Play Some More

Tuesday night, I went down to The Velvet Underground to see Jay Som. Opener Boy Scouts played a set of dreamy garage-pop. I enjoyed the vocal harmonies and the sonic layers on numbers like Get Well Soon. It was an understated performance by Taylor Vick but she still resonated with the crowd.

I thought Jay Som was still a bit under-the-radar but it was just a fashionably late crowd. It was sold-out (likely 400 or so) by her set, a big change from the 50-or-so people at her last show here. I've always wondered about what finally propels an artist past a certain level. She was quite appreciative as it seems that similar to Japanese Breakfast the Toronto crowd have embraced her more than other cities.

Jay Som doesn't really play "bangers", her music tends toward slow introspection with a bit of a stoner jam feel. But there was enough drums, groovy bass and wakka guitars on opening songs If You Want It, Turn Into, and Baybee to get loud cheers and dancing. They were listening through the slower indie section and sang along with her break-through The Bus Song. You know you've got fans when they stood intently through the encore for the lovely I Think You're Alright.