La tête et le coeur

On Saturday night, I attended the 2nd of the series, Live At Massey Hall, where up-and-coming artists get to play at this historic hall. Their fans can purchase tickets for the symbolic, and cheap, price of $18.94. The crowd came early for opener Bry Webb.

A member of The Constantines, he had assembled a folk-country (pedal and steel guitar) backing band for tonight including Anna Ruddick (Ladies of The Canyon) on upright bass. Eschewing the loud raucous style of The Constantines, Webb's music was slower and more languid. Informed by his parenthood and "elder" rock-man status, the songs were contemplative about social injustice and other matters not related to love and romance. He also made several dedications: to his half-brother Will, who as an usher had sneaked him into several Massey Hall concerts; Gordon Lightfoot, for one of those performances; and his wife Katie Ewald. Webb joked that tonight was the CD release show for his 2nd album Free Will. Based on the audience's reaction, it was a hit.

Coeur De Pirate (Beatrice Martin) is a bona fide star in Quebec and France. She also sells out in Toronto so I have been unable to attend her shows. But from reviews, it was perhaps for the best, as her solo turn on the piano is usually diminished in a noisy club setting. Tonight, with a full band, the impeccable sound system, and a quiet crowd, it should be quite special. I was unmoved by the first few songs, which had a generic pop vibe. Only after she took to the piano and the band toned down the volume did Martin shone. The softer arrangements highlighted her light voice and the particularly French knack for poetical turns (Place de la Républic, Saint-Laurent). She also did a few songs in English: two new tunes and her theme for the video game Child of Light. Her set ended with the catchy done-me-wrong number Adieu. During her encore, the moment and the cheers finally overcame her. Martin wiped away tears as she thanked the crowd for embracing "this French-Canadian" who five years ago "played at the Dakota Tavern". Nothing left to do but to end the night in a sing-a-long to Comme Des Enfants with its hooky refrain ("Et il m'aime encore, et moi je t'aime un peu plus fort").