The rowdy Observatory was the host to February’s Intimate and Acoustic with Karla Adolphe and Matthew de Zoete.
Both of the artists were solo acts, mainly performing with only their guitars and vocals. De Zoete also used a harmonica during a few songs in his act.
Although Adolphe was the headline act, it was de Zoete who stole the show. His set lasted about 40 minutes and was filled with music and laughter, though there were only 30 people in the audience. His music was influenced by Bob Dylan, George Harrison, and Beck.
At one point during de Zoete’s set after a glass broke at the bar there was applause.
“I’d like the bar staff to stop stealing my applause, there is only so much of it to go around,” said de Zoete, eliciting a chorus of laughter.
A number of the songs that de Zoete played had a theme of love.
De Zoete interacted with the crowd and asked if anyone was excited for Valentine’s Day. One spectator pointed to his friend. Zoete noticed and responded, “Sir, this song is for you.”
By the time that Adolphe started to play, there were only 20 people left in the crowd with more listeners leaving as the show went on.
Adolphe, who describes her music as soul meets roots meets blues folk, has been influenced by great vocalists and songwriters such as Foy Vance, Ray LaMontagne and the Rose Cousins.
The sudden change in tone from a soft/indie rock to folk caused a number of people to leave. A number of viewers were at the show for one specific act.
The final song of the night was done without a guitar and approximately halfway through Adolphe started to clap. The dedicated listeners in the crowd began to clap along.
Unfortunately, not every person at the Observatory was a dedicated listener.
As Adolphe began to sing a song about losing a child, a group of people to the side of the stage became particularly rowdy, reveling in their own conversation. She stated that it will be interesting playing with laughing in the background, hoping that it doesn’t throw her off at all. Adolphe was able to perform the song nearly flawlessly for the small crowd.
“All of my songs have meaning because they are about people,” said Adolphe.
Fiona Mak, a technical writing student, had seen Adolphe twice before this event, and had brought two friends this time around.
“The show was good, people talking were a bit distracting, but she has a powerful voice that carries over,” said Mak. One of her favourite songs was Ruby which Adolphe said was about a “prostitute with the name of a dog.”
Although the show was listed as being from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the Students’ Association website, it actually ended shortly before 8:30.