Tastes of the World

The poutinerie at College and Shaw went under to be replaced by the oddly named Fargo (Snack Bar). On Friday, I dropped by for a test. It offered an eclectic menu with Jamaican jerk chicken, Indian curries, and Asian bites. There aren't too many such places in multi-culti Toronto. Rasta Pasta is one such exception.

Unfortunately, Fargo wasn't quite as tasty. The veggie Kottu Roti ($9.50) I ordered was run-of-the-mill and lacked the spice and flavour associated with this rich dish. The location was also problematic. Though Little Italy is closer to Little East Asia nowadays, residents and visitors still expect a particular dining experience around here. This probably explains the lack of customers to this spot.

Update: Fargo disappeared a few months later and was replaced by yet another weirdly named place 'Ronto (likely for Toronto). The new spot still offers similar mix of dishes so it might be the same owners.

Never Surrender

On Friday, Massey Hall hosted Matt Mays. I wasn't actually there to see him, and not just because I had another show to attend. But I mostly wanted to see Kathleen Edwards. I caught her as a guest at a concert and was impressed with her talent. But she left the music business soon after to start Quitters Coffee (wink) in Stittsville with only a few one-off shows. So tonight was my first taste of her original material.

I can see why she still has loyal fans. Edwards is a great songwriter. Her music combined honest and wry observation of everyday travails with sharp and evocative imagery. Whether or not historically accurate, there is a movie trope about salt-of-the-earth people like farmers who possess surprising literary acumen or verbal eloquence. Her set had that feel. Long-time fans cheered when she played new songs inspired by her recent experiences: whether turning 40 or having a new significant other and by extension, inheriting his 4 kids. Like myself, they'd probably hope that these might make it into a new album someday.

Old and New

On Wednesday, I headed to the Great Hall for a mid-week show. First up was Moscow Apartment. These two young women (both approximately 15-17 years old) did a nice set of guitar and vocal harmonies with both taking turn on lead. I was impressed that their songs were mostly not love songs. They sang about body image and little vignettes about cats, plants, and best friends. This is something musicians with years more experience can't manage. The over-representation of banal love songs in most shows I go to bore me to tears. The audience probably felt old since their natural banter used modern references that escaped most people. Even their covers, Radiator Hospital's Cut Your Bangs and Big Thief's Paul, were too obscure for us fuddy-duddies.

It was a large band that backed Ben Caplan. Although he did include some older material, the set was mostly about the songs off his upcoming album Old Stock. These came from an off-Broadway play he collaborated on about the immigrant experience. You come to a Caplan show for the maniacal energy and verbose lyrics. Of the new music, Widow Bride impressed me the most, a sly metaphor on the colonial narrative that North America was "virgin land". All the musicians were supremely talented but Taryn Kawaja (vocals, melodica, alto sax) brings something special to the show.

Can You Speak Up?

Friday night at Longboat Hall, a trio of quiet singers played bedroom pop with varying successful. First up was local talent Ellis from Hamilton. It was an angst-filled set with songs like Frostbite and All This Time. Next up was mumble-pop Long Beard from New Brunswick. This set didn't translate well into a live show with too much looping. Finally, Soccer Mommy was the head-liner tonight. She was the best songwriter of the evening and had some interesting arrangements on her guitar. Her band filled out the sound but didn't really added much to the songs.

Update: Soccer Mommy has made several best-of list at the end of 2018.