Less Is More

Because of the show Triptyche at the Bluma Appel Theatre, I didn't arrive at Less Bar on Bloor until just past 10:30 on Thursday. So I missed Kashka doing songs from her new album. That's a shame because this synth-folk singer doesn't do full-band sets too often. Hopefully, in the new year, I can catch her new all-women set-up.

I did catch Lydia Johnson (Lizzie Lyon). This young singer was in the R&B mold. Her vocals have that urban pop cadence. I'm too old to find romantic dramas (cute-meet, meltdown, and so on) relevant but her fans/friends loved it.

As for the new venue, it has been in the local indie news. Partly because other live venues are closing, partly because of its stated goals of high-lighting female and gender-fluid artists. The name is apt because Less Bar is quite a small space. It's hard to see it having much impact for live shows, the legal capacity is probably 20 people. But there's a chance it could grow into a beloved space for intimate concerts and musician hang-out like the recently departed Holy Oak.