POW WOWS, SAMANTHA MARTIN & THE HAGGARD, BRADLEYBOY MAC ARTHUR at the 3030, Saturday, May 12. Rating: NNN
Because bars were banned in the Junction until 1997, the west end neighbourhood has developed and gentrified a lot slower than much of the rest of the city, but it’s been catching up dramatically over the last few years.
And with the opening of new bar the 3030, the area now boasts a decent live music venue as well, which feels long overdue.
To celebrate the opening night weekend, Tim Perlich (former NOW music writer and the man behind the Perlich Post music blog) hosted a record release party for gritty Detroit rhythm and blues legend Andre Williams‘ new album Night And Day (which features Toronto country punks the Sadies as his backing band).
Williams himself will be swinging through Toronto soon enough as part of NXNE, so the release party featured three local acts covering his songs to pay tribute to the eccentric singer.
One-man-blues-band Bradleyboy Mac Arthur kicked off the night with a set of greasy minimalist blues as the club filled up, using an old suitcase in place of a bass drum and keeping a hi-hat going with his other foot. Samantha Martin and the Haggard took the stage next, and quickly grabbed the club’s attention with her big rich voice.
While usually associated with Toronto’s roots rock scene, her sound feels as rooted in early R&B as it does in rockabilly.
After her impressive performance, the raw trashy garage rock of Pow Wows felt almost mellow in comparison. Good beginning to a promising new live music venue.
