While in Ottawa for the week-end, I stopped by Benny's Bistro for brunch. This spot is located just off the main tourist area, as well as tucked into the back of the bakery: French Baker. As such, it is more of a "local gem". Is it worth a visit? There's a short brunch menu, with most dishes ranging between $15-20. The portions are a bit small given the price, but comprising of quality ingredients. Given the chi-chi French vibe of the food: crepe, french toast, tuna confit, the décor is surprisingly utilitarian and frumpy. If you add dessert, you're approaching $70 for two which is pricey for brunch.
Because of the 50th anniversary of the last Beatles concert in Toronto, there has been several events around town over the last month. On Friday, I went to Indie Friday at Yonge Dundas to listen to The Massey Hall Band, a collection of sax/horn players with unique arrangements to pop songs. I was quite impressed with their collaboration with Bry Webb.
However, I have seen them here and there since then and it's been a diminishing return. Tonight was part of that downward trend. This is their sound: a drawn-out intro into the song, usually unrecognizable to the average listener; a first pass through the tune, played straight; then one or more solos; a segue into a loud, chaotic breakdown where every instrument improvises; then outro. There's no doubt they are accomplished musicians. But it's curious that though there are several arrangers (all members of the band), they all end up sounding the same.
Tuesday night I headed to The Danforth Music Hall for what promised to be a night of sublime lyrics and harmonies. Opener was Ciaran Lavery, an Irish singer who charmed the audience with his lilting banter about being a Chippendale dancer in disguise. His white man screaming style got a bit old, but he did have a few good songs.
Case/Lang/Veirs stand for 3 powerful singers: Neko Case, kd lang, and Laura Veirs. They came together for a one-time collaboration this year. As such, they sang almost every song from their album, taking turns doing lead vocals or beautiful harmonies. Each brought different sensibilities to the show: lang with her velvet croon, Veirs a wistful folkiness, and Case brought the indie edge. They also included songs from their own repertoire: each bringing a cheer from their own fans. The biggest applause were for from lang's Constant Craving and cover of Neil Young's Helpless. But the revelation was lang rocking out to harder songs by Veirs or Case. I guess her own catalogue doesn't include too many head-banging numbers. Tonight was sublime music from start to finish.
Indie Friday down at Yonge-Dundas Square had mountain man Ben Caplan entertaining the crowd. I was too late to see Taryn Kawaja's solo set. She adds so much to Caplan's set with her harmony, melodica, and piano that I wanted to hear her own music.
Caplan had his touring band, as well as a horn section borrowed from the in-house Roy Thompson Hall band. So they had great success with the audience playing his klezmer pop. It was a fun night though not one of his top show. The anemic sound system (for the huge outdoor space) didn't get across his over-the-top craziness and singing. Speaking of which, Caplan's usual fiddler was absent: his high-energy solos were sorely missed.