Hymns

Latent Lounge is a 4-week showcase of the artists from Latent Recordings, a record company started by Michael Timmins of The Cowboy Junkies. The previous 2 Wednesdays were sold out, so I didn't get to the The Junkies in the intimate Monarch Tavern in Little Italy. This week was also at capacity, but I was able to get a ticket.

Since each evening opened with a cover set from the Latent Recordings artists, and this week was about The Trinity Session, I was hoping that Margo Timmins might sit in. No such luck. Headliner Jerry Leger and opener Ivy Mairi made appearances. But the best part of that set was a band comprising of Junkies/Skydiggers, especially a blistering Workin' On a Building.

Given the (generally older) audience, Ivy Mairi stuck to her folk music with its slow unfolding lyrics. She also did a country song which she admitted, given her young age, may be a bit presumptuous with its contemplation of old age. She ended the evening with an acoustic Strange Love, which she shyly told the audience will be on her upcoming EP, and that release will sound nothing like anything tonight. The crowd laughed but they bopped along to its sunny pop structure. I admit I prefer the new stuff, Mairi seems to have a knack for catchy hooks, and would rather have the folky songs only as a small middle section of her set.

I couldn't stay for Jerry Leger because I had another show to go to.