In Da Club

It has been years since I've been to the Clubbing District. But Friday night, I went down to Adelaide Hall to see the Motown band The Big Sound. Their monthly show has temporarily moved here after The Great Hall has gotten into a kerfuffle with the city's licencing over its capacity permit. Apparently, despite its large space, the Great Hall is not officially allowed to carry more than a few hundred.

Well, I don't know how much two-level Adelaide Hall is rated for, but it's tiny in comparison. Though the venue filled up, there were no line-ups outside compared to the two adjacent clubs; lucky for everyone on this frigid night. The sound system was top-notch with speakers everywhere and not just at the front of the small stage.

Having been around for 2+ years, The Big Sound finds itself in an odd position. To grow and maintain interest for its 28 or so members, arranger Christopher Sandes continues to add more songs to its repertoire. Yet that means that the really popular Motown hits are played less and less. This friction could be found in tonight's audience. Yes, they danced and cheered given the energy of the performers and the infectiousness and quality of the music. Yet most of the songs were "unknown", leading to feelings of puzzlement and diffidence (e.g., "Do we know this song? ... I guess not"). Not surprisingly, the few familiar tunes were greeted the most enthusiastically.