Local dance club Studio 54 might seem like a strange place to host Hamilton/ Toronto based roots rock trio Elliott Brood, however the trio had a room full of sweaty and beer soaked people worked into a frenzy on the dance floor with an upbeat, high energy show, Feb. 12.
I missed an opening set from Ryland Moranz who was on his way to Folk Alliance in Kansas City this year. But I caught the last few songs of local roots/ folk band the Dearly Departed which featured fine fiddle playing from Megan Brown and ended with Steven Foord playing mandolin with his teeth.
So the crowd was already primed and ready to go by the time Elliot Brood took the stage around 11 p.m.
“Lethbridge is like our second home,” shouted frontman Mark Sasso, wielding his battered banjo as he traded lead vocals with guitarist/ bassist Casey Laforet, hidden in the shadows of bright shining, luminous lights on the other side of the stage. Stephen Pitken was centre stage, holding down the beat behind a full drum kit.
They began their show by playing “Hold You,” a peppy number powered by two ukuleles. They took off from there, switching instruments pretty much every song. Most of them were familiar to the audience who gleefully sang along.
