From The Archives: Bella Clava @ NXNE 2011
Thursday, May 31st, 2012Many bands try their damnedest to capture the essence of a sound from another era while wrapping it up in a bright and shiny modern wrapping paper.
The majority of these bands will not gain much credibility. Even if they do acquire some instant indie success via the bandwagon kids, their staying power is fairly marginal. The reason for this is rather simple: it’s a facade. You can’t just decide to be a band with a retro sound because a particular throwback style is all the rage. You have to actually be retro at heart and in love with, if not raised on, the genre you’re attempting to emulate.
This is why Toronto’s own Bella Clava are garnering such buzz and exposure- they sweat out a blend of female-fronted, blues infused, psychedelic tinged classic rock (with a modern twist, mind you) that could only be perfected by those with a true passion and knowledge for that musical style.
Get yourself into impossible fantasy mode and imagine that Led Zeppelin and Queens of the Stone Age (who are both enthusiastically loved by our subjects) are out for a rip-roaring night on the town, and pick up Shirley Manson at her snarliest and Grace Slick at her peak. The result could very well be Bella Clava.
Lead vocalist/keyboardist Caitlin Dacey and guitarist/vocalist Steve Suttie are Thunder Bay imports, having played together as a duo before making the crucial move to Toronto in 2006. Since then, they’ve built Bella Clava into a full-blown unit, adding local boys Zack Mykula (drums) and Scott Hannigan (bass). Their 2010 EP Craig: An Ephemeral record was produced by none other than Steve Albini (of Nirvana, Pixies and Cheap Trick fame), and their first LP, Holy Crow, is set for a September self- release, crediting legendary Canadian songwriter/producer Ian Blurton (Change of Heart, C’mon) with production.
Minutes before they hit the stage at Rancho Relaxo for their North by Northeast performance, the band stands in a semi-circle around me, talking excitedly about their endeavours. “This is our third time playing North by Northeast,” says Dacey, brushing a strand of chocolate-coloured, elbow length hair behind her ear. “It’s more exciting this time. Most of our set is new stuff, so we’re really excited about that. I think people are liking the direction we’re taking,” she continues. A big part of that direction includes fan appreciation. “Through being nice to people, you can make some amazing connections, and that’s something you’ll be forced to pick up at North by Northeast,” adds Mykula. Dacey chimes in: “Everyone who comes to our shows ends up being our friends.”
And they’re playing for the right reasons. “We like playing music because we like playing music. We all just love doing it. We’re not making money; it’s not been about that at any point. It’s just fun, you know?” says Hannigan. Suttie injects a bit of blunt truth: “Also, we put on a pretty good live show”.
Which is why Bella Clava is here tonight, and it’s why they have to cut our brief interview short. They’re whisked up the stairs to the stage, where they assault the willing crowd with a tight, loud set. Black leather, hippie beards, cascading organs and monstrous guitars, topped off with vocals that are equal parts beautiful and guttural — this is Bella Clava. Beats that will make your neck ache in the morning, bass that you feel in your toes, and the feeling that you’re in a time warp yet somehow still very much in the present — this is also Bella Clava. As a writer, my job is to describe the scene, to paint pictures with words, to create an audible impression with nothing but letters and syllables. But when it comes to a band like this, I can only go so far without wanting to scream: “Just see them, already!”
Because Steve Suttie was absolutely right, though he put it a little mildly; Bella Clava doesn’t just put on a pretty good show. Bella Clava puts on an epic show.