Soletaken

Since I missed Steamboat's CD release and their soul/funk music by going to the Garrison last Friday, I decided to remedy my soul deficit by listening to some classic soul covered by A Soul at the Holy Oak this time around. Opening for them was a short acoustic set from Duane Forrest. His reggae-inflected songs, often with short syncopated rhymes, got the groove going. It's the first time I've heard Toronto landmarks name checked in a soul song. He also had a song called "Jersey Shore" (strictly coincidental) that was a lot classier than the TV show.

A Soul was shaggier than usual, playing most songs with lots of extended jams. Luckily, Maylee Todd kept everything in line and on track. At the end of the 1st set, a particularly funky song stopped an Eastern European baba passing by. Inspired by the music and Maylee's dancing, she stepped inside and started to dance too. When the jam threatened to kill the song's momentum, Maylee took control with her vocals and got the band to segue to a rousing rendition of "I Was Made To Love Her".