Opening the Door

November 24th, 2006 posted by robb

Open Door Festival of Music
Fundraiser for Red Door Family Shelter
Rating: 8/10

‘Tis the season, and for musicians that means giving back the way they know how: a fundraiser. As indie musicians, they’re as broke as the next bloke, so there really isn’t a better way they can give back than perform for free for a good cause.

On a cool Wednesday, Nov. 22, I had the pleasure of attending the 6^th Annual Open Door Festival of Music, a fundraiser in support of The Red Door Family Shelter in Toronto. The festival also showcases local indie talent from a wide range of genres. The Mod Club also donated the space for the evening (which was yet another reason why they’re the classiest venue in town!).The night began at 7:30PM sharp with ex-CBC radio host Avril Benoit as the MC. Julie Michels and The MCC (Metropolitan Community Church) of Toronto Choir began with their set of jazz covers. Julie’s demanding and soulful sound brought the audience to whisper. The Choir was a little timid on stage, which was mostly likely due to performing on an open concert stage with a chatty crowd rather than a seated classical theatre setting with a captive audience.

The chatty crowd escalated from nuisance to plain rude when folk singer/songwriter Craig Cardiff walked on-stage. Known for his intimate grassroots acoustic sound and john mayer like whispy vocals, the crowd noise over-powered him. With a serious demeanor, he looked rather uncomfortable for the entire solo set. For this final song he politely asked the crowed to “shhh” each other and to sing along to his version of “Time After Time”. Too bad no one was listening. It was a shame. But rather than sitting serious, why not crack both smile and the crowds' rudeness by delivering a few jokes?

Doubling in size, acoustic duo DALA hit the stage after Craig. Taking a fun and festive approach, Sheila Carabine and Amanda Walther dished out piercing harmonies ala Dixie Chicks, talking about tween 1^st heartbreak, living in their 20s, and Rudolph. With great storytelling, witty banter with the crowd and powerful songs the crowd realized they were in a concert venue and should bloddy-well pay attention. In true fundraiser fashion, the gals performed a great Joni Mitchell cover and ended with the crowd wanting more. These girls are here to stay – look out for them!Intermixed through stage changeovers, Open Door invited members from the Toronto Poetry SLAM group to perform. They shook the house with aggressive raps about love at first sight, heart break, and cancer. SLAM poetry was a first experience for many audience members; it appeared as though they generated some interest for their SLAM nights on Saturdays.

Next up was Kellylee Evans, a latin-jazz and a bit of blues singer born in Toronto. The first of the night to be backed by a full band, she performed a wide range of tunes, ranging from R&B, jazz, blues and latin inspirations. Evans performed unique version of John Lennon’s “Imagine”, putting her own R&B and jazz twist to the cover. I enjoyed her energy and infectious smile throughout the set.  Even while she was talking abou her late mother's passing, she had a smile on her face and keep the mood positive and encouraging. Ember Swift followed Evans with a solid following cheering them on the stage. Ember’s politically charged folk-jazz-funk music had the mostly queer-female fans roaring and dancing. Ember Swift (vocals, guitar) and Lyndell Montgomery (guitar, bass, violin) put on an explosive and interactive performance – they are true musicians that know their instruments, and aren’t afraid to experiment. A highlight was “Elle est la”, with Swift transforming herself into a smoking Quebecois drama queen and sang the song en Français.

Closing the night was Toronto-based Andy Stochansky, ex-Ani Difranco drummer turned singer/songwriter. I know him from his “Five Star Motel” release in 2002. He put on an acoustic set to a dwindling crowd. His music felt passé – all I could think of was what I was doing when his “Wonderful (It’s Superman)” and "Stutter" came out on the radio, about 4 years ago. Yep, that’s the guy.

The Open Door Festival of Music was a great event that not only supported a local cause, but also opened the door for new artists to showcase their talent. It’s the season of giving, and I couldn’t have thought of a better way to give my time and money (especially on a Wednesday night!).

Reviewd by: ROBB ENG

Section: Uncategorized