Weakerthans!!!

" and hears the price of gas repeat his phrase...i hate winnipeg"

The Weakerthans are finishing up their Rolling Tundra Review tour with buds the Constantines. We attended the Yukon Art Gallery show last night, and they are performing at the bar Coasters tonight. I anticipate the bar show will be a lot livelier but hey, the sit-down crowd wasn't too shabby last night either. They were offering earplugs though. Kind of wussy...

The Constantines brought it hard and fast. They rocked from song to song, only pausing to break it up with a slow number after about 6-7 numbers. Highlight? When John K. Samson of the Weakerthans stepped in to take lead vocals for a song. It was amazing! Constantines were high energy, although not much stage presence and kind of danced like poorly-strung marionettes. Oh well, the music was more than pumped and brash, a great sound to start the work week.

A short intermission (everyone had a drink in their eager paws) and the Weakerthans stepped up without any prima donna waiting games. They curiously began with a song from their newest album, where I was expecting something from a bit later, to work the crowd up. Oh well.

Samson was in fine form, with his nasal-but-awesome voice. He had quite the backup, even had Rusty Matyas on keyboard, trumpet and some backup vocal and guitar. Rusty really looked like a rusty, he was wearing rust coloured flared pants circa 1970, a powder-blue button down that was too tight in the midsection and a bald spot. Very indie chic or maybe 'retro dad' chic.

Samson was drinking red wine throughout and there wasn't really any drunk rockstar moments. Highlight of the show? It would be hard to pick just one...I liked hearing from their new album, Reunion Tour but hearing the old stuff from Reconstruction Site, and others was awesome. Their lyrics are something to behold.

They crowd-pleased, Samson was the only one talking but definitely charismatic. Rusty and another band member duelled guitars briefly.

And..they brought the classics; Pamphleteer, A Plea from a cat named Vesper, One Great City...it was allll good!

What's your fav. Weakerthans song?