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Hidden Cameras' frontman doesn't want his band's art put in a box

By: Eva Cohen

26/11/2009 10:21 AM | Comments: 0

Joel Gibb leads the happy orchestra of the Hidden Cameras.

JOEL GIBB made his way from his hotel in sunny California, to the bus across the street, and into a gathering of people, all the while talking about how great his band's upcoming concert in Winnipeg will be.

Gibb is the frontman singer/songwriter for Canadian band the Hidden Cameras, who will be playing the Royal Albert Arms on Monday (tickets are $13 at ticketworkshop.com).

His enthusiasm dried up somewhat when it came time to talk about the music. The singer balked at answering my questions because, he says, if he gives a definite answer regarding what type of music he creates, then it narrows it down and puts the art into a box.

The current Hidden Cameras tour is for the group's new album, Origin:Orphan, released in late September. It is the fifth studio album for Gibb, who employs a large list of participating musicians to make what might be described as funky, folksy music.

The band is known for being "different." On previous albums, the music has been incredibly upbeat, focusing on Gibb's elaborate vocal runs and cheery background orchestra.

The lyrics of prior albums have been Gibb's shining point. He pens clever lines that can be interpreted as a comment on society, but the songwriter doesn't want to narrow down the verses to refer to anything in particular -- so don't expect an explanation of such songs as Ban Marriage.

However, Origin:Orphan marks a progression in Gibb's musical career. He recognizes that he has gotten older, and isn't as carefree as he used to be. The album itself was worked on a lot more in the studio, so it doesn't have the same "fresh," independent feel that Hidden Cameras fans might be used to.

"We experiment with different sounds and moods, and expand upon the classic Hidden Camera prototype," says Gibb after soliciting muffled feedback from his bandmates in the background.

The album definitely has a more sombre tone than previous releases. The single Walk On, in particular, features heavy chamber music and a disheartened-sounding Gibb. The song is actually quite catchy, but stands in stark contrast to light, hopeful-sounding music such as in the title track from their 2006 release, Awoo.

In keeping with their bent toward untraditional lyrics and instrumental compositions, Hidden Cameras concerts are a breed of their own. Venues have ranged from art galleries and churches to porn theatres, and the live show features full choirs and string sections.

Asked what's the craziest thing that has happened during a live show, Gibb recalls one instance of a man in New York who went crazy during Walk On and had to be escorted out of the venue.

If that incident is any indication of the Hidden Cameras' ability to touch fans in a strange but good way then the band's upcoming swing through Canada should be interesting.

One thing's for sure: Joel Gibb wants to see you at the Albert on Nov. 30, but be sure to listen to the whole album first so that nothing catches you by surprise.

Eva Cohen is a freelance writer in Winnipeg.

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