Ominus Spiritus in Gatineau

A nearly sold out crowd converged at the beautiful and welcoming Salle Odyssée in Gatineau this week to see eighties wild child Gowan in concert. It’s the second time the artist has hit the National Capital Region in the last year or so and his dedicated fans can’t seem to get enough of him – present company included.

In case you have been living under a non-Canadian rock, or are too young to remember, the Scottish-born vocalist and keyboardist from Scarborough is best known for hits “(You’re a) Strange Animal,” “Moonlight Desires,” and “A Criminal Mind.” to name a few. He is also a member of the classic rock extravaganza known as the band Styx who rose to fame in the late 70s. Officially his style has been classified in the categories of pop and progressive rock, but some of us know him best as our home-grown version of Mad Max with the voice of a somewhat hoarse Geddy Lee.

His eclectic sense of fashion has not changed over the years nor has the energy he brings to a performance. Over the course of the night he leaped from his piano perch to the stage, girated with the music, and paid homage on bended knee to drummer Todd Sucherman, also of Styx. All of these theatrics left his fans a bit breathless, but what really impressed them was his command of the french language. Gowan is a true showman who took the opportunity to build a rapport with the audience 90% en français. His attempts to engage them in their own language was charming and came across as genuine and endeared him even more to them, especially when he made small errors that he then corrected.

Possibly the most intimate and powerful moment of the night came just before the intermission when a spotlight was cast on him while he was seated at his keyboard. The sound of thunder clapping rang out and the lights dimmed to nothing as he played the familiar opening bars of Criminal Mind. The crowd went mad and then quieted down to listen. I closed my eyes and let the song take over in a sense, forgetting all my problems and taking me back to high school days when life seemed simpler. Released in 1985, Criminals Minds was written by the artist following a visit to a CNE exhibit representing the Kingston Penitentiary. The empty cell was attended by a single guard, with whom Gowan had a conversation after sitting in the cell alone for a while discussing inmate recidivism. The song is haunting and so was the performance.

The setlist also included other memorable songs such as Awake the Giant, based on a trip he took to Thunder Bay where he saw the Sleeping Giant, and the catchy acoustic sing-along When There’s Time for Love. All in all it was a magical night filled with classic Canadian rock staples, laughter and a deep mutual appreciation for those on and off the stage. Gowan has performed thousands of times over the years but he made this audience feel like they were his most important. A true class act.

Gowan performed one more show after his séjour in Gatineau and appears to be taking a much needed break after this latest set of shows. We look forward to his return to our nation’s capital!

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