Fred Eaglesmith is always a fun show to watch, but there’s always one drunk in the crowd that Eaglesmith has to call out, which spoils the fun. If only because the time spent chewing out the loudmouth is time which could be better spent playing another one of his amazing songs.
The popular Canadian troubadour played a sold out show at the Geomatic Attic, Oct. 15, for a mostly enraptured and intently listening audience.
He was i
n a talkative mood, even more than usual, cracking off colour jokes, telling stories and wondering whether to call females “girls, women or ladies,” calling out the drunk and even cracking up at some audience other member’s comments. He did some credible impressions of Canadian songwriters Valdy, Murray McLachlan and Dan Hill. If Fred Eaglesmith ever decides to, God forbid, give up music, he could find a second life as a stand-up comedian.
“This is the first time I’ve had so many women at one of my shows. Usually it’s just guys in plaid,” Eaglesmith deadpanned taking a break in between a set which included a lot of older material including “Carter,” and his bluegrass hit “30 years of Farming,” plus one of my favourites “Indian Motorcycle.”
He sure knows how to pick talent. He had a great, mostly female band backing him including Tif Ginn on accordion and guitar and singing harmony, Justine Fischer on stand up bass and the ever stalwart Kori Heppner on drums who all oozed beauty and talent from every pore.
Matty Simpson added extra lead guitar and some keyboards.
Unfortunately I only caught the last half of the show, but it was fantastic.
And while the drunk was a little grating, when he shouted “We love you Fred,” he pretty much summed up everyone’s feelings. It’s hard not to love the gruff, irascible but affable songwriter, who laughed when he asked the drunk what his wife thought . ( “She’s getting pretty pissed off,” the drunk quipped.’)
He officially ended his show with “Stars,” from his latest CD “6 Volts,” then returned to play a couple softer songs.
I didn’t hear my favourites “Indiana Road,” “I Like Trains,” or “49 Tons,” or “Cumberland County,” but maybe he played them at the beginning of the show or is saving them for tonight’s show, which begins at 8 p.m. sharp at the Geomatic Attic.
I caught the second half of his Tuesday, Oct. 16 show at the Geomatic Attic.
I arrived in the middle of “Katie,”one of my favourites from his latest CD ‘6 Volts.”
He followed that up with a couple of the gospel tinged numbers from “Tindersticks,” including “Fancy God,” and “Get On Your Knees and Pray.” He talked a little about Toby Keith and played “White Rose,” which Keith covered on his “Big Dogs” CD.
He played a few other older songs including “Sold the Old John Deere,” and “Wilder Than Her,” which was requested by Mike Spencer’s daughter.
He told a long story about traveling with former band mate Washboard Hank, dealing with police, then played the ever popular “Water In The Fuel.” He ended his second show much in the same way as his Monday show — by playing “Stars” off the new CD,” then a couple solo acoustic numbers.
