The city comes alive during the Montreal Jazz Fest. You can tell, as it took us a good forty-five minutes if not more to find a parking spot, about 6 blocks away from the venue. Ste-Catherine street was busy with activity, buskers strumming their guitars in front of the venue as myriads of people walked by. I honestly didn’t know what I had in store as I entered the venue; both performers were unknown to me.
Kevin Garrett took the stage first to warm things up along with Jeremy McDonald on synths and Sean Mullins on drums. Visiting us from Brooklyn, this was his first time in Montreal. The crowd warmly received his performance.
Q & A with Kevin Garrett
(Montreal Rocks) You mentioned it was your first time in Montreal, what did you think of our city?
Kevin Garrett: Montreal was one of the best shows I’ve played with the band. It’s always an experience opening for James, and the crowd was amazing.
(MR) Did you have a chance to catch some of the Jazz Festival?
KG: I tried to catch a few shows. When I arrived I had just missed Jamie Cullum, who is a big time inspiration to me. And I wanted to see the Natalie Prass show but unfortunately I was checking or playing at the same time!
(MR) You seemed to be perfectly matched for the audience, opening for James McMorrow. How were you received at the merch booth at the end of your set?
Everybody is so kind when they come back to say hello afterwards. That’s why I like to run the merch booth after shows. It gives me a chance to say hey and thanks for listening.
(MR) How is your fish LeVar Burton? It’s funny that LeVar compared the book “The Rainbow Fish”, his choice for worst children’s book ever, to the Borg.
LeVar is still alive and kicking. I think I knew about that book and his criticism of it, and that’s why I named the fish LeVar Burton. He’s definitely the best fish ever.
(MR) Just keep an eye out so as not to get assimilated.
(MR) What brings you the most satisfaction? Is it the writing process, the live performance or simply putting something out there for others to enjoy?
Each phase brings me as much satisfaction, as I can create in the moment. When I’m writing, it’s very personal and finishing a song or coming up with an idea that I think is fresh or at least good is always a rewarding experience. Performing is the most fulfilling part of my job. Getting to connect with people on and off the stage, especially people who know my music and sing along, that’s why we all do it! Putting music out is also very rewarding because I get to share what I’ve been working on for however long with whoever wants to listen. All facets of what I’m working on are very satisfying in their own ways.
Kevin Garrett’s EP “Mellow Drama” can be found here.
It was finally time for James Vincent McMorrow to take the stage, accompanied by his selection of 2 guitars (Acoustic and Electric) and piano. As he enters the stage of the Metropolis, the crowd welcomed him with loving applause. “Easy!” he says, “I could be terrible.” His first song was “Hear the Noise” on acoustic guitar. The video can be found HERE. As he took the stage and sang his first song, the crowd fell silent and was enchanted by the performance.
James spoke about the last time he was in Montreal, a legendary show at Club Soda, which was referenced a few times during the evening. It seems the Montreal crowd left an impression on this Dublin born performer. “You guys seem cool.” He says as he starts into the next song “We Don’t Eat” from his album “Early in the Morning”. I really enjoyed this song and was mesmerized by his incredible voice that was being projected upon the Montreal crowd.
James, influenced by the atmosphere of the Montreal Jazz Festival said: “This is the Jazz Fest….I feel like I should be playing more diminished chords!” He mentioned just seeing the documentary Amy about the talented Amy Winehouse and decided to sing a song not found on the setlist: “My Funny Valentine” a cappella.
“Sparrow and the Wolf” followed and I couldn’t help notice his extensive finger picking which blew me away.
James admitted that he hadn’t played much for the last few months, staying in the studio to make his next record. He hadn’t played the last song since he opened up for The Civil Wars in 2011. He couldn’t help but think of Joy Williams as he sang: “I seen no joy.”
James moved to the piano for “Red Dust”, which is a very guitar acoustic song off Early In The Morning. He really nailed the ending with such a high voice; it sent chills through the crowd.
His next song is written as “Track 2” on the set list but seems to be the second track off Early in The Morning entitled: “Hear the Sound that Moves So Soft and Low.”
The next song was a cover of “Higher Love” which to be honest, was a song I never really enjoyed. The version presented was much more intimate and better then the original.
James talked about the simplicity of certain songs, which are composed of very few chords, but like Santana said: “It’s not about the notes, but about how you play the notes” which was an influence for James. He moved to the electric guitar for “Follow You Down to the Red Oak Tree.” I looked out towards the audience and the silent respect they showed was magical. All attention was focused on the man in front of us.
He continued with “The Lakes” from his latest album “Post Tropical” which was recorded off a pecan farm a half-mile from the Mexican border. This was the home of At The Drive In at one point, one of his early influences.
He followed up with Evil… which to be honest… I can’t find a trace of except that it was part of his SXSW 2015 show set list.
James went back to the piano and was reminiscing about his first album and how he is having much more fun on this one. Recording in L.A., he joked that he was full of Hemp Protein. His Flax Seed Oil game was big! It seems everyone in L.A. is obsessed with B12 shots. “But it’s cool now… not Miles Davis Cool… but cool.” Another reference to the Jazz scene outside the walls of the Metropolis. He felt that the next song was to be presented differently from the record. He favored this different rendition of “Gold” as the only way to play the song.
As James went back to the acoustic guitar, he remembered the venue Largo at The Coronet. He mentioned that two of his most influential artists are Fiona Apple and Elliott Smith. These are sacred ground to James, but during the sound check at an old theatre in Amsterdam, he played an Elliott Smith song, which was included on the set list tonight. After playing “Angeles” which reminded James of his recording in Los Angeles, he was proud that he only got one cord wrong on this difficult composition. “High Five.” He said, for that accomplishment.
James mentioned that the next song was the first he ever recorded on a demo CD. Having found this hidden treasure, he had nothing to play it on. Imagine that a CD is now throwback! He finally found an old laptop to play it on after much searching. As he started the first few notes, it was clear the audience was appreciative with their applause as they recognized the song off the “Early In the Morning” album.
I really enjoyed the next song “Breaking Hearts”, a catchy song that got the audience clapping along as James speaks about moving on in his love life.
“This Old Dark Machine” followed with its happy ending of being carried off to a kingdom never bound where one would live forever in love. I couldn’t help feel that I was transported to this world where James lives through his lyrics. His falsetto, which contrasts his tenor voice, reveals his innermost feelings during this stripped down solo concert.
James went back to the piano to sing “Look Out” which promises that the sun would dry tears from our eyes. He remarked during the encore that Montreal was a very loud crowd, whereas his usual crowd was normally weeping, along with him.
The next song “Cavalier” elicited a spontaneous emotion from the crowd who started waving their hands in unison. James hit those high notes remembering his first love.
Thus ended his set, the appreciative crowd wanting more.
James returned with his last two acoustic songs, the first of which was “If I had A Boat” off Early in the Morning. “Now I’m pointed north” the lyrics speak of a dream that died, but James hopes to get a grip of solid ground by reaching the shore. Tonight, he has reached the hearts of his fans, with a great show flowing with honesty and heartfelt lyrics.
James chose to finish the evening with a song he did in Amsterdam. He reminisced being surrounded by a moat between him and the crowd. During sound check, they decided to do the song near the water. When reality checked in, they found that the slope would either make an amazing visual YouTube video of intimacy with the crowd, or an amazing video of an Epic Fail wet performer. James then mentioned he felt like royalty, there on that stage. This reminded him of Paul McCartney surrounded by animated frogs. Promising that this was not a dream, we searched and found this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpevZ0-wUYQ
With that inspiration, James decided to sing unplugged the last song of the night “And If My Heart Should Somehow Stop”
Here is a video of his last song from the show:
Both performers put on a great show for a crowd that reciprocated the intimacy given to them.
James Vincent McMorrow’s latest album, Post Tropical, can be found HERE.
Review – Randal Wark
Photos – Steve Gerrard
