Rating: NNNN
So many indie folk bands, so little time (and patience). Guelph’s Richard LaViolette and the Oil Spills stand out from the faux-hillbilly-accented, banjo-plucking pack for a number of reasons. First, LaViolette’s voice has the convincing rawness of a man twice his age and a tender yet forceful delivery that’s all his own. He wisely keeps lap steel upfront, moving the tunes closer to classic country than to done-to-death bluegrass.
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Then there’s his seven-piece Oil Spills, which includes among others Jenny Mitchell (Jenny Omnichord, the Barmitzvah Brothers), Geordie Gordon (the Magic, the Islands) and Lisa Bozikovic. The dynamic band knows exactly when to push and when to pull, and their intermittent group vocals never crowd or distract from LaVio-lette’s melancholic musings about life after death and the angst of long-distance relationships.
When the album threatens to become overly dirgey, the flawless live-off-the-floor performances remind you that this project is likely best experienced in a dark bar.
Top track: Airtight No Sunlight
Richard LaViolette and the Oil Spills play Holy Oak July 22.
