A place to park their van and drink

Mike Erb / The Brunswickan  

Sebastien Grainger and the Mountains recently came to Fredericton to play at the Capital Complex’s ‘Pop Explosion Hits Fredericton.”’

The concert series consisted of nearly a week of musical acts, a great number of whom happened to also plai in Halifax for the Pop Explosion weekend. The concerts featured artists like Two Hours Traffic, Tom Fun Orchestra, Matthew Barber, and The d’Urbervilles.

The Capital’s “Pop Explosion Hits Fredericton” started on Oct. 21, and culminated in the final show on Oct. 28, in which Grainger headlined.

The show, which was on a rainy Tuesday night, had a disappointing turnout for the level of artist that was playing but it didn’t seem to deter the band from playing a great show.

The band seemed to be using the show as a chance to have fun and drink.

Grainger said at the beginning of the set that the band came because it was an opportunity to park their van and drink.

The band also seemed to use it to check out some of the acts that played before them. Grainger could be seen throughout the show hanging out in the audience and watching both Jellyroll and Owen Steel play before he took the stage.

When Sebastien Grainger and the Mountains did finally take the stage at around 1 a.m. the atmosphere in the bar seemed to change completely. Despite the limited number of people the place seemed to be teeming with energy.

The room became one hot and sweaty mess of drunken people and wicked music. The band gave the show all they had despite saying they were only there to “park their van and get drunk,” according to Grainger.

Throughout the show the band interacted with the audience. Bassist Nick Sewell held his bass out for the audience several times allowing them to hit strings as he strummed.

The band also seemed to be incredibly into their music – not necessarily in a pompous or arrogant way but that they were passionate about it. Grainger had his eyes closed most of the set; he seemed stuck in the moment in the music.

The CDs and band paraphernalia at the end of the show were almost all gone. The band, however, was willing to stick around, say hi, and sign merchandise for anyone who wanted.

Upcoming shows at the Capital include Stereo Airing and She Roars! on Friday, Nov. 7; & Scott MacDonald, The Names and Faces, and All of Green on Saturday, Nov. 8.