Rural Alberta Advantage Eat Bugs At Toronto's Virgin Festival

You could be forgiven for thinking Rural Alberta Advantage hailed from their provincial namesake. After all, as singer/guitarist/bandleader Nils Edenloff proudly decreed during their set on the first day of Toronto's Virgin Festival, they play "songs about Alberta." Though Edenloff himself hails from the western Canadian province, the band was born and bred in Ontario's capital.

Despite their hometown status, RAA were headlining the tiny Boardwalk Stage -- don't let the name fool you, it's more of a diminutive tent -- on the shores of Lake Ontario. However, what the "stage" lacked in spatial freedom, the band more than made up for in charm and energy.

Those lucky enough to get a decent sightline of Edenloff, drummer Paul Banwatt and alluring keyboardist-singer Amy Cole were treated to most of the tracks off of 'Hometowns' -- RAA's 2008 debut that was recently re-released by Saddle Creek. Backed by Banwatt's relentless drumbeat, Edenloff and Cole's guitar/keyboard interplay shone as the band managed to satiate old fans while winning over several of the passersby in the heavily foot-trafficked boardwalk intersection.

Though generally well-received, the set wasn't without its comical shenanigans. Due to the stage's proximity to the waterfront, bugs constantly circled Edenloff, eventually leading the lightly bearded lead singer to inadvertently swallow an insect during the set.

"I'm sorry," a coughing Edenloff told the crowd. "As soon as Paul started drumming I swallowed a fly."