Home » Arts & Life » Hometown favourites bring friends along for CTO show

Hometown favourites bring friends along for CTO show

Call the Office hosted London’s own Olenka and the Autumn Lovers on Friday night — and they certainly didn’t disappoint.

The Open House Arts Collective packed indie and alternative music from London and Toronto into one full evening. They provided a night of great value, with a cover charge of $7.

Hooded Fang opened the show, and quickly drew the audience close to the stage. Hailing from Toronto, the band brought a catchy pop vibe to the stage, showcasing their musical talents that included multiple keyboards, trumpet and trombone.

The band started the night with a burst of energy, and their memorable lyrics left those who came early both excited and entertained. They concluded their set with an energetic performance of “Fall Leaves.”

Next up was another bunch of Toronto natives, Great Bloomers, who showed off a different and yet unique alternative-country sound to a now fairly packed venue. They were first introduced to Olenka and the Autumn Lovers at the Halifax Pop Explosion festival — they enjoyed each other’s music so much, they decided to make the trek down to London.

Great Bloomers continued to raise the bar, as their unique yet smooth transitions kept the audience guessing. The acoustic and mixed electric guitar sounds were a highly enjoyed twist, and the crowd was appreciative of their style.

ROCK THAT STAGE. Hometown favourites Olenka and the Autumn Lovers left the crowd screaming for more Friday night at Call the Office. (Corey Stanford)

By the time Olenka and the Autumn Lovers took to the stage, the venue was packed and ready to hear the hometown favourites. The band played a wide variety of songs off their newly re-released Papillonette.

The highlight of the set was getting a sneak peak of the band’s new material that will be released within the coming year. The new tracks were well received by the crowd.

Finishing off the set with the crowd favourite, “Flash in the Pan,” the night seemed to be over. However, the crowd wouldn’t let the band get off the stage.

The encore provided fans one last chance to sing along, and even included the group’s own rendition of Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancin’ in the Dark.”

The audience applauded the great set lists and talented musicians, for yet another successful night of live music. The evening was a reminder that London’s musical talent continues to be a strong presence in the Canadian music scene.

Follow the Gazette on Facebook and Twitter.