Barachois? quirks involves audience
By Edward Walton, Daily News, Prince Rupert, B.C., 11-Jan-98 An eclectic alchemy of humour and top-notch musicianship had Sunday's audience at the PAC bowled over by Barachois. The Prince Edward Island quartet sang, danced and hammed it up for two energy-infused hours Sunday night, dishing out their own unique blend of French and Celtic-influenced Acadian fiddle music. As if to set the stage for an evening of oddball entertainment, Barachois opened with a bow and saw rendition of O Canada, featuring the talented multi-instrumentalist Albert Arsenault bending the anthem out of the saw. The night unfolded with similar quirks and surprises, many of which, such as axe juggling and an Acadian Elvis impersonation, had to be seen to be believed. The saw, for example, was brought out again for a song about a logger, his wife and a lawyer, this time as a rhythm instrument, with Albert Arsenault energetically sawing out the beat. Each song conjured up a slice of Acadian social history, with many of the songs incorporating props and costumes to illustrate the humour of Acadian community life. While the comedic mugging and horseplay was plentiful and occasionally irreverent, it never detracted from the excellence of the quartet as musicians, all of whom doubled up on at least two instruments. To show the influence of Acadian music throughout North America, for example, Barachois performed a Cajun-influenced tune that used such decidedly un-Acadian instruments as the trumpet and the sousaphone, a variant of the tuba. While Barachois provided enough fun and musical merriment to have kept the audience smiling until Christmas, an added evening's bonus of hilarity came care of the audience? Those who had the pleasure to see Barachois Sunday night saw a performance they're not likely to forget. Those who didn't can only hope the group make a return visit soon. |