Toronto’s indie country troubadours, Elliott Brood, are playing the second of two intimate back-to-back sets at The Dakota Tavern tonight. Herewith, five reasons why you should definitely make the trek for a raucous, foot-thumping, soul-plucking good time.
They’re in a category all their own
You may have heard of bluegrass, folk, roots and folk-roots, but Elliott Brood simultaneously fall into all and none of these genres. The trio probably describes itself best, labelling the sound as “death country” (which makes country twang sound way cool and hardcore). The music combines gritty, raspy, bourbon-soaked harmonies with chunky guitar and plunky banjo riffs, along with an unparalleled talent for storytelling. Translation: it’s going to get rowdy.
They know how to cover the greats
Banjo and David Bowie. Need we say more? Alongside other artists from Paper Bag Records, Elliott Brood tackled The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Previous artists have tried — and failed — to put out covers of Bowie’s work that can stand on their own, but Brood’s cover of “Ziggy Stardust” succeeds in a big way.
We also think it was rather ambitious for a so-called traditional folk-roots band to tackle “Gimme Sympathy” by electro-pop heavyweights Metric. Fingers crossed that these covers will make tonight’s set list.
They’re unashamedly patriotic
Just try and listen to the Brood’s latest album, Days Into Years, without getting that warm maple-syrup-pumping-through-your-veins-feeling (you know what we mean). According to the press bio, the album was inspired by Canadians who died while at war. Tracks such as “Lindsay,” (about growing up in southeast Ontario), “Northern Air” and “If I Get Old” are odes to lush countrysides punctuated with dark death themes. Unabashed Canadiana is nothing new for these guys, as heard on their previous Polaris and Juno-nominated albums, including the foot-stompin’, knee-slappin’ track “Oh Alberta.”
They’re total badasses
Never, ever, diss the legendary Bruce Cockburn. That’s the lesson Brood learned back when they were nominated alongside the folk-rock singer-songwriter for an Indie Award last year. They made this (hilarious) video to attract voters, and it landed them in hot water with some other musicians. Don’t worry, the bit was all in good fun, and the fellas released a second apology video.
They have famous offspring
On New Year’s Eve, the band had to cancel their Lee’s Palace gig — but for a good reason. Frontman Casey Laforet was welcoming his new baby boy at the hospital (along with a horde of reporters). Baby Wynn was Toronto’s first baby of 2013, and as Laforet joked with the media, his baby was getting more media attention than his band. In an interview with Now Magazine, Laforet said that little Wynn doesn’t seem to dig the lap steel twang, and that he might grow up to be a “hip-hopper.” Awww.
Elliot Brood, The Dakota Tavern, 249 Ossington Ave., 416-850-4579. Jan. 31, 9 p.m.