The Rural Alberta Advantage @ Broadcast, 24 Jan
On record, The Rural Alberta Advantage are a force of precision, of measured restraint and efficiency. Live, they're a freewheeling, weaponized unit. Their tightly packed songs burst free on stage with room to breathe, with extended codas, drum breaks and feedback harvesting.
Frontman Nils Edenloff is practically manic with enthusiasm, frenetically belting through the set, literally hitting the low roof at times, while drummer Paul Banwatt impresses and captivates the crowd (most of whom seem to be RAA first-timers) with his technical prowess and intense energy, geeing everybody up with handclaps and occasional percussional instructions. Keyboardist Robin Hatch (a new addition after the recent departure of original member Amy Cole), manages to smooth the rough edges of Nils' Mangum-esque yelps with velvety back-up vocals and generous helpings of ooooohs and ohhhhhs.
The set is drawn, in equal measure, from across their back catalogue, with fan favourites like Don't Haunt This Place alongside more recent songs such as Runners in the Night and On The Rocks. There's also a sprinkling of tracks expected to feature on their forthcoming album. Beacon Hill is the pick of the bunch, with Nils delivering an emotional prologue about its subject matter: watching a place you grew up hating succumb to a raging forest fire.
The intimate staging (a band of three can only just fit comfortably) is perfect for a band who thrive on making a powerful connection with its audience, and this comes to a head as the band come into the crowd at the end of penultimate track The Dethbridge in Lethbridge. Armed with a tom-tom, tambourine and acoustic guitar, the band give a heartfelt thanks before serenading them with a delicately harmonised rendition of 'Goodnight', bringing proceedings to a beautiful close.
Part of Celtic Connections festival 2017