ELLIOTT BROOD at The Tiny Record Shop, Saturday, January 10. Rating: NNNN
A couple surprising things of note gleaned from Elliott Brood’s in-store performance at The Tiny Record Shop and used clothing store, Common Sort:
1) The acoustics are quite good in vintage clothing boutiques.
2) It’s still possible to stomp along to Jigsaw Heart, the feel-good, rollicking single from the band’s most recent album Work and Love, between racks of sweaters and high-waist jeans, and babies wearing oversized headphones. (Guitarist/vocalist Casey Laforet’s two youngsters were also hanging out in the back of the small room, far from the rumbling speakers.)
Not-so surprising?
That after more than 10-years of playing together, Toronto’s Elliott Brood is as tight as ever. Clad in all black, the trio whipped through a six-song set that was heavy on the mature, alt-country jams from their latest LP. Despite the tight quarters, the band didn’t hold back: lead singer Mark Sasso’s signature raspy croon shook the space during the twangy tune Nothing Left, nor did Laforet pull any punches on his amped-up electric guitar.
Overall, the set was short and sweet, but the perfect appetizer to the band’s upcoming headlining gig at the Phoenix later this month — which will likely be sans babies, with 100 per cent more beer.
