Concert Review: Bernhoft

How do you describe the indescribable? How do you put into words something you need to see with your own eyes, hear with your own ears, to truly understand the experience? One-man band conjures up images that don't do him justice, like a cheesy vaudeville sideshow act comes to mind, which does not befit him at all.

This Norwegian singer, recently residing in New York, came out with his first solo album in 2008 after releasing albums with several bands going back to 1996 (he would have been only 19 or 20 years old at that time). Classically trained, exceptionally talented, he defies being only one specific genre. His music is a mixture of soul, R&B, blues, jazz, a hint of pop all rolled up into one very funny, sometimes heartwarming or heartbreaking, dance your ass off, multi-talented dude with an edgy, rich, soaring voice (some might describe it as “panty melting”).

With 2 guitars, 1 keyboard, 2 mics, and a looping apparatus, this one man combines layers of music by doing all the harmonizing vocals, using the back of a guitar for a drum beat, some beat boxing or other sound effects, adding the guitar or keyboard, putting it all together to make it sound like a full band. It really is astounding and must be experienced to be believed. I'm very picky about the music I like but out of 5 stars I'd give him 12 because he's just that good.

If you only get one of his albums, I would recommend his live album from 2010 called 1: Man 2: Band. It's a double CD set, the first one is solo, the second one with a band (hence the name of the album). However, after speaking to him following last night's concert, he has a new album coming out in the Spring of 2014.

I also asked him, prior to this year, if he'd ever been to Toronto before. He jokingly said he may have been here for a wedding. I surmised he meant as a guest, not as a wedding singer. In reality he had never been here to do concerts and yet he's done three in Toronto this year alone:

NXNE Festival March/13 at the Drake Hotel

The Virgin Mobile Mod Club June/13

The El Mocambo Nov/13

Hopefully with his new album coming out in the Spring, he'll have the opportunity to “Come Around” again soon. I was too busy having so much fun to keep track and I couldn't even tell you the order of his setlist or if it's complete:

Ever Since I Was A Little Kid

Fly Away

Streetlights

So Many Faces

Choices

C'mon Talk

Stay With Me

Wind You Up

Sunday

On Time

Come Around

Space In My Heart

Shout (Tears For Fears cover)

A Bad Place To Reside

Check him out on his website at bernhoft.org and on YouTube.

bernhoft.org

C'mon Talk (Official Video)

Come Around (new song) 

Concert review: David Ryan Harris and Hanson

The concert took place at the historic Danforth Music Hall which was opened in 1919 in the city of Toronto. The 1,500 capacity crowd was lined up down a city block and around the corner for the sold out show. The first floor of the venue manages somehow to have either full seating or just a wide open concrete floor depending on the concert. Last night it was standing room only. I was lucky enough to get upgraded by Live Nation so I could have a floor view. I chose to stay there for the opening act, David Ryan Harris, the man I really came to see. Not that I'm averse to Hanson but the boy band era was not really part of my generation.

Not only is David Ryan Harris an amazing singer-songwriter-musician-producer but just seems like a genuinely down to earth “real” human being. Just a man and his guitar had the audience mesmerized with his beautiful voice, compelling and humorous storytelling and his ability to take familiar songs, mash them together in a medley, altering the lyrics to fit his story. It was funny, funky, bluesy, soulful and a heartwarming shared experience with just the right amount of audience participation. He even downplayed the “showy stuff” after he played his guitar behind his head, bringing the music back down to being real and honest. One point in particular struck me as he was speaking to the girls in the audience about worrying so much about their physical appearance before he played his song 'Pretty Girl'. To paraphrase his message: Be yourself, love yourself just the way you are, others love you just the way you are too, the little insignificant things you spend so much time worrying about are not important, especially to guys, and you are amazing anyway just for being girls. Just an indication of what this man is all about, keeping it real.

At intermission, as promised, David made himself available to sign his CD's after his set. I'm not one for autographs as that is not important to me but it did offer an opportunity to have a bit of a chat with him. I even said as such to him, that I really just wanted to say Hi and ask how the Canadian leg of the tour was going so far. When I told him my name and mentioned our little twitter chat he said he recognized me from my avatar. Not important but he was just a lovely man and it's nice to be acknowledged in some way. I wished him well on the rest of his journey through Canada and would have loved to talk more about it but others were waiting for his autograph. I decided to enjoy the comfort of my seat in the second floor balcony for the second half of the concert.

There is no doubt that the Hanson brothers are also exceptionally talented singers and musicians. The crowd sang every word to most of the songs. They really mixed up the set with quiet songs, high energy dance songs, an a capella version of a Bee Gees song that really showcased their voices and each Hanson brother individually did one song alone on stage. There were times during their set where there was too much of a lull, perhaps too many quiet not so well known songs where even the diehard Hanson fans went back to their conversations about other things and checking their phones. That may just be a normal generational thing but it did drag a bit too much in spots. As I am not well-versed in Hanson's music beyond when MmmBop was popular perhaps it's not for me to say but maybe they might want to rethink their setlist as there were too many quiet songs in a row. Don't get me wrong, I still danced my ass off until I was a sweaty mess for the more energetic songs, even if I didn't know them because that's how I roll, just like I did for David Ryan Harris' set.

On a side note: As we were shuffling out of the balcony seats I was astonished at the amount of garbage left on the first floor below. People, pick up your shit and put it in the garbage/recycling bins. Other than that, it was a fun-filled exuberant evening making more musical memories.

David Ryan Harris - Pretty Girl Mash Up

Hanson- a capella Toronto Nov 9/13