Dan Mangan - Hillside Saturday 2011

Having just seen Dan Mangan's intimate secret show in Toronto nights earlier, and the workshop earlier in the day, seeing his mainstage set may not have been completely new but he's such a performer it was STILL something to look forward to (from the third row). Things of note were just how epicly long the yell following the interlude on Road Regrets was. Additionally without Veda Hille's accompaniment the backing band stepped in to sing the female parts of Indie Queens (as they did last year in Trinity St. Paul church). On new bombshell Post War Blues there was a sweet acoustic slow down before Gord Geordini stepped up to absolutely rock out on guitar. A treat was the specially requested Baskets done acoustically by Dan with only the double bass backing him. Due to another broken string there was an brief interlude before one more strong live showing of Some People. Also new was a song about Castle Rock, Oregon before closing with the staple (that isn't always played) in Robots. Dan even clamoured down into the crowd where I was fortunate enough to sing the lyrics along into the mic with him and a handful of others. Whew! Third helping, still worth it.