Stack Overflow

Another snowstorm came through Toronto on Wednesday. But instead of fluffy flakes, it started overnight as freezing rain, then became wet packed snow throughout the day. I did not see my diligent neighbour shovelling the front walks so I decided it was my turn. But my friend's shovel stored in the backyard was frozen to the downspout and encased in ice. Later in the evening, he came around to clear out the snow.

By Thursday morning, the snow had turned to slush. So it was a trek to get groceries at Dufferin Mall from dodging puddles to squishing through drifts. I didn't want to fight through that muddy mess later on so instead took transit to The Monarch Tavern that night. The 3 bands on the bill played all new music for the show ($20).

I had skipped out on Emily Steinwall at her concert on Geary Ave. Later I listened to her debut album and realized she was the real deal. But if those songs were somewhere between world music and jazz ballads, her new numbers channeled 70s psychedelic rock and Guns N' Roses circa Use Your Illusion with less bombast. To be fair, it has been 2 years since that concert and 5 years since she released Welcome To The Garden. The new songs were twice as long as most pop tunes. But I found them musically interesting and dynamic. The topics were a bit heavy-going with titles like No One Ever Win The War or We Are The Same, an intense piece about unresolved anger for someone who treated you badly but has died. Steinwall had a big voice that she used judiciously. I would love to see her more often than every couple of years.

The second band also didn't do any songs from their album except for I Don't Wanna Get Over You. This was a slight disappointment since Deanna Petcoff's release contained several gems that were either punchy or sweet. But her new material was also quite good ending with a banger tentatively titled I Buy A Fake Houseplant To Keep Me Company. This was my first concert with Petcoff though we have crossed paths briefly through the years.

Stacks only had new music since this band was still working toward their 1st release. I didn't want to stay out late but did hear 2.5 songs from their set. With non-pop scales and ululating tones from Carolina Lopez, they were musically closer to Steinwall. It sounded fresh compared to other new bands that I've heard recently. Overall, though there was a good-sized crowd, this was a great show that deserved a larger audience.