The Manitoban Recommends by
Top 10 things to do this weekend#5 - Flying Fox and the Hunter/Gatherers @ Park TheatreWinnipeg's strongest horn section and some brilliantly crafted post-pop lyrics to boot
EP Review - The Uniter by
FLYING FOX AND THE HUNTER/GATHERERSFlying Fox and the Hunter/GatherersIndependentLOCAL!5/5This brilliant, self-titled debut by Flying Fox and the Hunter/Gatherers is guaranteed to leave you wanting...
The Manitoban Recommends by
Top 10 things to do this weekend
#5 - Flying Fox and the Hunter/Gatherers @ Park Theatre
Winnipeg's strongest horn section and some brilliantly crafted post-pop lyrics to boot
EP Review - The Uniter by
FLYING FOX AND THE HUNTER/GATHERERS
Flying Fox and the Hunter/Gatherers
Independent
LOCAL!
5/5
This brilliant, self-titled debut by Flying Fox and the Hunter/Gatherers is guaranteed to leave you wanting more than just the five tracks it’s composed of. It has everything a listener could ask for: breaks and regular tempo changes, creative lyrics, odd instrument solos and solid variation from one track to the next. Lead vocalist and musical mastermind Jesse Krause really switches it up with the second track “Advent,” which blends romantic longing with a dash of theological symbolism. It sounds like a mix between a Calexico song (very brassy and Mexican sounding) and a modern day musical. “Nurse” starts with a kind of 1920s mobster brass sound with back-up shouters, but quickly turns into a danceable funk beat. Their influences are evident from their sound. Hawksley Workman, Blue Rodeo and Modest Mouse and the band members’ classical training get rolled together to create these five unforgettable tracks.
— Melly Ozubko
Show Review - Killroy's (Thunder Bay) - Nor by
Like Nothing You’ve Ever Seen, Flying
Fox and the Hunter/Gatherers played for a small but enthusiastic crowd at Thunder Bay’s Kilroys. From the moment you walked into the building and the sound of horns hit your ears it was clear this was going to be a treat. This six piece band has the presence of twelve on stage and it’s clear they enjoy what they’re doing. One can’t help but be pulled in by the band’s passion; they will have you moving in no time to their catchy tunes and lyrics, which can be slightly dark but always fun.
Their sound is a solid mix of jazz, folk, alternative and pop, which produces something that everyone can get into. Front man Jesse Krause’s vocals are stunning and have a distinct Hawksly Workman feel to them. Each song they played seemed to surpass the last which resulted in a ton of Ican’t- believe-I’m-seeing-this-right-now moments. One of the many highlights of the night was when the band did a cover of Michael Jackson’s, “Billie Jean”. A lot of bands tease you
with snippets of this gem during a set but Flying Fox delivered with a stunning rendition. The band’s second last song, “Anthony Milton Quits His Job” has a bass line smoother than silk, vocals that will send a shiver up you spine and is like a train that keeps building momentum and culminates into something so catchy you’ll be humming it for weeks. The show closed with the sing a long friendly “Nurse”. If you can remain still during this song there may be something wrong with you. If the words Flying fox and the Hunter Gatherers only draw vague flashes of brain numbing high school lesson to mind I suggest you get a hold of their music. It’s bands like Flying Fox that renew faith in the music industry, but also have you scratching your head, wondering: how can Girlicious have a million dollar record contract and these guys can’t? It’s sad but sometimes real talent accounts for nothing.
- Derrick Monty
Show Preview - Lop Lops (Sault Ste. Marie) by
Flying Fox and the Hunter/Gatherers have the longest band name I have ever typed. And I don't think I'm going to try again. I made a whole lot of mistakes thrying to get it right and now my spellcheckomatic is smoking.
Let's try that again, shall we. . .
Flying Fox are from Winnipeg. And there are six of them. And I cannot define their sound and do them any justice at all. I can say that there is some west coast cool jazz. And some pop, but not that vacant idol pop, oh no. More like if Cole Porter was still alive and he hooked up with Nick Cave. They define it as "musical tones based on the equal tempered tuning system arranged to reflect a bit of jazz, funk, and some pop/rock, and a bit of scientifically fictional biology." Their influences run from Fred Penner to Sinatra to Coltrane to Modest Mouse.
What I can say for sure is that they have a really unique and cool sound. They have horns and they swing, but they are not a swing band. They write brilliant pop songs, but they are not a pop band. They rock out, but they are not a rock band.
Do your soul a favour and check out Flying Fox when they play. Your soul will thank you for it.
- Rob Slack
