Jenny 'Leaving Nothing' CD Release At Tubby Dog, Calgary May 28, 2009

Jenny CD Release show for 'Leaving Nothing' at Tubby Dog, Calgary, May 28
Gig review and show photos by Music Vice editor Brian Banks - June 11, 2009

Sometimes you just have to trust your instincts. Something I try to do as often as possible, especially when it comes to checking out new music. So when I see a red poster advertising a CD release show for 'Jenny', with some support acts and absolutely no mention of a myspace address or anything like that, then heck, I just had to go. Obscure gig posters will get me every time, and man am I ever glad of it. Jenny are a band that I am rather stoked to tell you about. Sit comfortably for five minutes while I tell you about how I came across this superstar collective from Calgary.

On this night I had planned to go to MacEwan Hall at Calgary Uni to see TV On The Radio, a band from what I've heard, seem very decent. The thing is though, shows on university campuses usually suck, and the moment that I saw Jenny's poster, my gut told me that I'd found a more interesting way to spend my third night in Calgary, for what would be the last show I'd catch in town during my visit here. My gut was also probably telling me that I needed to eat, so hey, I'd kill two birds with one stone by checking out a show and grabbing a hot dog.

Hot dog! Did somebody say hot dogs? The setting for Jenny's show was Tubby Dog, which is a hot dog diner on 17th Avenue. Tubby's is one of a medley of hip hangouts along 17th. It's a vibrant street, where skaters brush shoulders with suits, and the avenue is adorned with a suitable mix of trendy establishments. One place worthy of a mention is a bar called The Ship & Anchor - drop the anchor and just call it 'The Ship' - which is frequently frequented by rocker types. Nice.

That gig poster had billed this show as 'Jenny and friends...", and that was not false advertising, as everyone here seemed to be a friend of the band, or a friend of a friend at least. The crowd demographic was one of high school to college/university age, and I'd put money on each person either owning a skateboard or a rad-cool bicycle.

One of the great things about going to gigs is that you can be yourself and blend into the shadows with all the other freaks and weirdos, and enjoy the show in whatever way you choose. Regrettably, due to my mood on this evening, Tubby's is a brightly lit and vibrantly coloured little diner; so there were no shadowy walls for me to lurk in, which is all I wanted to do in my weary state after one too many late nights of insobriety in a row. I must've stood out like a zebra-striped giraffe at a small pop punk show, being the tall stripey-tee'd tourist that I was. I think this rather rare feeling of apprehensiveness was a big factor in me quickly contemplating making a run for the exit. Or maybe it was the rather crappy-but-happy Juno-ishisly off-key tunes being belted out by two girls on acoustic guitar.

"...a Tubby Dog hotdog ain't your normal skinny piece of 'mechanically recovered meat' in a bun."

I retreated to the far end of the diner to chow down on a hot dog while deciding wether or not to bail this gig. $6.50 seemed a little steep for a hot dog, compared to the $2.50 or whatever I pay back in Toronto for street meat. However the price seemed justified as soon as the girl presented me with the dog, topped with a mountain of chili and onions. Foolishly, I'd started to attempt to eat this hot dog in the same way one would normally eat a hot dog, using the tried and tested hand to mouth technique. This was an epic failure of judgement on my part, because a Tubby Dog hotdog ain't your normal skinny piece of 'mechanically recovered meat' in a bun. Some kind of better judgement kicked in and I sought out a plastic fork to eat this scrummy monstrosity. So anyway, I digress horribly, but I guess I like to paint a picture? I'll put my palette away for a moment so we can get back on topic...

Needless to say, that I stuck around, and there were two more support acts before the Jenny would take to the designated band floor area at the back wall of Tubby's. Up until this moment there was nothing to write home about. It just seemed like any other small show with young novice bands, with a bunch of musical mates having fun and playing music. I've seen plenty of shows like this and would never usually write about them, as there is no point being critical of what is either young/inexperienced musicians starting out or kids just having fun.

"In more ways than one Jenny's a group that thrives on the support of it's friends - either in terms of encouragement from the sidelines or from being in the actual band itself,"

Then Jenny started their set and everything made sense. The bands that had played before Jenny suddenly seemed like a critical part of the evening, as they were part of Jenny's friends. In more ways than one Jenny's a group that thrives on the support of it's friends - either in terms of encouragement from the sidelines or from being in the actual band itself, as Jenny is essentially frontman Sean Hamilton 'and friends'.

Their was an intensity to Jenny's show that was nothing short of enthralling. The band were spurred on by the warmth of the crowd in support. Spearheading the performance was Sean Hamilton, who gave an intense display, and who was clearly having a lot of fun playing with his band and his friends. Everyone had been having fun all evening and now I could see what this was all about.

This show at Tubby Dog was led on acoustic guitar by Hamilton, with the rest of the band coming providing drums, bass, guitar and trumpet, with these instruments and their players dropping in and out depending on the song. I picked up the CD 'Leaving Nothing' at the end of the show, and the acoustic-led sound features just a prominently on the album as it did during this show. The acoustic guitar is integral to the hook-laden sound of Jenny, and part of what makes the music so instantly accessible and appealing.

"The songs against the system and the all-consuming ways of society are pretty central to what Jenny is all about - these are big issues, but sung in a way that is not preachy or pretentious."

Jenny are a band that would most likely be labeled as pop rock or acoustic pop rock. 'Pop rock' is a descriptor which is something of a warning side that can often lead me to avoid bands - new bands keep coming along through a revolving door with uninspired sounds and disposable lyrics. Jenny are cut from a different cloth - they have a great vibe to their sound and the lyrics of the songs impressed me.

Jenny sing about their problems, the world's problems, relationships, drugs, hunger, greed, consumerism, and a whole lot of other stuff. The songs against the system and the all-consuming ways of society are pretty central to what Jenny is all about. These are big issues, but they are sung and delivered in a refreshing way that is not in the least bit preachy or pretentious. The songs were delivered with such raw emotion and fun, with the crowd often joining in.

My favourite song of the evening was Worst Hickey Ever which features a great guitar hook and a chorus line that I feel obliged to sing along to every time I hear it - even when flying at 40,000 feet in this plane that's taking me back to Ontario, as I listen to their CD while writing this review. Here's that chorus:

"We are the vampires of the Earth,
We love sucking blood from the moment of our birth,
We are the vampires of the Earth
We cut down every tree just to build our hearse."

A great song and one of many examples of Jenny's knack for making catchy tunes - there is some exciting songwriting talent here. As mentioned, Sean Hamilton is a huge talent, and he was surrounded by a wholly capable collective. The guys on bass, electric guitar and drums created an unbridled synergy. Every one was having a good time, grinning while rocking out. I have to mention the gorgeous Garielle Brown, the girl on trumpet, who stood out for me for more than just her good looks - she added something softer to proceedings, especially when surrounded by a group of highly charged guys. Brown collaborated with Hamilton for Red Wine Stain, with her light and sweet voice being the perfectly angelic yin to the raging yang of his snarling unrestrained vocals.

"The songs are catchy as hell and the energy, passion and enjoyment on the faces playing the music could easily translate to a bigger stage."

Jenny were up on stage representing all their friends and their scene in Calgary, but in my eyes there is nothing stopping this band from inspiring the same reaction in any other town in Canada and beyond. The quality of the songwriting is at a high level, and the songs are delivered with the punch of underdog youth spirit. The songs are catchy as hell and the energy, passion and enjoyment on the faces playing the music could easily translate to a bigger stage.