A nine piece Edinburgh band with a wide range of musical influences and a strong emphasis on everyone having a good time. The Festival programme says they mix 'ska, porro, calypso, klezmer and funk'. And maybe they do, but as I had to look up a couple of those I'm not the person to say yay or nay. However I did spot a bit of classical influence in there, some real old Dixieland jazz and a bit of swing. In other words, OdS have developed a distinctively OdS style.
What they've also developed is truly great live act. In an eclectic mix of black and red costumes they make use of the entire stage with choreographed movement and sequences of physical comedy. Ever seen a man pull an iced biscuit from his sousaphone and have a swift snack?
The music is joyous, raucous, infectious and frequently unpredictable. A mixture of brass, reed, accordion, fiddle and percussion, everyone is given their chance to deliver solos and demonstrate their talents, a fine bit of trad jazz trumpet being one highlight, and some amazing sounds from the aforementioned sousaphone shone out. The fiddler doubles as lead vocalist on the few songs, as well as becoming lead clown and master of ceremonies.
Led on by the onstage antics, the crowd were encouraged to sing and dance and just generally have the best time they possibly could. If there was the odd moment when the standard of the music slipped a bit this could be easily forgiven for the sheer joy and fun and energy the performance punched out. It often reminded me of a de-folkified Bellowhead, but with a far greater sense of theatricality.
If you want a music experience that leaves you feeling just a little bit more alive then Orkestra del Sol is as fine a choice as you could find.
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