The Thorn Bird

Wednesday night, I headed over to The Phoenix to see Quebeçoise singer Beatrice Martin (Coeur de Pirate). There was traffic diversion because of a bomb scare at Yonge and Bay so when I arrived opener Kandle was already several songs into her set. Unlike some "bad shows" she had done, there were already several hundred people there staking out a prime spot for Martin. So she was able to showcase her bluesy torch songs including So Bad, Control Me, and Not Up To Me. Her 3 piece band did a good job replicating the psychedelic feel of her debut album. Given the heavily francophone audience, too bad she didn't do her cover of Effeuille moi le coeur.

Martin has an emotional spot for Toronto (as she eluded to tonight as well as at her Massey Hall show) given that she mostly sings in French. But her set tonight contained quite a few English songs  (Carry On, The Way Back Home, Undone) from her latest album Roses. These were more pop and she also spent more time standing in front of a mic. Well, doing some flowy stream-of-consciousness dancing. They were warmly received but lyrically lacked the richness of her older material. It wasn't entirely due to the language change, even French songs like Crier tout bas were simpler. Her gamine, sweet voice couldn't quite carry the new material. So when she sat down at her piano for old favourites including Saint-Laurent, Place de la République, and Comme des enfants, the rapturous reception went up a notch.

She has some dedicated fans including one gentleman who flew from Paris. Incredulous, Martin told him that he must know she was playing there in 3 weeks. As for that Toronto fan support (the home opener between Leafs and Habs happening across town notwithstanding), Coeur de Pirate rewarded the crowd with her own wistful version of Drake's Hold On, We're Going Home.