the fate of music depends on this loop

Whitehorse (with Daniel Romano)

Knox United Church

January 31, 2013

Whitehorse (Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet) have a musical marriage that takes each performer's strengths and lifts them into something greater than the sum of the parts.  The way a good marriage should.  Melissa's love of looping has them laying down tracks throughout the show, turning each song into a complex sonic layer cake.  Luke's fearless and inventive guitar chops, especially on that deeply reverberating Gretsch hollowbody, is the way I always want to hear a guitar played.  And when they stand close to share a single mic, opposing guitars forming a heart around the couple, they are a smoldering, sultry musical force of nature.

Opening for Whitehorse was Daniel Romano, complete with sparkly suit and white cowboy hat, who absolutely nailed an authentic Opry cowboy sound.  The tear in his voice was perfectly accompanied by his partner on beautifully weeping lap steel.  It was not everybody's cup of tea, evidently, but I loved it. 

If you are interested in a complete review, I will have one up at Getdown.ca on Tuesday.  See you then!