Date: September 24,2010
Band Link: greatbigsea.com

This past Friday night, a hot early Fall evening, Great Big Sea played NYC at Webster Hall to a rambunctious crowd, filled with two full sets. Newfoundland’s own were in town to support their latest release “ Safe Upon The Shore,” out earlier this summer. Canadian folk rock is sure fine way of having a wonderful Friday night out in the city!

We arrived to the venue on time/early? Who knows? There was too many conflicting times. Great Big Sea was set to perform two full sets this evening and doors opened around 7 amidst venue chaos. Why Webster Hall thought queuing everyone up in the bar next door was a good idea. It was pushing 90 degrees that evening and we would have been better off standing on the sidewalk but I guess they want to get everyone good and liquored up. I know fans of Great Big Sea were annoyed as I was as well. I’ve even read on the board after the gig that many were not happy with the selection of the venue. Webster Hall was better than last time I saw them at the Town Hall in midtown. I prefer a general admission venue and a band like Great Big Sea, don’t you think it’s pointless to have a seated venue as the choice? Up, down, Up, down. It’s annoying. I’d rather just stand, dance and clap as I could tell most fans did the other night at Webster Hall.

Shooting the concert proved a little tricky. There was a photo pit but ta-da, not a proper way in to the pit. Rocket science folks. I had to climb on speaker stacks like King Kong with my camera gear, ahem Bryan’s borrowed camera gear (thanks by the way,) and jump into the pit disrupting fellow fans while they waited for the gig. The band played two sets at about 45 mins to an hour each. They featured a wide range of hits and new songs from their album, including “Good People,” “Nothing but a Song,” and a Led Zeppelin cover “Gallows Pole.” During the first set, the band did one of their very fun and entertaining medley’s featuring Hit Me With Your Best Shot/Don’t Stop Believing/500 Miles/Summer of 69 and finished off the medley with their cover of Slade’s Run Runaway.

Overall, Great Big Sea did not disappoint as always. If you want a great evening out with friends and/or family, come out and sing, clap along, and dance, then this band is right up your alley. I was pleased with the set lists and while I didn’t stick around for the end, I caught most of the gig and featured plenty of new songs from their latest record as well as one of my favorite’s “Fortune’s Favour” as well as songs from “Play,” “Up” and “Sea of No Cares”

Check out some of my photos below as well as the full set of pictures at my Flickr account here.