Went to Daniel, Fred & Julie at the Horseshoe Tavern tonight. First up was Jerry Leger who was whiney, and kind of annoying. He seemed to play FOREVER, and I got there mid-way through his set.
Next up was Baby Eagle who just bored me. Their frontman is apparently in The Constantines, and I’m one of the three people in Canada who are not fans of The Constantines. Have you heard their side of the split 12″ they did with the Unintended? LAME.
Finally, we had Daniel Romano1, Fred Squire2 and Julie Doiron3. Stunning. They were absolutely, unequivocally stunning. This folk trio were able to harmonize and along with acoustic guitar and electric guitar were able to quiet the Horseshoe Tavern enough that the mirrors in SLR cameras were always heard. Not mine, I didn’t bring mine, that photo is from a solo Julie show.
Umm, what else to say? They played much from the album, but in addition, they each took a turn to play two songs on their own. Doiron chose to play new songs, one of which was heard at that tiny bar on Parliament she played a few months back, you know the one, where Gentleman Reg joined her on stage4. The new songs are damn good, and if quality continues could eclipse I Can Wonder What You Did With Your Day, which being a damn good album, is still nowhere near as awesome as Woke Myself Up.
Fred Squire decided to play songs on a new EP. I don’t know if that EP is a Calm Down, It’s Monday EP, or what, but the songs were really good. I’ve never been as impressed with Squires songs as I was tonight.
Daniel Romano was a bit of an exception to the night, he was incredible, but his two songs seemed to be extensions of the D,F&J record.
Overall, fabulous show. Perhaps it shouldn’t have been at the ‘Shoe, but I can’t think of where else to have put them.
- You might have heard of him, he’s in Attack in Black. They opened for Thrush Hermit on Saturday… thanks Meghan for reminding me of that. [↩]
- This guy used to be in Shotgun & Jaybird, now he’s in Calm Down, It’s Monday. [↩]
- You probably know her from her brilliant solo career, or when she called herself Broken Girl, or when she was the bass player for Eric’s Trip, or when she was in Shotgun & Jaybird, or when she was in Clam Down, It’s Monday, or the record she did with Mount Eerie. [↩]
- By stage, I mean corner. [↩]