‘Beard Guy’ remembered

WALK OFF THE EARTH FANS COME FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE TO REMEMBER MIKE TAYLOR

Bundled in winter jackets, tuques and a few wooly blankets, fans travelled from halfway across the world to the chilly streets of Burlington, Ont., on Sunday to say a sombre farewell to Mike Taylor. The steely-eyed keyboardist of Walk Off the Earth, known simply as “Beard Guy,” received a grand sendoff at an outdoor tribute concert where hundreds of people gathered to celebrate the musician, alongside friends in bands including the Barenaked Ladies, Arkells and Monster Truck.

Josh Walker trekked from the small English town of Hartlepool for the event, something he decided was an essential part of the grieving process for the musician, who died on Dec. 30.

“The more I thought about it, the more I had to do this,” he said while standing in Civic Square in downtown Burlington.

“There’s nothing better than paying respects by travelling.”

Standing beside him, Richard van Scherpenzeel came from the Netherlands. He agreed that showing up in Walk Off the Earth’s Canadian hometown wasn’t a question. He met a number of his friends through the band’s online social networks, which exploded in popularity after their breakout YouTube cover of “Somebody That I Used to Know” eight years ago.

“It’s not only the band, it’s the community around it,” he said. “It’s not like other bands — it’s more.”

Those intense connections shone bright at many points during the show.

As the tribute got underway, band member Sarah Blackwood broke into tears explaining that originally the show was envisioned as a relatively small gathering of fans. But as the concert neared, it became clearer that hundreds of people would be showing up.

“Look at what it’s become. It’s absolutely beautiful,” she said to the pattering applause of winter gloves.

“Everybody is shocked and saddened, but tonight is about coming together and expressing love and happiness. We want to celebrate Mike for the incredible man he was.”