Yusuf / Cat Stevens

Massey Hall, Toronto, ON

Dec. 1st, 2014

Over the years much has been written about Yusuf, formerly known by the stage name Cat Stevens. He has been maligned by negative and speculative publicity. It matters not what his religious or political beliefs may be. I care not to read what has been written. Converting to Islam, becoming a Muslim, changing his name makes no difference to me. When I think of Yusuf / Cat Stevens only two things come to mind:

1.) Peace

2.) Music

This is why it struck me as odd that the level of security at his concert was beyond anything I've experienced. It was like going through airport security. Putting your belongings in a plastic bin, walking through a metal detection booth, being again scanned by a wand...the only thing missing was having to remove your shoes and being frisked. It was just beyond me why anyone would want to harm Yusuf.  I cannot think of a more peaceful person. 

The line to get in when doors opened at 6pm stretched down several city blocks. With the added security, it took three hours to process each patron attending the sold out show. Although the concert was supposed to start at 8pm, it started closer to 9pm, not because he was making us wait for him but rather he was waiting for all of us so no one would have to miss anything. After all, it had been 38 years since the last time he toured and was in Toronto. This was a monumentus event!

He shared with us an impressive 28-song setlist with a brief intermission midway through. Starting off with "The Wind" instantly had me in tears as it is just so breathtakingly beautiful. He did change up some of his classic songs, either lyrically, rhythmically or melodically. It was either to make it fresh or a creative challenge and perhaps to abide by his faith. In any case, if you closed your eyes you would not know that he had aged at all since he last toured in 1976.

[Setlist] Posted by Yusuf / Cat Stevens

The Peace Train...Late Again tour is in support of his latest album "Tell 'Em I'm Gone". The album consists of some original songs plus some classic cover tunes handpicked and arranged to suit Yusuf's sound and style. The impressive stage set consists of a complete train station with a sign for each respective city on the tour. I marveled at the amount of logistics that must be involved in transporting, setting up and tearing down across the North American tour dates. We were very lucky that the only Canadian date took place in Toronto.

In a recent interview on CBS Sunday Morning, he touches on why he chose smaller venues, why he chose to tour again, his religious conversion and bowing out of the music industry for so long.

[Video] Interview from CBS Sunday Morning

In any case, being with Yusuf in a setting like Massey Hall was like a warm hug from the past with a sprinkling of new ideas and recognizable covers all culminating in a journey through the passage of time and emotions. Here's to hoping the Peace Train will take another voyage in the near future.

Andy Grammer

Toronto Centre for The Arts

Liv, Love & Lyrics charity event Nov. 30th, 2014
for the LivWise Foundation

Do you remember that video that went viral of a young girl fighting cancer yet still singing her heart out? See below:

[Video] Olivia Wise - Roar (Katy Perry cover)

She passed away a couple months afterwards but in her short life, she left such a legacy in her wake. Thus was the precipice for the LivWise Foundation which spawned the first ever Liv, Love & Lyrics charity event in Toronto on Nov. 30th, 2014.

Although it was to be a celebration of Olivia's life and her love of music, it was still a somber affair. It was difficult to cry about her passing after an emotional video about her life and death and then get up and dance like you would at a regular concert. This was no regular concert.

To start off the music portion of the event, there were several young musicians who had tried out and got to open the show. We're talking 14 to 17 year olds that did not seem nervous to perform by themselves at all. It was quite impressive.

The headliner for the charity concert was the lovely, positive, seemingly always upbeat Andy Grammer. It turns out the producer of his latest album, Magazines Or Novels, was actually the same producer of Olivia's "Roar" video. That's how Andy, who also lost a loved one to cancer, found out about the event. 

It was not just an extraordinary event, it was also the first time Andy Grammer had played in Toronto. Hopefully he'll be able to come back soon under different circumstances so we can do more than just vigorously dance in our seats. He was funny and sweet, not to mention an exceptionally talented singer and songwriter. His lyrics are about being human, quirky, flawed and real but always uplifting. At the meet and greet, it was very casual and he was generous with his time. It was not at all assembly line, regimented, or time constrained. 

It's quite possible that the audience members were all there for various reasons. Some were there for the cause. Some were there for Olivia and her family. Others were probably there for the young performers that opened the show or perhaps to see Andy Grammer. Whatever reason that brought us all together, the whole evening was just a lovely experience from start to finish.

[Photo Gallery] Andy Grammer

[Link] LivWiseFoundation

Stevie Wonder - Air Canada Centre

Toronto, ON Nov. 25th,  2014

What can you say about Stevie Wonder that hasn't already been said? He became a recording artist at the age of eleven! Now at the age of sixty-four, he still sounds like he did back in his heyday when Songs In The Key Of Life first came out back in the seventies.

After an astounding career spanning over fifty years, he hasn't lost his stamina, lust for life or sense of humour. This wasn't just a concert, it was a 3+ hour jam session, giving others an opportunity to shine. In particular, a vocal run competition with one of his male back-up singers was especially impressive. He also introduced another of his back-up singers, his first daughter Aisha, who was part of a jam off with two other singers.

Stevie played several instruments, one of which I've never seen before and would be impossible to explain. You would have to see it with your own eyes. Not only did he have a massive band but also a local Toronto mini orchestra on stage with him. Of course who can forget the lovely India Arie escorting and singing with Stevie.

The party went on long after curfew and a satisfied crowd finally filed out of the Air Canada Centre after midnight. I'm sure no one minded having to get up for work the next morning all bleary-eyed and yet happy.

[Photo Gallery] Stevie Wonder concert

[Review] Ed Sheeran – Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON – Sept. 18th, 2014

(with opener Rudimental)

Ed Sheeran's first show at the Air Canada Centre and it was SOLD OUT! Not at all surprising though. One man, many guitar changes (including a rare appearance of his electric guitar), nearly two hours of totally captivating music = one bad ass equation. Seems only fitting since his first studio album + was called “Plus” and his second album X is called “Multiply”.

Although he began recording his music independently back in 2005, his career exploded when his first studio album came out 3 short years ago in Sept. 2011. By the end of 2012 he was already a headliner.

Not every musician needs to make a concert a huge spectacle of a production. Raw and amazing talent is more than enough to make the experience compelling. Ed Sheeran can seamlessly put together vocal harmonies and banging rhythms, moving effortlessly from on-your-feet dance anthems to soft heartfelt tunes to lightening fast rap lyrics.

An unassuming, dressed down, down to earth human being just strolls up to the microphones, straps on a guitar and gets you dancing and singing at the top of your lungs until you lose your voice. He was on fire...at one point literally...well, not physically. No harm came to him while his projected images were on fire though for his song “I See Fire”. His set had the crowd singing along so loudly the sound was all-encompassing and overwhelmingly beautiful. When Ed decided to slow things down, it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop in this massive arena.

His 18-song setlist consisted of:

I'm A Mess

Lego House

Don't - with a little Blackstreet “No Diggity” thrown in

Drunk

Take It Back

One

Bloodstream

Tenerife Sea

Runaway - with a little Backstreet Boys “Everybody”

Kiss Me

Nina

Afire Love

Thinking Out Loud

Give Me Love

I See Fire

Encore:

You Need Me, I Don't Need You

The A-Team

Sing

[Video] Ed Sheeran - Give Me Love (via hui chen)

The opener, Rudimental, is a band also from the UK. Very good vocally but musically I was a bit lost. I couldn't follow the beat and it seemed like a jumble of musical styles. Instrumentally the bass was way too overpowering so I couldn't really hear the rest of the music besides the drums. It's as if they're trying too hard to put too many elements together to try to be original but it just seemed too muddled. Some people loved it and also sang along but I didn't get it. I did love the vocals though.

[Video] Promo video for Rudimental

[Photo Gallery] Ed Sheeran and Rudimental

Joss Stone & Charles Bradley

Massey Hall, Toronto, ON

Sept. 15^th, 2014

[Review] There are some concerts where you wish you knew every word to every song. Then there are those that you just listen and let the music wash over you. This concert was the latter. Billed as a “Soul Explosion” it certainly lived up to that name and the Massey Hall show in Toronto was their only double-bill together, anywhere.

Joss Stone started things off at first coming across like a shy, demure, down-to-earth almost flower child but once she opened her mouth to sing she had a deep, soulful, powerful presence. She started pursuing a singing career at the age of 13, had a record deal by the time she was 15, and recorded her debut album, “The Soul Session” which was released in 2003 at the age of 16. Now at the ripe old age of 27 she's a seasoned veteran. It's quite evident that singing and music is just a part of her very being.

In her quirky, charming, humorous way she interspersed her songs with little stories that made you feel not so much like a gawking audience member but more like you were sitting around a large dinner table at a casual party. But the real highlight was hearing her smooth yet gravelly voice. It was like she was at one with the music. The only downfall was having difficulty really hearing her over the band but that was just a technical thing. I just wanted to hear more, especially when she really belted it out!

Charles Bradley's performance made me think of what it might have been like back in the down and dirty days of the Apollo Theater. He is soul and has that soul scream down like nobody's business. Even his moves are the epitome of hip gyrating funk. At first though he seemed disconnected from the audience, keeping his eyes closed and doing a lot of that soul screaming. At the point in his set where he left the stage for a costume change, it seemed like a different show when he came back. It was like the show had been started over again with another intro and a fresh start. There were times when the crowd was really into it and I was seemingly missing the plot but was determined to stick it out until the end. Mr. Bradley regaled us with advise about love, lust, sex and how the music reflected all those things as well as some baby-making beats. He got down like James Brown.

[Photo Gallery] 

[Review] James Taylor at Molson Canadian Amphitheatre, Toronto, ON July 24th/14

On a gorgeous summer night, James Taylor and his All-Star Band graced the stage of the outdoor venue playing to a sold-out crowd. As his voice and music are timeless, it was also evident that he has affected generations of music lovers by the many age groups of the concert goers in attendance.

Foregoing any openers, we were lucky to have him all to ourselves for a good 2 ½ hours, save for a 20 minute intermission where he stayed to sign autographs and take pictures. When's the last time you went to a concert without openers and without having to pay for a meet & greet to get the opportunity people had at intermission? It's just another indication of how the music industry has changed over the years and, in that regard, it's nice to be old school.

He makes it seem like singing and playing guitar are so effortless yet he is so precise and flawless in both endeavours. I was so enthralled I didn't even pull out my phone. The guitar, or should I say several guitars are such an extension of the person, you wouldn't even know it wasn't his first instrument. As a child he started out learning how to play the cello but switched to guitar at the age of twelve and wrote his first song at fourteen. Aren't we glad he didn't stay with the cello? Although his guitar-playing technique is derived from his bass clef-oriented cello training and from experimenting on his sister's keyboard. “My style was a finger-picking style that was meant to be like a piano, as if my thumb were my left hand, and my first, second and third fingers were my right hand.”

Some may think the majority of his music is quite somber and classified as easy-listening but don't be sleepin' on James Taylor. He can get down with his bluesy bad ass self. He had us clapping, singing and dancing our asses off. Not what you'd expect at a James Taylor concert.

He joked about the frequent interruptions from the planes flying by at close range, remarking on one occasion that, “That one starts out as an A (note)”, an observation that could only be made by a very musical ear. He played many of his classic songs, even saying that when he first started playing Carole King's 'You've Got A Friend' he didn't know he'd be playing it every night for the rest of his life, not that that's such a terrible problem to have. He also shared some new songs that are going to be on his long-awaited forthcoming album.

A five-time Grammy award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000. His Greatest Hits album was certified eleven times Platinum in the U.S., earning a Diamond certification by the RIAA and eventually selling close to 20 million copies worldwide. Over a time span of 40 years (1968-2008) he has come out with 16 studio albums.

In an age where the radio charts and music award shows are rife with electronically manipulated 'music' and even 'vocals', it's nice to know that there is still REAL music and REAL vocals out there to be savoured. Coming from an era where it didn't matter so much what you LOOKED like but it was more about what you SOUNDED like, seeing James Taylor live was like seeing your favourite relative that you've known since your childhood who holds a special place in your heart and brings back fond memories of growing up with his music.

[Photo Gallery]

Delta Rae, Sun K and Gabe Dixon
Horseshoe Tavern - Toronto, ON June 26, 2014

Delta Rae hailing from NC are bewitching, beguiling and leave you feeling breathless. Each member of the band bring their own uniqueness into the mix yet they come together to put forth a magical musical experience. Their harmonies reverberate through you leaving you spellbound and at a loss for words.

Like many touring musicians, if they come to Canada for only one stop thankfully they choose Toronto as THE place to be. We were lucky enough to have Delta Rae grace us with their presence and I am lucky enough to live in this city. Hopefully more Canadian cities will be able to experience seeing Delta Rae live in the near future, and it is definitely an experience! The videos below will attest to that, even when they go 'off mic' for the second one.

[Video] Delta Rae - Bottom Of The River

[Video] Delta Rae - Any Better Than This

Sun K, a local Toronto band musically sounds good. The lead vocals sound like a cross between Bob Dylan and Sam Roberts. Personally not my cup of tea but music is subjective. I couldn't help feeling like they were still in the 'practicing in someone's garage' phase but there were some musical moments.

Gabe Dixon, currently hailing from Nashville, is an exceptional singer/songwriter/pianist/guitarist. I was enjoying his opening set so much, I actually forgot to take pictures. I did manage to record his singalong tune 'Running On Fumes' which was such fun. Everything I could possible describe about Gabe Dixon is in the video below. Enjoy!

[Video] Gabe Dixon - Running On Fumes

[Photo Gallery]

[Review] OneRepublic, The Script and American Authors
Molson Canadian Amphitheatre, Toronto, ON June 22, 2014

There are some folks, like myself, that are not terribly familiar with these bands entire repertoire but only what they've heard on the radio. Then there are those that know every word to every song of their favourite band. I had heard such glowing reviews of these bands, and this tour in particular, that I thought I must check it out.

The headliner, OneRepublic, with frontman Ryan Tedder who is such a prolific songwriter, played a multitude of songs that have had radio play even I was familiar. I was blown away by what Ryan can do with his voice as I gravitate towards vocals over everything else. Although some of the set changes seemed to interrupt the flow and feeling of their set, it was really just the little subtle things that made it interesting to watch. Having mirrored guitars and, later on, just a single mirror reflecting strategically placed spotlights were one of the most memorable effects. They showed a video clip of driving down the usual highways in Toronto to get to the venue with a view of the iconic CN Tower ending in a Canadian flag really made it feel personal. They seemed to be genuinely appreciative of the Toronto crowd and mentioned they have crew members from Toronto and Canada. It seemed as if they hadn't played to such a large crowd in an open air summer venue in Toronto before.

[Setlist OneRepublic]

Prior to OneRepublic's set was the much loved Irish band, The Script.  Their set did not have a lot of lights and flash which would have been unnecessary anyway and would not have been as noticeable as it was still light out. They just seemed very down to earth, very inclusive and at one point called a girl's ex-boyfriend and sang 'Nothing'. Although they've done this before it was still hilarious to witness it firsthand. They also seemed to show heartfelt gratitude at the reception they got in Toronto, much the same sentiment as from OneRepublic.

[Setlist The Script]

Opening the night was American Authors. I was only familiar with the one song played on the radio, 'Best Day Of My Life', but the rest of their set was equally catchy. There were even some hints of down east flare, even though they are obviously American, met in Boston and based in New York City.

[Setlist American Authors]

Three bands that compliment each other with their mixture of musical influences and genres. Heartfelt and seemingly genuine gratitude for their audience goes a long way. Just an awesome experience!

[Photo Gallery]

Blue October concert review

The Phoenix Concert Theatre

Toronto, ON

May 13^th, 2014

Brilliant words are needed but escape me. I feel the need to be eloquent and intelligent when describing the energy and poetry that is Blue October. The shining beacon and troubled soul that is the heart of the band is frontman Justin Furstenfeld. That speaks to the duality that is the man. Well aware of his downfalls, using his past addictions, failures and mental health as inspiration, or just perhaps an avenue to purge himself and use music as a catharsis, he writes all the lyrics and sometimes co-writes the music. Many songwriters say, “Write what you know” and he definitely does just that.

Perhaps you've seen videos of their more well-known songs like 'Hate Me' or 'Into The Ocean'. They are dramatic, spellbinding...they draw you in until you're mesmerized. Last night, on a basic stage with some mood lighting, stripped of all the video production, they still managed to evoke that same feeling of being mesmerized. Awestruck, mouth agape, dancing to the infectious rhythms you get so caught up in the story unfolding before your eyes you forget about getting the perfect photo or keeping track of the set list. For the first time ever, I didn't write anything down. I was so caught up in the experience it didn't seem important to write down every song title. And you know that feeling you get when someone is singing their guts out on stage and they come over and look you in the eyes...repeatedly...and when it keeps happening you somehow feel special without really knowing why...ya, that feeling.

How can one man be so charismatic, so brilliant yet so humble and fallible? It's really difficult to convey in words what it's like to see Blue October in concert. It's almost like a religious experience without the religion and their music defies being pigeon-holed into one particular genre as it is such an eclectic mix of sounds.

After doing some research on the band, they actually were formed back in 1995 in Houston, Texas and have since come out with 7 albums, the latest of which they're now touring with 'Sway'.The content and progression of each album is most definitely autobiographical. Some of the tracks on the new album that deserve mention are 'Bleed Out', 'Angels In Everything' and the title track 'Sway'.

Like most bands they've had some line-up changes over the years but currently consist of Justin Furstenfeld (lead vocals, guitar), Jeremy Furstenfeld (drums, percussion), Ryan Delahoussaye (violin/viola, mandolin, piano, backing vocals), C.B. Hudson (lead guitar, backing vocals), and Matt Noveskey (bass guitar, backing vocals).

Opening for Blue October was Matthew Mayfield from Birmingham, Alabama. There's something to be said for someone who can hold an audience with just a man and a guitar. He did some interesting covers of Springsteen and Nirvana, as well as some original material.

Next up was a band called Zeale from Austin, Texas. I'm usually not much of a fan of rap but their mixture of hip-hop, intelligent wordplay and infectious dance beats made it impossible not to love them. It doesn't hurt when you can work the name of the city you're playing into your rhymes.

Then of course the mind-blowing headliner Blue October at their only Canadian stop for they're 'Sway' tour. No one even knew they were violently ill until they came back for their encore. Had they not told us, we wouldn't have known. Now that's the epitome of the motto “The show must go on”.

Here's an added clip of an interview with Justin at the beginning of the 'Sway' tour: 'Blue October setlist lays out like a documentary'

[Photo Gallery] 

Billy Joel concert review - Air Canada Centre, Toronto - March 9, 2014

Billy Joel – the lyrical lyricist, the poetic purveyor of portraiture prose. His music is classic, timeless. His voice is ageless and his humour is priceless. With just the right amount of sweet and salty, his show manages to be flashy and yet still self-deprecating and down-to-earth. He can go from a rock n' rollin', rip roaring ruckus and then reduce you to a tearful, sappy pile of mush. He brings you in and makes you feel part of a personal yet shared experience. He made references to local musicians such as Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell and The Band as well as well-known local venues where he had played in the past, all of which makes for an inclusive, relatable experience.

His two-hour long concert showed no signs of him slowing down. He jokes about his age – that he's turned into his father, that he's the age at which most people retire. He can say whatever the hell he wants to say about that but why do reviewers feel the need to focus on Billy Joel's age or appearance is just beyond me. Who cares about that? Let's focus on his amazing talent and accomplishments instead, shall we?

In 1965, at the age of 16 he was already in his first recording band. He released his first solo album in 1971 at the age of 22. He started touring in 1972.

Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man," in 1973 (over 40 years ago), Billy Joel has become the sixth best selling recording artist and the third-best-selling solo artist in the United States.

He's had Top 40 hits in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, achieving 33 Top 40 hits in the United States, all of which he wrote himself. He is also a six-time Grammy award winner who has been nominated for 23 Grammy Awards throughout his career. He has sold over 150 million records worldwide.

Billy Joel was inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame (1992), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1999), and the Long Island Music Hall of Fame (2006). In 2001, Joel received the Johnny Mercer Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2013, Joel received the Kennedy Center Honors, the nation's highest honor, for influencing American culture through the arts. 

His album releases span from 1971 to 2001:

Cold Spring Harbor (1971)

Piano Man (1973)

Streetlife Serenade (1974)

Turnstiles (1976)

The Stranger (1977)

52^nd Street (1978)

Glass Houses (1980)

The Nylon Curtain (1982)

An Innocent Man (1983)

The Bridge (1986)

Storm Front (1989)

River of Dreams (1993)

Fantasies & Delusions (2001)

On December 31, 1999, Joel performed at New York's Madison Square Garden. At the time, Joel said that it would be his last tour and possibly his last concert. He did perform at benefit concerts in 2001. Then on January 7, 2006, Joel began a tour across the United States. Having not written, or at least released, any new songs in 13 years, he featured a sampling of songs from throughout his career. His tour included an unprecedented 12 sold-out concerts over several months at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The singer's stint of 12 shows at Madison Square Garden broke a previous record set by New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen, who played 10 sold-out shows at the same arena. As well, new dates are still being added.

Last night's setlist:

1. Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway)
2. Pressure
3. The Entertainer
4. Vienna
5. Up On Cripple Creek (The Band partial cover)
6. Zanzibar
7. And So It Goes
8. Allentown
9. The Downeaster “Alexa”
10. New York State of Mind
11. Sometimes A Fantasy
12. Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)
13. She's Always A Woman
14. Don't Ask Me Why
15. Keeping The Faith
16. In The Middle Of The Night
17. A Hard Day's Night (The Beatles partial cover)
18. Scenes From An Italian Restaurant
19. Piano Man

Encore:

   20.  We Didn't Start The Fire

   21.  Uptown Girl

   22.  Still Rock and Roll To Me

   23.  You May Be Right

   24.  Only The Good Die Young

Opening for Billy Joel was Jon McLaughlin, a spectacular pianist is in own right. He and his band of 10 years, originating from Indiana, did a 40 minute 8-song set including a rollicking audience participation song called “Why I'm Talking To You”. Dude can wail away on the ivories too. Check them out if you get the chance.

[Photo Gallery] Billy Joel concert

Kings of Leon, Gary Clark Jr. Concert - Air Canada Centre, Toronto – Feb. 26, 2014

The Kings of Leon, the multi-grammy winning Followill family foursome consisting of 3 brothers and 1 cousin, have a sound that is a mixture of Southern rock, blues and alternative/arena rock.

After a solid decade of album releases and touring, the band took a well-needed hiatus from touring for almost two years but only actually took a few months off before working on their 6^th album “Mechanical Bull”. While they took that time to recuperate physically, it also gave them the opportunity to get back to their roots musically and not just put out an album for the sake of putting out an album.

Now they're back with a vengeance with an astounding 24-song setlist with a 3-song encore performing for a solid 2 hours. For the diehard fans that know all the Kings of Leon songs they were loving every minute of it but for the uninitiated it was perhaps a bit long-winded. Although the band members seemed to be off doing their own thing and not really interacting, musically it was on point and still enjoyable, especially if you're a fan of Caleb's voice as lead singer. You wouldn't even know he'd had a cold for several days if he hadn't mentioned it although halfway through, his speaking voice was pretty raspy.

Visually stunning, the show went from opening with an interesting use of a gauze curtain to background videos depicting everything from old-tyme burlesque dancers, a muscle car doing doughnuts, suggestive and almost anatomical imagery to beautifully colourful flowers opening. All this mixed with artistic live cam shots of each member and a laser/light show to rival any heavy rock band. It's definitely like nothing I've seen before.

SETLIST:

Charmer

Rock City

My Party

Temple

Notion *

On Call

Family Tree

Closer

The Immortals

Back Down South

Wait For Me

Supersoaker

Milk

Pyro

Tonight

Don't Matter

Radioactive

The Bucket

Molly's Chambers

Four Kicks

Be Somebody

Cold Desert

Use Somebody *

Trani

ENCORE:

Crawl

Black Thumbnail

Sex On Fire *

(songs used in movies) *

If you particularly like epic guitar solos, mixed in with some awesome vocals, then you'll love Gary Clark Jr. Described as a guitar virtuoso, he began playing guitar at the ripe old age of 12. A few short years later at the age of 17, the Mayor of Austin, TX proclaimed May 3^rd, 2001 as Gary Clark Jr. Day. At the age of 20 his first album was released in 2004 but it wasn't until 2012 when his album "Blak and Blu" was released that people around the world started to hear more about him and his music. Also in 2012 he won an award for performing in more major North American Music Festivals than any other musician on the planet. He has won a multitude of Austin Music Awards, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Song “Ain't Messin' Round” in 2013, and won the Grammy for Best Traditional R&B performance in 2014 for his song “Please Come Home”. His songs have been used in movies, TV shows and even video games. *

His recent show in Toronto, opening for Kings of Leon, was a visually subdued, unflashy 45-minute set backed by three musicians and was just about pure music. No fancy backdrop or lightshow, just gritty music that took elements from different eras, mixed with genres like blues, soul, R&B, doowop, rockabilly and bluegrass but all of it with a modern twist. Some of his 7 song set included:

Ain't Messin' Round

Nextdoor Neighbor Blues

Please Come Home *

Don't Owe You A Thang *

Bright Lights *

Kings Of Leon - Temple

Kings Of Leon - Notion

Kings Of Leon - Supersoaker

Gary Clark Jr. - Don't Owe You A Thang

Gary Clark Jr. - Bright Lights