Concert Reviews

Eliades Ochoa: Danforth Music Hall

Submitted by cashbox on Fri, 11/09/2012 - 16:53

Eliades Ochoa at the Danforth Music Hall.jpg

Toronto

The crowd on the sidewalk smoking was abuzz with excitement in at leas three languages. Scalpers were taking a whipping as anybody with tickets in hand were gonna use them. The Cuban community was out in force as were many Toronto fans who’d caught the Cuban music bug while vacationing on the island. Put them all together and they spell a sold out show for the Cuban guitar maestro.

Backed by a well-schooled seven-piece band dressed in various shades of grey and black, the man best known to many as the lead guitarist and singer with Buena Vista Social Club set about turning a concert hall into a churning Havana barrio dance club.

When Ochoa takes to the stage, the music that he and his band play: clattering percussion, yearning trumpets, full-blooded vocal harmonies, swinging guitars, are markers of a specific Eliades Ochoa sound. Even though he's a fierce protector and champion of Cuba’s indigenous musical forms, Elidaes live and in the moment is the guy who revolutionised son by bringing percussion and horns into the mix. The guy whose unique harmonic guitar can sound like a tres (traditional Cuban guitar) or a regular guitar.

Cold Specks:The Great Hall

Submitted by cashbox on Fri, 08/10/2012 - 12:45

Toronto

Cold Specks return to The Great Hall was met by a hipster heavy crowd, all plaid shirts and facial hair on the boyz, blinged out sandals for the ladies and a buzz of anticipation shared by all. The occasion was a rare club date for the band, taking a time out from the lucrative festival circuit to drop one for the hometown fans.

The packed house showed its appreciation with rapt attention and appreciative applause for the many twists and turns a Cold Specks song can take. Although singer/songwriter Al Spx has described her sound as ‘doom soul’, it also has elements of a Gospel sound delivered in shades of hope and is not without dark humor.

A Cold Specks concert isn’t so much about showcasing individual songs as creating and sustaining an atmosphere on which the songs can’t help but shine. Spx and her five-piece band wasted no time getting down to polishing. She joked early on that it was extremely tough for her and the band to put together the set list, as they were looking for the best mix of older and new material but on evidence, they got it just right.

Some of this involved tweaking the material just slightly, partly as updater and partly as application of things learnt from frequent touring. The older tunes in particular came across as more vivid, especially “ Dirty Water”. With a show built around the vocals, it’s to be expected that the singer will deliver that special something you won’t hear on the recorded versions and Spx delivered large.

Jeanine Mackie Band: Live At The Drake

Submitted by cashbox on Thu, 08/02/2012 - 13:16

Submitted by Don Graham

After watching the gifted Jeanine Mackie perform for a few nights at the Beaches International Jazz Festival Street Fest, what better way to listen to her at home than a live recording? And that’s exactly what I did. ‘Jeanine Mackie Live At The Drake’ is an 11 song offering of classic R&B and Soul classics. Making a live record can be a daunting undertaking but Ms. Mackie and her band of brothers pulled it off in topnotch fashion. Having just watched her performance and then listening to the live CD, I was impressed with how much the band and Jeanine sounded exactly the same on record as they do live. That is a true testament to the talent assembled for this project. The band consisting of the guitar magic of Bob McAlpine, the keyboard mastery of Matt Horner, the solid bass of Bryan Stoher, the soulful saxophone of John Johnson and held together by the driving drums of Al Cross and percussion of Arturo Avales- these are some of Toronto’s finest players. It’s the type of ensemble that a pure voice like Jeanine Mackie deserves and needs to show it’s full quality. A perfect marriage of band and vocals.

The set includes a great version of Junior Walker’s Shotgun, and a funky version of Bill Withers’ Use Me. Dionne Warwick’s Walk on By is another highlight, Aretha’s Respect and Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get it On shine as well.

Fraser and Friends

Submitted by cashbox on Fri, 06/22/2012 - 00:04

Story: Don Graham

Allan Fraser (one half of the iconic folk duo Fraser & Debolt of the 70’s) appeared last night at Donald Quan’s Musideum in downtown Toronto. The folk/rock icon was accompanied by a stellar lineup of A Team sidemen, Bob Cohen on guitar, David Woodhead on bass, Joel Axler on piano and special guest, fiddler, Ian Guenther. Guenther was a big part of the Fraser & DeBolt album on Columbia Records. The reunion resulted in an amazing evening of music and memories.

Fraser & DeBolt were the springboard Fraser needed to get his music heard by the masses. After showcasing as an opening act to Tom Paxton at New York’s famed Fillmore East, the duo was signed to the giant label Columbia Records. They recorded their debut album in Toronto with Craig Allen handling the production and fiddle whiz Ian Guenther accompanying them. The album was a critical success getting rave reviews in the New York Times, Maclean’s Magazine and the Los Angeles Free Press among others.

Allan and Daisy, capitalizing on the momentum, created by the first album were soon back in the studio recording the follow up ‘With Pleasure’ album. The pair stayed busy and in 1974 they were chosen to represent North America in The International Song Festival in Sopot, Poland. Fraser & DeBolt broke up not long after that and although they never quite made it as big as predicted, forty years later there is still a buzz about them and the songs. More importantly there is still a buzz about Allan Fraser.

Alain Perez/Ignacio Berroa: Lula Lounge

Submitted by cashbox on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 20:13

Toronto [photo:Alain Perez]

The canny folk at Lula Lounge placed this heavyweight double bill on a weeknight, confident of a full house and the fans didn’t disappoint. Good for the watchers, not so much for the dancers, as the dance floor is sacrificed to table seating when the joint’s this packed.

This said something about the divide on the evening's bill of Perez and Berroa. It was split along generational lines, which also lined up with the danceable and the listenable, the contemporary and the classical.

Cuban-born multi-instrumentalist Perez, 29, now lives in Spain and is a major figure on the European Latin scene, known for his fearless explorations in forging a new direction.

On this occasion, his instrument was the melodic bass and abely assisted by fiery pianist Robi Botos and the percussive drive of Mario Allende, both T.Dot indie stars, Perez put on a bass clinic that was at once brain tickling and ass-shaking, if the booties at the bar aching to get on the floor were any indication. Working an evocative and rich tenor, the boy’s a fluid performer and a charismatic babe magnet. He’s also a crafter of complex, contrapuntal and catchy tunes like “Sabor de mi Rumba” which exemplified Perez’s emerging sound and brought his showmanship to the fore as he departed from the recorded version by turning the choruses into an audience singalong Perez left to a storm of applause and there wasn’t a one of us barbirds that didn’t want to hear more. Be nice if next time he came around there was a dance floor to get down to the sound.

LulaWorld 2012 Launch

Submitted by cashbox on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 22:00

Drumhand/Eccodek

Lula Lounge Toronto

[photo: Rebecca Hennessy and Marcus Ali blow up the Lula.]

The buzz was palpable among the loungers outside the Lula Lounge. The media dog and pony had just ended and as that crew scurried off, the slick dudes and the chickas, gays and hipsters were arriving for an evening of getting down to the new world sounds for which the club is famed.
The double bill was a clever study in percussive contrasts between the organic polyrhythmic tunes of Toronto’s Drumhand and the mutant electronic, sample-heavy constructs from Guelph sextet Eccodek.

Openers Drumhand benefit from great visuals. The brass section features six feet several Marcus Ali on sax, flute and assorted wind and tiny, feisty trumpeter Rebecca Hennessy. When the pair gets to wailing side by side, a body can’t help but smile. Stage right was occupied by master percussionist Steve Mancuso and an array of things that shake, rattle, roll and rasp from a fistful of countries, making it look like the house band for National Geographic was setting up. Then there’s Larry Graves’ hand and foot work on the Gome drum, an oddly compelling visual.
Dealing mostly off current album Moving Still, Drumhand unleashed a tight barrage of intricately constructed dialogues between brass and percussion featuring layers of rhythm and galvanizing sax and trumpet riffs.

Jesse Winchester + Hugh’s Room = Magical Night of Music & Memories

Submitted by cashbox on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 21:46

Review: Don Graham

Hugh’s Room, packed house, Jesse Winchester, an acoustic guitar and great songs. That’s a combination for an entertaining evening that doesn’t come around often but when it does it’s magical.

I remember seeing JESSE many years ago in a smoky bar in Montreal with a full band and a loud, although appreciative, crowd singing along and clapping in time, sort of!

Hugh’s Room, which has to be THE best listening room in Toronto, great sound and sightlines, was a completely different atmosphere with this performer on stage. The run of shows was three nights, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. I was fortunate to go the show with my good friend and guitarist Bob Cohen, who toured with Winchester years ago and knows him better than most. We went on the Sunday thinking it would be less crowded and give us a better opportunity to “spread out” and watch and listen. However Sunday night was also packed, not an empty seat in the house.

Floor Stomping Ska, On A Friday Night

Submitted by cashbox on Fri, 04/20/2012 - 18:08

Stomp Records 17th Anniversary Show in Toronto April 13th 2012
Concert promoted by Collective Concerts

Review: Ian Robertson
Photos: Michell Foran

As I was walking up to the Opera House, around 10:05 p.m., I knew I was unfortunately too late to see the first 2 opening acts Ghetto Blaster (Toronto Punk/Ska) and The Beatdown (Montreal Soul/Ska). I was hoping I wasn't too late to see Big D & The Kids Table. This would be my third time seeing them live so I knew they would be putting on an amazing show as well with the headliners, The Planet Smashers. I was dealing with the tedious task of getting past the door security when I heard the music beginning to play, which made me anxious to get in and get to see the band.

As soon as I walked in close enough to see the stage, I heard David McWane (lead singer of Big D & The Kids Table) say, "as you may have already guessed, we are Big D & The Kids Table from Boston", then the band went directly into "Myself" (off their second Album Goodluck) which made myself as well as everybody else that loves Big D, excited because most bands (that have made eight albums) don't usually play their older songs. Dave later explained they were doing their set in chronological order.

Elliott Brood at The Phoenix Concert Theatre

Submitted by cashbox on Fri, 11/25/2011 - 13:19

Toronto ON

It’s said that back when they first started U2’s mastery of their craft was such they could turn a club into a stadium. Elliott Brood pulled off that neat trick in reverse, managing to change the cavernous Phoenix Concert Theatre into a jammy campus pub, replete with low hanging fog of weed smoke.

Exactly the accessories needed to frame the enthusiasm for the transplanted Toronto road warriors’ homecoming.

The sharp-dressed alt-country trio returned from a Western Canada tour in a triumphant mood, coming on at once both relaxed, sharp and more on the case than ever. This was demonstrated early on when Casey Laforet’s guitar rig went sideways and couldn’t be righted. A less experienced crew would have hesitated but after taking it around one more time, banjo picking Mark Sasso smoothly assumed lead duties and drummer Steve Pitkin dropped it down a couple of notches for a downright tasty semi-acoustic workout.

Once Laforet’s probs were ironed out, it was pedal to the neo-hoedown metal as the full house of Brood fanciers grooved out on everything thrown their way, even the still newish material from current album Days Into Years.

Valdy Danced That Old Dance Once More

Submitted by cashbox on Fri, 11/18/2011 - 15:15

Story: Sandy Graham

On a windswept, rainy night in Toronto, the inside of the legendary Hugh’s Room was warm and comfortable, with a sold out crowd for the one night appearance of Canada’s folk treasure, Valdy. A cultural emissary, Valdy is one of Canada's trusted spokespersons, and a seasoned performer to boot. Nearly thirty-seven years of relentless concert touring have made his show a disarming and practical blend of respect for the audience and charming stage performance.

With two 40 minute sets that just sailed by, the crooning folksinger had the crowd in the palm of his hand, singing all his hits and some future hits as well, from his upcoming CD, set for release sometime in 2012. Valdy understands that people have come to be entertained; he tailors each of his shows, as many as two hundred a year, to suit the audience at that specific venue.

He sang all the songs the crowd requested of him and as all good folksingers do, asked them to sing along to hits like “Play Me A Rock ‘N’ Roll Song, Simple Life, A Good Song, Peter and Lou, Yes I Can, Dirty Old Man, Renaissance” and added an impromptu version of "Farewell to Nova Scotia." (Valdy even brought a song up to current speed with the new addition to the verse of "A Good Man", changing “I have a family and you have a mother” to “I have a family, then another”.