Walk Off The Earth made an Ottawa stop last night, playing to a packed crowd at the NAC’s Southam Hall.
The night started with an opening set by Toronto indie-pop singer MICO, who played a number of catchy pop tunes, including his most recent single, “Deserve This”. With a little self-deprecating humour, he took a moment to ask if anyone knew who he was, and jokingly thanked those who raised their hands for lying.
Next, headliner Walk Off The Earth hit the stage with a frenzied energy that persisted throughout their 80 minute set. With the members being talented multi-instrumentalists, the band was a constantly changing permutation of instruments and voices.
They made their way through originals and covers from throughout their career, including their breakout cover of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know”, with all five members simultaneously playing one specially modified guitar. Other highlights of the set included a seamless Beatles medley, “Red Hands”, “Rule The World” and “Hold On”.
A number of times, vocalist Sarah Blackwood took a few moments to show her appreciation for all of the fans, new and old, who have helped the band grow throughout their career. She even gifted a signed ukulele from the stage to a fan near the front because she’d been enthusiastically singing along all night.
The band was also joined a couple of times during the set by Blackwood and her husband and bandmate Gianni Luminati’s three sons (Luminati Suns), who despite their young age, clearly have grown up on and around the stage. They capably handled playing instruments, singing and working the crowd like seasoned pros.
The family fun and positivity on-stage was matched by the crowd, which also included many kids, teens and parents, who spent much of the second half of the set on their feet. The band delivered a three song encore, including the standout cover of AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” before wrapping things up with My Stupid Heart.
