May 1st felt like the first day of summer in Montreal and the city came out of its yearly hibernation. It’s a time of rebirth.
For music fans, summer = Osheaga.
What better way to start off the unofficial summer than seeing a band that started their North American Tour with Montreal as its first stop.
The next time they visit our city, it will be for Osheaga Friday.
To see the Liverpool band King Hannah perform at the intimate L’Escogriffe was one of those memories that will last a lifetime.
Maybe it’s the semi-basement vibe or the dim lights, but the venue does have that Liverpool vibe, for someone who has never been.
Alex Nicol
Alex Nicol started off his set solo with a guitar.
It was an interesting way to start the set, but it wasn’t the vibe I was expecting…at first.
It was clear that Alex had some fans in the room, and when the band joined him, the result was a free-flow jam session with Alex at the helm.
The most romantic part of the night was when Alex sang Harvest Moon, both to his new wife, a quarantine wedding, and to all the others who recently got married, or will soon be married.
I have to tip my hat to the one couple who slow danced, taking advantage of the moment to show us what true romance is all about.
King Hannah
The latest release is I’m Not Sorry, I Was Just Being Me, which was available as vinyl and CD at the merch booth.
The first song off the album was also the first song of the set: A Well-Made Woman.
Like many of the songs, they would start low and slow, but then Craig Whittle would kick it up a notch and infuse heavy guitar to contrast Hannah’s voice.
The result was this rich soundscape that filled the room with a vibe you could cut with a knife.
It’s easy to make the Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Star reference when trying to describe Hannah Merrick’s voice.
When they played State Trooper by Bruce Springsteen, as their second song, it was as if puzzle pieces were being put together, and the Hannah Springsteen connection came into focus.
Foolius Ceasar had a big Mazzy Star vibe, but like all songs played, the band seemed to kick it up a notch and make it come alive.
Most of the new album was played, 3 songs from the Tell Me Your Mind and I’ll Tell You Mine EP were played, including The Sea Has Stretch Marks which was a slower and more atmospheric piece.
The set ended with my favourite dessert, Crème Brûlée which ebbs and flows like giant waves of sound between the calmness.
Hannah did not say much, but she did appreciate how a crowd came to see this little band from Liverpool.
She then mentioned that it would be pointless to go off stage, as there is really nowhere to hide at L’Escogriffe, only to come back for the encore.
Opting to let us imagine the process, they went into their last two songs Meal Deal and It’s Me and You, Kid.
The set was delicate at times, intense and moving as Hannah’s hypnotizing voice washed over us and kept us in rapt attention for 12 delightful songs.
Photos: Steve Gerrard
Writer: Randal Wark is a Professional Speaker and MasterMind Facilitator with a passion for live music. You can follow him on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. His Podcast RockStar Today helps musicians quit their day jobs with out-of-the-box advice from Ted Talk Speakers, Best Selling Authors and other interesting Entrepreneurs and Creatives. He created the Rock Star Today Music Business Jam Session for musicians. Randal is a collector of signed vinyl, cassettes and CDs.
