Concert Review
 
Bands: Acres of Lions, Ten Second Epic
Opening Acts: Seth Anderson, San Sebastian
Venue: The Media Club
Date: November 12th, 2011

Reviewed by Tessa Perkins
 
It was a long night of great music of various genres at The Media Club. While some were more to my taste than others, I enjoyed all of the bands and they all put on a great show. Acres of Lions and Ten Second Epic, who are currently touring Canada together, were joined by folk rocker Seth Anderson and the pop/rock group San Sebastian.
 

From Hamilton, Ontario, San Sebastian opened the show with a few of their upbeat pop-inspired tunes playing a short set. They were followed by Seth Anderson and his band from Canmore, Alberta. With a harmonica, accordion, and upright base in the band, Seth Anderson’s music has a unique, raw sound that is genuine and honest. I could hear a strong country influence in his songs, but they were also infused with a classic folk/rock charm as he sang about universal things like falling in love, finding freedom, and coming home.
 
Acres of Lions were up next, and they really got the crowd excited and had us singing along to some of the catchy parts of their songs such as the “ba-ba” in their latest single “Reaction.” They began their set with “Set Me On Fire,” the first song off their latest album, Collections. It’s an energetic song about wanting to fall in love. “Kids” is also another great song off that album and we sang along to their line “The kids we were back then, we can never be again.” They invited a guest vocalist named Alex on stage for two of their songs, and she added a nice female touch to the slow, emotional song “Closer.”
 
They finished off their set with “Collections,” and we all chanted along in time with the kick drum as they went silent and all you could hear were the voices of the audience and the booming drum. It was a great moment, and can really see their energetic live show fitting nicely into a larger venue. It would be amazing with hundreds of people all singing in unison like that. This is a band that I think has so much potential to become really popular, and I wished they had played a longer set. After a fifth place finish in this year’s Peak Performance Project, I think this Victoria band has great things in their future.
 
Finishing off the night was Edmonton’s Ten Second Epic who have recently released their latest album Better Off. They also filmed a documentary of their recording session in Vancouver to go along with the release. They opened their set with “Young Classics” the first single off their new album, but mostly played songs from their previous two records Count Yourself In and Hometown. Their pop/punk style isn’t usually my taste. I’m not a huge fan of screaming vocals, and their slower songs are for the most part a bit too cliché.

That being said, they have some catchy songs and I think they put on a good show. I think “Count Yourself In” is a great song that almost everyone can relate to, and most of their songs have that mass appeal that has attracted many loyal fans.   
 

Set List:
 
Seth Anderson

Drinkin and Smokin
Met a Girl
Sunny Days
Move On
Johnny
Bastard Son
So Far Away


Acres of Lions

Set Me On Fire
Kids
Reaction
This Was Not My Best Day Ever
Closer
Collections


Ten Second Epic

Young Classics
Suck It Up, Princess
Runaway
Welcome to Wherever You Are
Boys Will Be Boys
Every Day
Avenue Days
Windows
Northstar
Old Habits Die Hard
Life Times
Count Yourself In

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