Music A Go Go

Taking a cue from the successful Friday Night at The ROM, the Art Gallery of Ontario started the 1st Thursday at the AGO last November. On the first Thursday of every month, an evening party is held at the gallery where you can mingle, eat, drink, look at some art, and listen to live music.

I checked out the New Year's Edition on Thursday. With 2000 tickets sold, it took about 20 minutes in line before I made my way inside. Since I haven't set foot in here since the major renovation, I was eager to see all the changes. The gallery felt much more expansive, with many wonderful pieces that were previously not on displayed. The curving front addition, with towering wooden beams like the curved ribs of some monstrous whale, was breath-taking. This space was taken up tonight with imbibers and curiosity seekers who gleefully participated in a paint-by-number class. The winding Nautilus staircases, both inside the gallery, and climbing out the building's rear face, gave lovely views of the city.

The main musical act was folk singer Basia Bulat in a solo performance. The stage was divided into 3 sections, separated by white semi-transparent screens. Although Basia sang a few songs at the other 2 mini-stages, she spent most of her time at the stage facing the back of Walker Court. This configuration blocked almost half the audience's views throughout the night, although they could look at the various multimedia offerings projected on the dividers by artist Stephanie Comilang. The collaboration idea was good, and its execution was fine, but what a poor set-up for a live show.

She started the night singing new song It Can't Be You unamplified and accompanied by her ukelin. Throughout her set, she would switch between multiple instruments: guitar, autoharp, hammered dulcimer, and piano. Basia debuted two other new songs including the first public performance of Five Becomes Four. But she also played tunes from her 2 albums such as Little Waltz, Gold Rush, and Snakes And Ladders. Most of the audience were unfamiliar with her music but they were won over by her rich vibrato and sweet demeanour.

Basia ended the show with one of my favourite, her acapella take on a traditional called Hush that she only performs live. I've seen it before, and this evening was just as powerful as ever. If she is retiring this song forever after tonight, as she informed us, then I am happy that I was standing only 3 feet from her as she let her voice soared. "Oh my lord", indeed!