Hump Day

I was at The Burdock Wednesday for a mid-week show. The venue was already packed when opener Ken Yates took the stage. Armed with a deft hand on the guitar, he gave us some Americana numbers. There were some stand-outs including Keep Your Head Down.

For her solo EP, Lydia Persaud has arrived fully formed. Granted she has spent five years with folk trio The O'Pears (and continues to do so), collaborated with other Toronto artists, and also studied music at Humber College. But this is an assured debut. Unlike a previous show I attended, where she ranged from country to pop to R&B, now Persaud has narrowed her focus to folk, gospel, and soul. I don't want to pigeon-hole her by equating an artist of colour with an "urban" sound. But her rich voice, full of earthy tones, is such a perfect fit for those particular songs that they went straight into your spine. This is music to dance to, or alternatively, seduce a willing lover. Her backing band, and the various vocal guests, were also up to keeping that funkiness going all night. It was a well-deserved standing ovation for Persaud.