Last Edgefest Date Good Family Entertainment
by Sarah Gibson, July 14, 1999
VANCOUVER — It may have been cloudy skies and chilly July temperatures, but the weather didn’t keep some 18,000 eager Edge Fest concert-goers from attending the final date of Canada’s annual rock extravaganza.
When the gates opened at noon, a sea of screaming youth swarmed the stadium-wearing an enthusiasm that apparently left the rock media’s disenchantment with this year’s line up -in the dust. The ten-band, two-stage line-up including Hole, Moist, Silverchair and The Matthew Good Band may have seemed pale in comparison to last year’s Green Day and The Foo Fighter headliners; however, Edge Fest ’99 featured a larger main-stage array of Canadian talent including Moist, Wide Mouth Mason, Edwin and The Matthew Good Band.
While promoters were depending largely on bigger band names like Hole and Silverchair for ticket sales, the day’s homegrown flavour proved able to compete on Edge Fest’s world-class rock stage. Judging by audience response, 15 year-old pop-rockers Serial Joe – potentially North America’s answer to Silverchair – is a band to watch. Taking their live-show from Edge Fests’ side stage to Woodstock next month, limb-flailing frontman Ryan Dennis’ Rage Against The Machine-inspired vocals moshed the audience through a hyperactive set including their latest hit-single ‘Mistake.’
Saskatoon’s Wide Mouth Mason offered up the day’s pop/rock alternative. Proving their status as one of Canada’s strongest live-acts, Wide Mouth Mason captivated their audience with verses of rhythm and blues while Toronto popsters Treble Charger ripped through a fast, five-song set-list on the side stage, churning out some stomping new singles including the very-catchy ‘American Psycho’.
Meanwhile, the ‘crooner of the day’ award definitely went to – at least according to the hoards of young girls lined up at Chart Magazine’s autograph fan-fare – Edwin. Decked out in purple crushed velvet, the ex-I Mother Earth vocalist’s solo-debut was well received as he played a brawny set from his new album Another Spin Around The Sun.
After a long afternoon of line-ups and more line-ups, the audience warmly welcomed The Matthew Good Band. After telling the audience he was “Only in it for the nookie,” Vancouver’s hometown favorites belted out a provoking set of their signature power-rock including performances of ‘Apparitions’ and ‘Indestructible’. Later, Good and his band increased the crowds roars by wheeling out an ice-cream wagon on stage while bassist Rick Priske, drummer Ian Browne and guitarist Dave Genn proceeded to hurl Spacesicles and ice cream bars deep into the audience.
As the afternoon turned into evening, Silverchair front man Daniel Johns turned the mellow-enjoyment of the day’s music into a pepped up, mega-amplified rock show with some apparently authentic teenage- wasteland angst. Smashing out a hit-list of singles including ‘Freak,’ ‘Pure Massacre’ and ‘Anthem For The year 2000’ from their latest album ‘Neon Ballroom,’ the now 20 year-old Australian three piece proved to have earned their place amongst any of the day’s rock and roll heavyweights-including festival headliners like Hole.
“This is the last show we are going to be playing for a very long time,” screamed the leather hot-pant attired Courtney Love as twilight fell on Thunderbird Stadium. “If you’re not nice, I’m going to tell you all about my sexual history. Do you have five hours?”
Within minutes of Hole’s entrance, Love and her band – Montreal bassist Melissa auf der Maur, guitarist Eric Erlandson and drummer Samantha Moloney – took charge of the audience with a set evenly culled from the acclaimed ‘Live Through This’ and last year’s ‘Celebrity Skin’. Love’s stage antics included her usual roster of taking off her top, talking about penises and pulling teenaged girls up on the stage to dance with her.
All in all, an all-round day of good family entertainment.