SHANNON WRIGHT (from Chicago) The Horseshoe Tavern
Toronto, Ontario
Saturday, June 10
nxne; 9pm

The girl on before Joel Plaskett and Mike O'Neill was kind of neat. When she first went on stage, she was solo. Jen and I were standing a few rows from the front and a few songs in, I noticed this guy (who turned out to be her drummer) did this really great weave-between-people move and got to the front with no troubles at all. (a song later I copied this move and Jen & Lindsay joined me) He then went on stage and sat behind the drum kit, and what a crazy drummer he was! From his overexaggerated strokes while drumming to making crazy faces to collapsing like a rag doll with his head resting on the snare, he was a show in himself...
The Music of Shannon Wright: She went between playing acoustic guitar and a wurlitzer. The wurlitzer was the most fun because she had set up a visual keyboard hooked up to the wurlitzer so the audience could see what notes she was playing by little lights turning on as the keys were pressed. Her singing ranged from quiet whispering of unknown words to yelling (unknown words) while her stage antics, while on guitar included stompling and slow-mo kicking.
My Opinion. Yet again, I didn't have any urges to go out and buy a cd, but I don't have any regrets seeing her play before Joel Plaskett went on stage.



JOEL PLASKETT The Horseshoe, 10pm.

The first thing you must know, is that Joel has a new, short haircut and he is still as skinny as can be. And Dave Marsh, the ex-superfrienz drummer was behind the skins that night. That being said, I suppose the music can now be discussed.
The first thing we noticed was that Joel's stuff sounds less country live and more rock, as compared to the cd. That is, of course, unless his new songs are less country? There were many new songs. I only recognized 2 from the cd because they're my favourites: 'When I Have my Vision' and 'News of Your Son', and there were 12 songs in total. As opposed to the 'Medical Attention' theme, these songs seemed more themed toward love. (eg. 'True Patriot Love', 'Unconditional Love', 'Love in the Air') And most songs were slow but there were always energy bits inside where the tempo changed and you felt the rock. Yes, there were lalas heard as well. It was a good concert. Overall, Joel's music is growing-up and I hope it doesn't get too much more "grown-up," for I'm afraid I'll be left behind.



MIKE O'NEILL The Horseshoe, 11pm

His band consisted of a close shaven, ponytailed benn ross on drums, Ian Spaghetti-man on bass, ("Mcgettigan i love you!" quoth some guy) and the supporting harmonicist on guitar. This guy had a fine voice and I have no idea what his name is, but Jen said he used to be in Sandbox.
I'll get what the best part about seeing Mike O'Neill was out of the way right away: his hair style mirrored mine.
With a larger band, of course the sound was richer than Inbreds, and more complex, but the style (as opposed to Joel vs Thrush Hermit) was still recognizable. And that made me happy.
Mike O'Neill is pretty great. He was very conversational, discussing such topics as taking guitar lessons and his boots. With the latter, he took off one and explained they were his dad's. Apparently, Dad O'Neill is of the conservative type, but he owned these not-really-conservative cowboy zipper-up-the-side boots, which Mike was modelling tonight. And it makes an all-round great concert to just see how happy he was. His smiles light up his whole face, it's like Mike O'Neill holds a genuine gladness of music.
2 thumbs up! Mike O'Neill continues to be Canada's Cutest Musician (sigh, mannerisms too) and you can quote us on that.
The worst part about seeing Joel and Mike is that most of the songs were unknown to us. It seems that the excitingness of concerts is not only the show put on and the music itself, but the familiarity of the material is a factor also...