Ooof. They he launched into a drum solo that seemed disconnected from the songs, while the rest of band waited, chatting. I only managed to stay for a few more tracks as I realized I was actually hoping for a big choreographed production with backing tracks that made me move. Something big loud, ridiculous and fun with video- not some timid wank. I really just would like to be entertained, unequivocally- and I feel I'm still waiting for the satisfaction. It was also earlier revealed that St Germain had cancelled their appearance on Wednesday, so I suppose perception played a big part. Hopeful for tonight!
bouche reacted to gentlemonkey for a post, Jazzfest Report - Lakeside Lowdown
Saturday's dreary weather was most certainly offset, if not diffused, by the Ottawa Jazzfest's continual upsurge of glorious music and zeal. Blasting the heavens with love and disdain. Think: Care Bear countdown, but with beer and music instead of rainbows. During the overcast daylight hours, an International Klezmer collaboration occurred with musicians marching in solidarity, becoming International allies. Then, to switch our hips into glide, re-imagined Afro Cuban music filled the early evening air. It was in this hopeful and positive spirit that I arrived to check Finnish Avant-Garde accordionist, Kimmo Pohjonen's set in the Lisgar Street Tartan Homes tent.
Walking in to a silent rapt, possibly terrified tent audience I was immediately struck by the intensity and theatrical irreverence of the performance. It was brave, unique, artful and absolutely jarring, yet at times ethereal, but also weird and funny. Vague, yet precise, perhaps, maybe not. The muscular Kimmo was seated facing, nay, lording over the audience holding his highly effected accordion (which acted as a traditional instrument, sample trigger, and percussion tool) mounted to his chest with leather bracing, surrounded by an elaborate pedal board, and wearing the swirling robes of a Finnish spice lord complete with partial Mohawk and goatee. Another take could be a renegade high priest from Game of Thrones- very fantastical.
His arrangements were equally varied and challenging to describe- from chaotic, to dreamy, synthed-out layered compositions reminiscent of romantic highland interludes, which might easily be interrupted by deconstructed samples of motor sounds- all accompanied by various chants or theatrical movements. A one man freak out band- perfect musical companion for a bag of magic mushrooms and a shoe-less walk into a dark forest.
My friend leaned over and said to me, 'It's nice to see a man play an instrument' - I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. My first reaction was during one of his more intense Nordic hell-scapes, which was punctuated with some sampled rhythms, intense howling and a slow chopping motion with one of this hands. I wrote a few things in my phone: "Soundtrack to a Netflix documentary about a Balkan yoga retreat disaster', 'Landlord recital from Big Lebowski', 'Total performance immersion,' 'Introspective nightmare, possibly with good outcome' - these are all accurate statements to describe this disruptive musical experience, but also somewhat dismissive and overly subjective- you just have to see it yourself. Or not! I applaud festival programmer Petr Cancura in his inclusion of experimental music in marquee time-slots, and offering original but difficult music a place to be heard. I can't say I'd be likely to pop Kimmo's album on my turntable, but I will certainly never forget the performance, which says a lot.
At the other end of the festival, and the 'jazz' spectrum, and life, was the mighty (and describable in traditional English) Lake Street Dive on the Main Stage.
A perfect mix of songwriting, musicianship and fun- this Brooklyn group is hard to resist, and they are clearly developing a solid following in Ottawa, evidenced by the healthy crowd partying and dancing despite the drizzle. Groups of normally reserved public servants, and quiet friends carefully stowed their umbrellas and bounced happily, like most people weren't watching. Though, I guess I was watching.This band is made up of dynamo musicians, fronted by Rachel Price- the most natural frontwoman I've seen in some time, with jaw-dropping pipes and charisma to match, confidently buoyed by the soulful arrangements and punchy background vocals of the band.
My ears were repeatedly drawn to the killer rhythm section, where the soulful engaging grooves of drummer and songwriter Mike Calabrese, support the phenomenally funky upright bass playing of Bridget Kearny- who in my estimation feels the like the heart of the band with her amazing energy and thoughtfully fun basslines. The group lost a bit of steam after climaxing with a killer slow-jam version of Shania Twain's 'Still the One', but ramped it back up for a lovely finish.
Like Boz Skaggs the night before, singer Rachel Price took a moment to express some of the band's Trump regret, which garnered mostly polite nods in silence from the audience. I can't imagine the conflict a progressive (reasonable?) person would have with Trump as their International spokesperson and 'leader'- God, but I do appreciate the idea of promoting the positive in response, and Lake Street did just that with a slow sexy cover of Michael Jackson's 'I Want You Back'.
It was almost a perfect set, except for an incident among the non-premium seated class. Midway through the set a stubborn curmudgeon of a security guard forced some (very happy and reasonable) dancers to sit or leave the area to clear the view for those behind them. The dancers pleaded in disbelief looking back to the complainants, and eventually walked defeated to the far side of the crowd to continue enjoying the show, in rage. Four or five seated men stood briefly to applaud the guard. I won't go into it again, because we've all seen 'Footloose,' which I'm pretty sure suggested: Let the kids enjoy music- even if it is 'against the rules'! Shouldn't this communal experience bring some joy as well, to see younger generations keeping cultural traditions alive and interesting with enthusiasm, not just observance? No one is guaranteed an unobstructed view- unless of course you pay to be in the premium zone. I suppose I'm used to a concert scene where etiquette and kindness are revered on par with the music- and this is not always the perspective of a more diverse audience, I suppose. Regardless, it was a great set from a great band, but a little more inter generational love would really be nice.
To wrap things we checked out the electrifying Israeli 16 piece brass powerhouse marching band, Marsh Dondurma. Sweet heaven! - do yourself a favour and catch these amazing players. Energy and enthusiasm was off the charts as this interactive and playful group got the crowd dancing on all sides of the After Dark tent. Everyone got a turn, and the Crowd response and interplay was incredibly fun and probably extra musical as half the audience appeared to be local musicians smiling from ear to ear in participation. I'm looking forward to checking out their collaboration with Mike Essoudry on his kit Sunday afternoon on the free stage!
bouche reacted to gentlemonkey for a post, Jazzfest Report- Dirty Lowdown
This year's Ottawa Jazz-fest has successfully rolled itself, temporarily, across Laurier to Festival Plaza, while Confederation Park attends to some boggy drainage issues- a mechanical enema you could say, but probably wouldn't. This environmental investment requires that, for just a year, we trade the cool grass and familiar shady haunts of the park for the exposed concrete digs at City Hall. So be it, we can handle some slight discomfort for the sake of our future environment, right?
Although the trademark Festival main stage has been transplanted, some familiar vendors and the free OLG stage remain static along the West end of Confederation. In expanse, the festival footprint now also includes the Tartan 'After-Dark' tent at Lisgar field- so there is a bit of hustling and jockeying required if you want to catch all the action. The scene is quite reminiscent of our early millennial Bluesfest, especially in baby-boomer representation- whose sprawling lawn chairs, festive blankets and healthy prepared snacks occupy 90% of pitch real estate. One glaring difference with the site's previous tenant is the overbearing inclusion of the now inevitable tiered experiences which permeate the festival, with various exclusive tents and fences. This trend unfortunately leaves the 'Average music lover who didn't bring a chair and doesn't mind being with other people' section quite a small slice of the sectional jazz-pie.
Nevertheless, the vibe is really quite nice, and subdued, especially on a beautiful night like Friday's where Boz Scaggs and his band entertained a solid turnout with some (very) mature musicianship and several tasty musical treats. Highlights predictably included 'Lowdown' (buoyed by the incredible lady-like falsetto of his hulking keyboardist), 'Jojo' and the smooth party anthem 'Lido Shuffle' which was unfortunately drowned out by an aggressive chorus of drunken elder-bros howling like forlorn manatees. Boz hogged the spotlight in his glowing white shirt and face, dropping a few surprises on the crowd, most notably a cover of Chuck Berry's "You Never Can Tell" which had all the squares twisting like Vincent Vega at Jack Rabbit Slim's, minus the junk and milkshakes.
After some whisper quiet blues and a tasty ripping solo from Boz, whose guitar was close to inaudible otherwise during the set, many of us made our way over to the After Dark tent, for Moon Hooch. We tucked in like Trinity Taylor, and felt the tent filling up with an enthusiasm to which, I'm sure, this trio is surely accustomed. The Brooklyn group, comprised of a drummer who clearly loves to rock, flanked by two dialed-in, horny AF sax players, serving a high energy electro-jazz which flirted with house and dub step, while remaining connected to jazz sensibilities and dynamics. Extreme shifts in groove, feel and tempo, kept listeners on their toes and got the crowd moving, and yes, grooving. Looking forward to the week of shows ahead!