Joel Plaskett, CIBC Stage

Joel Plaskett IS all that and a bag of chips! How did I take so long to realize I WILL love this guy? I've just seen him live. He's fantastic. Kudos to Harbourfront, for yet more terrific programming, especially at the CIBC stage Aug 20, 9:30 pm.

Plaskett was one stop on "a trip through Atlantic provinces to feel the famous hospitality that comes with a coastal mentality!” JP was true to the advertised talent born and bred for pure enjoyment from Canada’s ocean playground. Gordie Sampson "Cape Breton native with hook-laden songs" was the opener in support of a great evening of heartfelt, intelligent, original music with a demonstrated take-no-prisoners approach, that wrestled our city to the ground; and yet which included an acoustic song never before played for audience, as well as respectful acknowledgement of a request from an audience member.

Did he say Halifax is a town where one tends to carry grudges around in your wallet? Wherever we were, the Emergency Band took us there! Plaskett joked that they're lucky they took the Collector’s on the DVP because the Express lanes flooded. And it was a torrential weekend. I wasn’t the only one glad the event wasn’t rained out, the metal bleacher seats were packed. I love the way he uses his voice and I like his song dynamics and I like his laugh and the lyrics and the guitar and everything else going on. Seriously. In off the cuff, loose, tossed off manners. I admit I was too busy dancing during the "barnyard percussion shakedown" to figure out who was who, but he is clearly gifted! Who WAS that tambourine man?

I will definitely now track down Thrush Hermit and all his prior work, since he reminded me of a Canadian Billy Bragg. He asked us if Ontario experiences flying ant day, though we don’t, flying was a theme in many songs we heard that night. And, when he sang the one about the light of the moon, I saw a most perfect huge orb moon illuminated just off to the right of the stage, out over water. What magical evening!

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Melanie Fernandez, director of community and educational programs says Harbourfront mounts 10 large-scale weekend festivals each summer. Each one attracts 40,000-70,000 people a day...

a tympani might be one of the sounds i don't recognize.

i liked it right away of course, but by the second listen i LOVE it.

a million dollars
nowhere with you
make a little noise

i think i heard all 3 that harbourfront show.