The Wilderness Of Manitoba In Sharbot Lake

Apr 24, 2014

The Toronto-based band, The Wilderness of Manitoba, offers up a sound so unique that they are hard to categorize. If you have only seen them on YouTube, take it from me; their live shows add an extra dimension, like most stellar bands' live shows do. Wilderness of Manitoba is comprised of duo lead vocalists Will Whitwham on guitar, Amanda Balsys on violin, Wes McClintock on bass and Sean Lancaric on drums. It is a tightly-knit force to be reckoned with and they put on a fabulous show at a jammed Crossing Pub in Sharbot Lake on April 12, which no doubt earned them more than a few new fans. The band has been getting lots of play on CBC Radio and has to-date put out three full length albums: "Hymns of Love & Spirit", 2011; "When You Left the Fire", 2011, and "Island of Echoes", 2012. They captured the attention of listeners right off the bat in their opener, "Summer Fires", which began eerily, and with atmosphere, and then slowly built to a heavy, funkified rock anthem with an all-engulfing sound. I was expecting something more timid, and this was an instant and very pleasant surprise.

Lead singers Amanda and Will are each impressive singers and their seamless harmonies are one of the band's most distinctive features. Reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel and early Crosby Stills Nash and Young, their sound comes from an edgier and rockier place with a few less “Lai Lai Lais” and a few more blazing guitar solos that allow them to cover wider and more experimental musical territory. What makes their songs so interesting are the added pedal effects of guitarist Whitwham and Balsys' fiddle, both in combination with their stellar vocal match-up and the band's willingness to venture beyond a pre-prescribed sound, which they might have otherwise been limited by.

Their tune "Hermit", a mellow and bluesy loll, showcased the two leads with Whitwham leading the way and Balsys chiming in on the chorus. Halfway in, the whole band opens it up and the tune ends with a fiddle solo that was impressive, though I wish it had been louder. They played their best known song, "Echoes", where bassist McClintock and drummer Lancaric demonstrated the band's solid bottom end foundation, driving an unbridled, solid beat. In "Southwinds", a tune that demonstrates their most beautifully sung harmonies, the band begins quietly with just the mingled lead voices shining out, after which the band bursts out into a wilder rock sound anthem that demonstrates how they are hard to categorize as either lite or heavy, and either all rock or folk.

Balsys had a chance to show off her very able chops in the tune "Carolina", a song from her former days as a member of The Gertrudes. She sang a gorgeous and heart-felt version.

For those who missed the show, visit the band on line at thewildernessofmanitoba.com and see what all the fuss is about. Better yet, go see them live.