Pat Lepoidevin does Tranzac again (Oct 23, 2011)

Twas a small but captive audience at the Tranzac Friday to take in the Pat Lepodevin set. He opened with Fire, and a few other slightly louder songs from Highway Houses in an attempt to compete with the sound bleed from the rock show in the next room. As endearingly modest as ever he bantered about things including his mother's pastimes (she did the album art for the latest LP), a fan story about mixing up Ringo the Rat for Moonwolf Departure at a wedding (then playing both) and repeatedly apologized for forgetting his capo. It was barely noticeable and not necessarily detrimental. 97 was great again, although the standout was You Know Your War. Possibly the most exciting thing about this show is the promise of what is to come. From a forthcoming project, where Pat writes songs inspired by a friend's stories, was a densely layered and really enjoyable new song. It seems that this change of approach is really going to benefit all of us. Highway Houses wasn't played like last time, but instead one of his personal favourites, Last Winter, closed the second and final set. Great to see him again before the moonwolf departs for Korea for a year - all the while the anticipation for that new project will build.

The Burning Hell, Tony Dekker, The Pining (Tranzac, July 29, 2011)

The Burning Hell
Mathias Kom was back with a decent sized Burning Hell composed of Toronto and St. John's (his new home) musicians, including three women holding down violin, sax and clarinet. All told the sound was rather full as they opened with the straightforward My Name is Mathias and kept it going with a number of new Flux Capacitor songs. During a song about pirates (Pirates) band introductions were made, giving ample opportunity to showcase each instrument with a solo.


A slightly sad, slower song about pets still showcased the quirky but amusing wit of Mathias' lyrics. Our moods rebounded with some more familiar songs such as the trumpeting Everybody Needs A Body and a faux-jazzy intro to Last Will and Testament.

Working toward climax they launched into The Things That People Make 1 and 2, with a hilarious In the Air Tonight intro. For the Dance, Dance, Dance finale they upped audience participation with an on-stage then in-crowd limbo contest below the bass neck.

We roared for more and they gave it to us in the form of a medley of sorts. Okay it was more like the first half of absolute fave It Happens in Florida with a drawn out singalong to the word Loooove each time it came around, meshed clumsily into Bretton Woods. What a celebration it seems to be whenever Mathias and friends play a show - now that he's moved base from Peterborough to St. John's the shows become more and more special.


Tony Dekker
Tony Dekker took to the stage without the Great Lake Swimmers. Instead he simply had his guitar in hand as he opened by plucking through a rendition of Moving Pictures, Silent Films. However being a large Tranzac room on a Friday night the place was a little chatty for the core of the set with either less recognizable or new GLS/T. Dekker tunes. He did play the wonderfully worded Your Rocky Spine and closed with an earlier Swimmers fave in Imaginary Bars.



The Pining
The Pining were a group of women playing country music. The vocals were sometimes unexpected but sounded solid even if I wasn't a huge fan of the genre. A small number of tracks were recognizable from Radio3 listening and the familiarity improved enjoyment.

Pat LePoidevin (@Tranzac, May 6)

The real Pat Lepoidevin took to the stage to much ovation, and was accompanied for much of the night by an understated drummer who added appreciated soft percussion to the tracks he was featured on. Now that the drummer has gotten his due I can focus in on Pat, the man of the hour. 


With less obvious looping than the first and only other time I've seen him (my introduction to him), his vocals were even stronger and more confident, if that is even possible, and more than carried the show. The new song, Fire, played early and was a testament to the strength of the new material which bodes well for Pat, as well as for his fans. In fact other ditties off most recent Highway Houses were interspersed throughout old favourites (who am I kidding I can't even choose faves) all night. Amongst them was 97, a heart-wrenching affair that really showcases his storytelling abilities. However primarily strumming his ukelele it was his strong and, at times, strained (seemingly with emotion) singing that made this show a spectacle!

Despite the warmth it was a perfectly small venue full of perfectly adoring fans who maintained silence when necessary and hummed along when appropriate. In particular the silence was appreciated as Pat looped his voice, entirely a cappella, over and over again to build a dense, glorious melding of layers that blew us away in encore with Highway Houses. Hard to completely capture the magical feeling but if you hear his streaming cafe album or have a chance to take in the live show I guarantee satisfaction. I made that very guarantee for this show and was easily justified.


Openers: Dog Is Blue

Dog is Blue (@Tranzac, May 6)

Self-proclaimed Pat LePoidevin impersonators Dog is Blue (at least they made that joke all night) were a simple duo who played upbeat indie folkpop tunes. Primarily led by the male counterpart to the female keyboard player, their jovial banter and fun songs came across real well in the small, warm Tranzac room. According to the band I wouldn't have been ostracized for yelling out "Hot Air Balloons" to which someone surely would have echoed "and submarines" but unfortunately I didn't and therefore didn't get to hear it. They were cute, quirky and interesting, just as their DIY sign that was wired right in to light up along with the keyboard. Too cool!


Opening for Pat LePoidevin

The Mountains and The Trees - Tranzac (Jan 20, 2011)

The Mountains and the Trees, a band name with a solo performer much like City & Colour, was the main attraction at the Tranzac on a cold evening in January. He was seemingly at ease, sitting down throughout his performance that featured many of the songs from his very listenable album I Made This For You. Lyrically his songs are quite transparent and therefore emotionally affecting, and it seemed that he was making connections in this large room occupied by only a small but adoring crowd. The mic'ed flower-patterned suitcase placed in front of him did indeed become percussion later in the set, and despite playing an electric guitar there was a mic placed to pick up his picking as well. On the closer he employed very deliberate looping, including the bowing of his guitar to great effect.

An added bonus to the bill was a set from the Provincial Parks who I hadn't even seen advertised but damn near stole the show. Compared the the solo sets preceding them there was much more going on here sonically. A welcome, if unexpected, dessert following the app and main course. Only a three piece they were rather dynamic, creating wonderful texture within their unconventionally structured songs somewhat akin to Akron/Family. There was plenty of high hat shimmering and it seemed that not a song went by without one of the members shaking a shaker. Having not played in ages they showed the slightest amount of rust but not enough to seriously detract from the performance. To name drop further I wouldn't feel wrong likening them to The Acorn as well, which is a high compliment that they deserve.

Opening the evening was Zachary Lucky who seemed quite ill at ease, especially when compared to Janes who followed. His acoustic folk songs were fairly straight-forward without much to set him apart from that crowded field. He was very appreciative, repeating "Thank you guys so much" more than a few times.