Healing Power of Music

Vish Khanna with Jim Guthrie

Friday night, there was a benefit at Lee's Place for the Newmans, 3 boys made orphan by the death of their parents. A cousin of the mother's was a producer in the local music scene. He gathered some of his musician friends for a benefit.

Vish Khanna (CBC 3) was the host for the evening. He kept the proceedings running smoothly, guided the mood between solemnity and enjoyment, and introduced local acts including Owen Pallett, Basia Bulat, Andre Ethier, Jim Guthrie (Royal City, Swords and Sworcery), Nathan Lawr (Royal City, Minotaurs), Light Fires, Casey Mecija (Ohbijou), Sandro Perri, and Bry Webb (Constantines).

Though each act sang solo for 3-4 songs, they often call on their fellow artists to sit in for a song or two. Halfway through, given the folky, earnestness of the singers, Vish introduced Casey and her sister (being filipino women) with "Since up to now it's been a bunch of white guys, we'd thought we'd change it up a bit ..." to laughter. He was more right than wrong. Bry Webb had powerful performances with Rivers of Gold, and Time Can Be Overcome. But as a whole, the women gave stronger performances.

Mecija sang songs with short verses filled with lovely imagery. Light Fires got the bemused folk/indie crowd dancing with Let's Get Divorce and If You're Bored. Basia blew everyone away with passionate singing and playing on her ukelin, autoharp, and guitar.