To explain why I feel compelled to go back and do some reviews..I have to point out that last night I saw Jonathan Wilson at the HorseshoeTavern in Toronto. His show alone is another to force me to discuss all of the shows I have seen since the new year started. It was that good!
Jake Bugg/Albert Hammond at the Sound Academy - 15th Jan
What can I say…we had to go see the kid again as many of our friends were going. Had a good time despite hating the venue and the fact that Albert Hammond could barely sing with a serious flu. His voice was shot. The Kid? he was solid, again. Two hour set of new and old, crowd was split between people wanting to hear songs from Shangri la and his first album. Jake has spent more time on stage, much more comfortable, and new songs from Shangri la seemed to get him more engaged. Throwing a few Neil Young tracks into the set made sure everyone was happy and overall, one of the better Jake Bugg shows we have seen.
Strypes at Lees Palace - 20th Jan
Had to go see these kids play at a venue I knew I was comfortable in. Strypes sold out the venue which was not a surprise as they are getting a lot of exposure with some songs being used in commercials over here but what I was surprised about was the age of the crowd. Average age was probably 40 with label heads, publishing company folks, plenty of industry folks,.a very odd crowd. Strypes are good fun, brilliant that 17 yr olds can pull off Bo Diddley tracks let alone the fact they prefer the music of that genre. Great clothes, great songs, great musicians.super set of their own tracks and covers, These kids can rock. Sadly half of the crowd was disengaged being industry folks. Sadly the nature of the beast when they are all together. Nobody left unhappy though (maybe the band as they were not getting the response from the crowd that they wanted) would highly suggest seeing them if you like straight ahead rock n roll shows. Great show and huge potential in these kids.
Lord Huron at Danforth Music Hall - 1st Feb
Really our first opportunity to see these guys outside of SXSW and doing a headline show so we had to take advantage of the opportunity. Lonesome Dream came out quite a long time ago over here in Canada so the show was sold out and the crowd was YOUNG!! Again, over here, popularity is increased by exposure in commercials and Lord Huron have been featured on two very popular tv commercials, one for a beer company and the other, an emotional heart strings pulling ad featuring a young man, helium balloons, his girlfriend and his successful attempt at asking her to marry him. This ad..a jewelry ad, brought out most of the crowd it seemed ..plenty of plaid shirted young men with facial hair and their girlfriends at the show, much like the commercial.
Thankfully it did not take away from the show a solid 90 minute set of all the tracks we love from the album. A full show on a real stage for these guys is essential if you really want to see them. These guys are not going to change the world but I can’t help it but compare their music to your favourite sweater and comfy track trousers. They just are just so comfortable, so lovely, it’s difficult to find fault in their show…it was beautiful
Now for the reason I did all of these reviews…Jonathan Wilson
Jonathan Wilson Horseshoe Tavern - 10th Feb
I find it hard to put into words what this show was. I do very much love his album “Fanfare” and knew I would have to see him in my favourite venue here in Toronto. I knew Jonathan was talented having read all of the magazine articles and knew his live show would be something different but I had no idea he can do what he pulls off when he performs.
Well over two hours of music, one stunning song after another, this guy is an absolute joy to see perform. Much like Cody Chesnutt his love for his music, any music, and a crowd really comes through when he performs. You never really know where his songs are going to go, or what sound he is going to create next with his guitar. His songs really do breathe and move about and you can’t help but appreciate the fact that it seems every note has a purpose and you barely notice that some songs last almost 10 minutes. His band are so solid, they fit together really well and when you watch them they do remind me of Mercury Rev, but throw in some Tom Petty and some Brian Wilson and you get what Jonathan Wilson offers.
Take all that's good from that classic 70’s sound, with brilliant lyrics, lots of shifting and changes within the songs, throw in a few classic Canadian covers including a Gordon Lightfoot classic, this show was excruciatingly fantastic.
At over two hours of music ..you get your money’s worth ($15) and more. I would have paid that much just to hear him play “Angel” which was sublime. This LA/California band came to Toronto and on a night of -25 degree temperatures, they warmed me up for my trip home and quite possibly for the next month!! Please, for those of you who like the album and are open to never really knowing where a song is going to go? Go see Jonathan Wilson….and smile!
Jim
