Victoria based jazz/ gypsy  folk band Blackberry Wood never get the audience they deserve in Lethbridge, even on  Nov. 21 when they returned to the Slice to perform for maybe 25 people. Even when there was no real competition on the night.

Regardless, frontman Kris Wood backed by stand up bassist Shannon, banjo picker/ accordionist Noosha and special guest saxophonist Cory Sweet from High Society, had a lot of fun on stage through an evening of upbeat, toe tapping jazz influenced weirdness.

 Noosha complemented  the band's more jazz and gypsy side with her banjo and added a some cabaret style accordion for a couple of numbers.

 For extra weirdness sand rhythm, Woods used “ the contraption,” which included a variety of rhythmic accoutrements plus a theramin which Wood and Shannon used to add strange sounds and even a bullhorn which he used on one song.

 One of my favourites, their cover of Tom Waits’  “ I Don’t Want to Grow Up” was an early highlight of their first set.

 Throughout, Cory Sweet provided  some, well, sweet  sax lines and u toe-tapping  jazz riffs. 

 He and Noosha wandered into the audience near the  end of the set in the middle of  their songs  “The Strong Man” and the Russian Bears,” while Wood got the audience to applaud which one they enjoyed more.
 For the second set, they added more of a jazz and gypsy flavour and put their on stamp on  the Cure’s hit “The Love Cats.”

They played another crowd favourite, the Star Wars Cantina Theme for the second set as well as explored their pirate sides for another song.