It's Cool In The Pool

Listening to Maylee Todd is always a fun experience so I went down to the Harbourfront Friday night to hear her play new songs from her upcoming 2nd CD as part of SoundClash 2012. It was a good-sized crowd but not full for the 8 pm set, and new listeners were bemused by this slight girl in an over-sized smock with a strapped on harp playing soft, tropical music (Summer Sounds) from Choose Your Own Adventure. But it was mostly new material (I Try, Hieroglyphics, Did Everything I Could, Baby's Got It) steeped in cool, sexy groove. It was so authentic to that aesthetic that on the 2-song encore, I thought her cover of the Isley Brothers' Work To Do was an original song.

A number of people came up to the stage to express their enjoyment afterward, but compared to her usual manic shows this was one of her more low-key performance . The crowd was in a bit of a stupor from the languid heat (no dancing for these people even with Maylee's encouragement); and the high fenced-off stage prevented the usual interaction between Maylee and the audience. Nevertheless, with the lake behind us and the air filled with sweet rhythm, it was more than good enough to get the toes tapping.

Bonus: Maylee plays an acoustic number after soundcheck.