Student Centre becomes new host to indie concert
Tyler Kekewich | ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER
The plan to hold an indie–rock concert in the Guelph–Humber art gallery was changed at the last minute and re-staged in the Student Centre Monday night because of bad sound.
“We were going to have it all in here,” said Michael Sampson, 20, while standing in the gallery. “But the acoustics are terrible.”
Sampson is a business student at GH who helped organize the concert for his event management course.
Arya, a self-described progressive rock/metal band opened the show after guests signed a huge banner and had been fed pizza and pop.
Lead singer Ashley Curtis, 24, who looks like Avril Lavigne but sounds like Evanescence’s Amy Lee, really got goosebumps rising with the help of Lucas Di Monte’s hard, fast guitar sound and tight, loud rhythms spat out by Ryan Merrigan on bass and Sean Hillman on drums.
Arya was followed by Holloway Roberts, another foursome that looks and sounds a bit more like a Strokes-esque garage band with a screamer thrown in for good measure. They seemed to pull off the co-vocalist thing quite smoothly.
Other performers included Keepin’ 6 and Kid Metropolis.
The indie music showcase is officially called Uncharted Territory and includes an exhibit in the art gallery featuring 15 local, independent music artists that students can read about and listen to on individual MP3 players.
Also part of the display is an illustrated, informative map to the many Toronto venues that regularly showcase local, independent talent.
Students can check out the exhibit Monday to Friday, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., until March 23.
