Bishop's is back in business and this year's Gaiterstock festival was full of high energy, entertainment musicians, including the local sounds from JF Coley, that welcomed first year students in style.
[...] Once Coley tuned up his guitar and Jocelyn Blanchette drummed up a couple of beats, the crowds came back in droves. Spectators that were dressed in tye-dye and bell bottoms bopped, skipped and swayed to sounds that seemed familiar, but yet had their own life entirely.
Coley, 25, showed exceptional stage presence and knew exactly how to read his audience. He introduced each song, all originals, with a twist that any first year university student could relate to, especially "Soap Box", which he wrote to help listeners stand up for something they believe in.
Coley says he refuses to write corny love songs. Each song on his two professionally recorded CDs are aimed at bringing music back to what it once was, a lesson or a chance to come to terms with something.
"I have been playing music since I was three and I remember songs I grew up with," said the teacher. "Music used to tell a story that inspired people and that is what I want to do. I focus hard on never imitating another sound or artist. In fact, if I wrote something that soudns like someone else then I will redo it completely."
Coley says his dream is to help introduce local bands in the Eastern Townships to a variety of new sounds.
He says he was fortunate enough to perform one week with a punk band, and the next with a rock band, and that experience has helped him produce his very own sound.
"That is why I am starting a new radio show on CJMQ," said the young artist whose voice sounds like a pot-pourri of different artists such as Steven Tyler and Jeff Healy, to name a few. "Out West, bands have their own sound, as do any other from different provinces, but there is no such thing as a sound that is original to the Eastern Townships, yet. There are a number of talented young musicians here but they need to become familiar with other influences and that is what I would like to help them do."
Coley and guitarist/vocalist Phil Downey gave a stirring performance of "Wake Up" that had fans swaying in agreement.
"I'm essentially bilingual," said Coley before leading into the original song aimed at Quebec politics.
Coley has mastered an original sound, with the popular grooves and beats that make you want to dance, and if there were to be an Eastern Townships sound; this would be it. His fans demonstrated how much they approved with a deafening cheer when he bid good night and good luck.
"They were awesome," said Gaiterstock leader Lisa Wagner. "They have lots of energy and it was a great ending to the day."