I happened to be in London last Saturday night and was able to take in this show at the very pleasant and tasteful surrounds of the London Music Club. This really is one of the most pleasant clubs I have had the pleasure of visiting. It's located just off the downtown area alongside some stately old brick residential beauties. The room that Luke et al were performing in was the largest of three rooms where live acts were performing, and it was fairly packed - every chair was taken and there were people standing around the bar area. Subdued lighting, lots of art on the walls and neutral dark, warm brown walls helped set a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. There were quite a few familiar faces around the room from BR, Luke and Ron Sexsmith concerts past.
If you had asked me six months ago where I would be on April 19/08, I would not have said "at a Luke Doucet show", but given the circumstances and the quality of the performance, I consider that I was very lucky to be where I was.
They put on a great show and played quite a generous second set of almost an hour. I didn't think to grab a setlist but there were many selections from Broken (and other rogue states), the latest album: Blood's Too Rich on a setlist that was also peppered with other tunes from earlier albums and of course an enjoyable cover of The Cure's Love Cats. Luke prefaced Love Cats by announcing "this is a song we have no business playing."
Crowd response was most enthusiastic for Broken One and I'd have to say that this really is one of my favourites as well along with It's Not the Liquor I Miss (which is a heck of a title for a song if you ask me). I somehow always admired something of the Buggles about this song and was surprised to see in the credits of the Broken (and other rogue states...) CD, that Luke's daughter Chloe sings some star winsome back-up, which lends great poppy style to the song imho.
Luke's phone was back on stage on Saturday firmly taped to the microphone stand for songs which required that long-distance feeling.
There were a number of interesting anecdotes, some sad - some funny - some a bit of both, preceding many songs. Luke came back for the encore with his White Falcon guitar to play Wallow from Broken (and other rogue states...) and you could see how he would be worth seeing even without his very excellent back-up band White Falcon. I think the song has a style that is very similar to Paul Simon's first solo album (which I almost played the grooves off of), but Luke's live treatment with the electric Falcon made it even bluesier (...bluesier....is that a word?...)
Luke was treating us to many riffy small solos from every page of the Southern rock/blues influenced/whiskey-infused/alt/country guitar book and I would say he held the crowd entirely in his hand.
There was no yakking from the audience through the set and everyone was paying quite rapt attention to the stage which is set against the long wall of the rectangular room, affording every seat with a good view.
The whole band was sounding quite good and their energy was humming despite their opening for Blue Rodeo in Sudbury on the previous evening. Melissa MacLelland took the mic for one of her own songs which was very well-received by the crowd. Melissa was providing excellent back-up on vocals, electric and acousitc guitar. (I hope they bring some of her CDs to the Sunderland show since I am on an incomplete mission to purchase her latest release.)
The very pleasant Luke and Melissa were signing autographs for people out in the lobby of the club both during the intermission and after the show.
I am now enjoying Blood's Too Rich in the car on a daily basis and I can highly recommend both it and Broken as very good selections for your CD collection.
"Over straight and crooked miles
Falling out of favour or embraced
Wondering where was love...
It hadn't happened yet"
~Ron Sexsmith~
Nearest to all things
Patiently waiting
So let the angels sing
Silently weeping