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CALGARY - When you think of a Barenaked Ladies concert, words 'fun', 'energetic' and 'amusing' come to mind.
And for the most part, that's what you get -- at least from the boys on stage.
Yes, those silly Canadians certainly ooze exuberance rarely seen in most of today's big-ticket bands, who often take themselves far too seriously. And the music is as uplifting as its creators.
The crowd of 11,000 last night at the Saddledome, however, was a different story.
When the Ladies ripped into One Week, the opening song, most remained seated.
You'd think fans had all received tickets through office swag had it not been for their ability to recite every word.
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Perhaps it was that whole 'I'm Canadian, I don't want to stand out' attitude that we carry around like badges of honour.
Or perhaps it had something to do with the miserable weather outside.
More likely, though, it was the guilt -- oh so much guilt.
You see, the Ladies have taken on the admirable cause of saving the environment in order to stop global warming.
Worthwhile?
Absolutely.
The rock concert may not be the best place to highlight the fact all of us SUV drivers are slowly destroying the world.
In the concourse of the Saddledome, pamphlets outlining the Ladies' eco-friendly message filled several kiosks.
And making certain nobody went away uneducated, BNL highlighted more ecological facts on two massive screens before they even hit the stage.
Yes, Calgary's new honorary citizens -- they were white-hatted in a ceremony before the show -- certainly created an uphill battle for themselves but didn't seem to mind a bit.
The seasoned entertainers quickly rectified the situation by breaking into crowd favourite Old Apartment before performing a highly entertaining white man rap about their love of Alberta.
Then it was back to the witty banter BNL is known for.
"I know this gets old for all of you, but it's still funny," said front-man Ed Robertson.
"It's called the Saddledome, and it's saddle-shaped."
Interrupted singer Steven Page, "I want to know who's bottom they used to model it? They must have had a huge one."
Shot back Robertson, "Ralph Klein, I think."
While the simple joke left the audience howling, the vibe soon mellowed again as the Ladies kicked into a set of new material from their CDs Barenaked Ladies are Me and Barenaked Ladies are Men.
But quickly it was back to the oldies, including a cover of Bruce Cockburn's Lovers in a Dangerous Time, which finally got the crowd moving.
As for opener Tomi Swick, the Juno-nominated artist from Hamilton, his set may have contributed to the subdued atmosphere.
It's not that Swick isn't a great live performer -- he is.
It's just his collection of pop ballads seems better suited for a lazy day on the beach than a night of expected juvenile fun.