Elliott Brood, Wintersleep (Danforth Music Hall, Oct 21/12)

Elliott Brood

With popcorn on the brain, from the classic red and white striped Elliott Brood signage and white draped backdrop to the scent in the air at the Danforth Music Hall, the scene was set for a show. The trio delivered in fine fashion as all the props helped to fill out the stage. It had all the great things an EB show should have - banjo, harmonica (Without Again), filthy, seated guitar playing (If I Get Old) and heaps of shout-it-out, clap-along tunes. There were also a few additional oddities in The Banjo Song and an old kazoo "standard" Old Dan Tucker. It seemed to only improve as the show progressed, from early-on Northern Air through Valley Town, Ambassador and the crowd-favourite Oh Alberta. What else would wrap this opening act than Miss You Noooooooooooooow?!

Wintersleep

Yes, I've seen Wintersleep a lot lately - and yes they are worth it every time. Some extra production seemed to have gone into this tour too as Elliott Brood's stage was dismantled and replaced by the lighting system and two cool, large Hello Hum cover-esque stands that appeared to be translucent fogged and etched glass boxes (but were more likely wooden with neat lighting). Not only the stage and lighting but the show opened with a projected video before the five of them took to the stage with amazing album opener Hum. The set list wasn't all that different from previous shows but the musicianship was just as high, so to see amazing music performed live by skilled musicians is still a treat. 

Highlights: That ending on Resuscitate just floors ya. The reverb on Smoke once it finally drops sounds so great live. Oblivion! Closing a set with Laser Beams and then Miasmal and the Yellow Bellied Freaks doesn't get much better. Still having Dead Letter and the Infinite Yes in the tank as part of the two-song encore (with Nerves Normal, Breath Normal.)

They were inundated with requests from the audience and although they couldn't get to them all promised to be back real soon. Not a problem with me - I'll gladly do it again!

Other tunes: In Came the Flood, Jaws of Life, Archaeologists, Nothing is Anything, Weighty Ghost