Said the Shark @ Lee’s Palace, random kitchen, and The Central
Last summer I did another one of my “I wish I was Scandinavian” journeys that took me all around Denmark primarily. One of my main plot lines for these travels is the high quality of music festivals found in this area of the world.
Some brilliantly eccentric Danish friends of mine invited me to attend a smaller sized musical celebration known as Nakke Festival. It was there in the lovely and relaxingly therapeutic countryside of Denmark that I came across a wonderful band called Said the Shark.
Said the Shark took to the stage during a very warm and sunny July afternoon when all of us festival patrons were lazily seeking shade and successfully tricking our bodies out of a hang over with more alcohol. They proceeded to play some of the most beautiful music I’ve heard in awhile. Maya Saxell’s vocals flowed from the stage like a much welcomed refreshing summer breeze that easily recuperated the audience. The music fit perfectly into the festival environment and provided an unforgettable soundtrack.
Realizing that Said the Shark was playing a few shows close to home in Toronto this past week, I was ecstatic to be able see them again and have a chance to reconnect with my little Danish past.
Said the Shark is led by a fellow Canadian Maya Saxell whose voice and lyrics are a soothing and magical collection of poetry. She sings with a soft, mellow, and almost mumbled sense that conveys a dream like atmosphere. Along with her is four brilliantly talented Danes; Kim Oxlund, Mikkel Langlo Gelting, Rasmus Kabelka, and Hans Kjelstrup. They all perform with a great expression of playful and fun musical experimentation, with songs ranging from a very lovingly relaxed pace to an exciting, escalating raucous beat. Their songs are filled with guitars, drums, bells, toy instruments, phonograph horns, an old suitcase shaking with assorted instruments inside, drumsticks banging on guitar strings and sometimes a kitchen pot, and even a microphone getting dangerously close to an electric fan. It seems everyone ends up trying a bit of everything, and it couldn’t be more unique and exciting.
Their first show was at Lee’s Palace. From the first song I could close my eyes and be instantly transported back to a sunny and warm Danish field. While I was in my own little Said the Shark assisted world, a friend of mine at the show said something along the lines of how unique the band sounded and how they couldn’t really be compared to anything.
I also had the great experience to catch them play in a kitchen at a private party. Hearing their music in such close quarters was nothing short of euphoric. It was quite the scene with our tiny audience huddled around the kitchen (I’m sure this is what the Danes can refer to as “hyggeligt”) eventually playing along with various hand instruments that had been given out. The show was cut a bit short by the police who I believe were called by the neighbours, probably aggravated that they were not invited… none of this would have happened in Denmark I think.
I caught a third performance they played at The Central, it was so grand that it made the accompanying acts that night seem irrelevant, no offense to the other acts, I only say this to illustrate how well Said the Shark was playing. They make every song come so alive, it’s a delight to see how much they enjoy and believe in their music. The band’s enthusiasm is infectious, so I made sure to get both of their albums; Silly Killings and Always Prattling on About Wolves.
I had the great pleasure of getting to spend some time with the band sharing many words and laughs over some drinks. They truly are some of the most humble, easy going, and polite musicians one could ever meet. In Danish it’s common to say “tusind tak” which translates to “a thousand thank you’s”, somehow that still does not seem like enough to express my appreciation of the music, generosity, and kindness that I experienced from Said the Shark.
Said the Shark – Took You
Said the Shark – Shaky Heart
Said the Shark – Miss You Most
Said the Shark – My Sugar
Tags: concert, Said the Shark
That is so awesome, forgot to say it.