Elvis Perkins In Dearland

[Velvet]

Two thirds of the way through out little Toronto Neil Young run we found ourselves on our way to the Horseshoe for our night off to see Elvis Perkins In Dearland. This was Heather’s first time to the classic yet grungy venue so I filled her in on the place’s history over our first of too many rounds. We shared a table up front and were exchanging pleasantries with our tablemates when the opening act came on. Bon Iver took the stage in the form of a man and his acoustic guitar. He announced that this was his first in a series of opening slots with Elvis Perkins, and that he was happy to be here. Then he started right in and we were soon pretty happy he was here too.

Most of Bon Iver’s set would undeniably be classified as mellow, but the sound this man has developed is so engaging he held us all for the whole set. Reminiscent of Radiohead, his voice could soar unabated into the upper echelon of what is manly possible without ever sacrificing a solid and full timbre. Iver’s range includes the low notes too, and he travels up and down the octave without invoking direction; he sings high and gets low and you wonder where the spectrum in between went.

With apologies that he was without product to sell until his upcoming release in February, Bon Iver closed the set to very appreciative applause and made way for Elvis.

The man came out to start his set solo. He started with the final cut from his disc, and it was downright dirgeful. Perhaps capitalising on the relaxed atmosphere of his opening act, or maybe just gauging what kind of crowd he was up against, either way the audience was polite and attentive throughout a set opener that never hit 60 db or bpm. His band sauntered onstage and joined in, blending into a different song replete with sax and trombone, double bass and drums.

The beers kept hitting the table and Elvis Perkins In Dearland kept pumping out tunes in the style of almost every member of the Travelling Wilburys without ever coming close to capturing the essence of why those that are imitated are imitated; their sound is unique and memorable. And while Elvis Perkins was neither, he can look to his opening act for a taste of both.

Elvis was fine, Bon Iver was memorable. Not bad for a Wednesday night at the Horseshoe.

[NewRider]

Nice review. Wish I could've made it.

[bouche]

Nice review. Wish I could've made it.

Did you look up dirgeful? Are you SURE you wish that you could have made it?

[NewRider]

I like Elvis regardless of whether it sounded like "a slow, mournful musical composition."

[bradm]

Nice review. Wish I could've made it.

Did you look up dirgeful? Are you SURE you wish that you could have made it?

Maybe he just wants to have spent some time with Velvet.

Aloha,

Brad