Festival Music House kicked off its three-night concert series of Toronto’s top musical talent with an intimate show headlined by Stars Monday night at the Roosevelt Room.
But the biggest star of the night was the utterly charming Basia Bulat, whose smaller, folkier sound was a better fit for the close quarters. Bulat got the crowd to loosen up early on when she granted them permission to come closer to the stage instead of hanging ten feet back in a swaying mob. (“I’m new to Toronto, but you can come closer”).
The event drew plenty of Canadian content. We eyed Leslie Feist, Jian Ghomeshi, Jill Hennessy and Sarah Slean taking in the show.
Stars frontman Torquil Campbell was in fine form in his slightly over the top diva self, repeatedly blowing rose petals into the air and, at one point, suggesting that TIFF screen more pornography in the years ahead, which segued nicely (if counter-intuitively) into their song We Don’t Want Your Body. Muddy acoustics unfortunately robbed the Stars of what would have been a much better show had it been in a larger venue.
Toronto director Bruce Macdonald played MC for the night and got things rolling with a fine set by piano man Royal Wood, who looked dapper in a suit and tie. He was followed by a much less dapper Chilly Gonzales, who lurched around on stage, unshaven and greasy haired, wearing a bathrobe and repeatedly asking the audience to stop talking (which didn’t get any less awkward the third time he asked).
Festival Music House continued last night with City and Colour, Hawksley Workman, Tokyo Police Club, Creature and Raccoons. Tonight, the final night of the series, features Gord Downie and the Country of Miracles, Zeus, Beast, Born Ruffians and Diamond Rings.
