Not having heard Jason Collett’s solo music before, I had mixed expectations attending his concert at the Plaza. What I did know of Collett was that he’s a member of that grossly obese Broken Social Scene, the purveyors of over-indulgent, art school pretentiousness that seems to be so popular right now. So this in mind, I was quite surprised to find the singer provide a night of diffused folk rock. No weirdness or experimentalism involved.







The opener was Peter Elkas, who borrowed Jason Collett’s band for his show. Elkas played a ménage of soulless soul, and funkless funk, with dinosaur acts John Mellencamp thrown in for good measure. I just could not get into this music. It was like I had anti bodies inside me that rejected every hackneyed song Elkas could throw at me. Sometimes things seemed to be getting better, then he would throw in a cheesy guitar solo that ruined everything. Ouch!









On to Jason Collett and his band

Collett’s solo stuff borrows heavily from the ‘Golden Era’ of seventies AM radio, along with Byrds jangle and the roots of The Band. Throw in some Graham Parsons and you’ve pretty much got his sound nailed down. Isn’t it great when reviewers just compare peoples’ music to other bands instead of describing the bands sound in non comparatives? Yeah like that’s gonna happen here.



Ok ok I’ll try. A lot of his songs had a lazy, drawn-out feel to them, but where this can be a good thing, when it’s meditative or whimsical, this just felt unnecessary, because they went no where, and muddled together into a pastoral of hues much like the long wheat fields of central Canada which his music brings to mind. There were spacier jams, and a couple more contemporary songs. These stood out from the others, and of course they were the singles.



Collett’s got his disaffected Dylan drawl down pat, while his back up band, aptly named the Jason Collett Band, consisted of a lead guitarist, bass, drummer, and an organist. The drummer for his part was excellent, though underutilized. He seems like he should be in a band that plays faster material. His skills were being wasted on lazy folk rock songs with little to no tempo changes. The lead guitarist never really stood out for me, but was decent enough.



The organist was formerly of the local band Peppersands. He added much nourishment to Collett’s sound with flourishing old fashioned organ a la Garth Hudson. He also did some guitar, and percussion. At one point the played the maracas and promptly threw them behind his back when was done with them. Way to treat your gear dude.



The audience for their part seemed like they were going along for the ride. I can’t quite say Collette was living up to his studio recordings, but everyone seemed to be enjoying his antics. I can see how this music would probably be more effective evoking feelings on record, in tiny spaces with misty mornings. But on a Friday night at the Plaza I wasn’t having it.



It was a short show. I guess the place turns into a fly club at 10:30, scram folkies! So Collett’s wrapped up and everyone figured it was over, as the Plaza allows for little leeway on encores. But much to everyone’s delight, he returned announcing he had another 10 minutes. There were huzzahs all around.



So they played a song that I at first thought was a cover of “Sweet Jane.” But apparently its not, so I am thinking maybe they just lifted the riff and worked a bit of “Sweet Jane” in there for fun or something like that. Anyways it was a good song, and Collett showed some theatrics which were pretty much absent from the prior however-long his show was. He pulled out some funky moves while playing his guitar, at one point getting on his knees and bending backwards so his head was touching the ground. I must say this is pretty flexible, as if I had done that I’d have to sit in a tub filled with Icy Hot the next day. But who knows, he’s probably on drugs or something.



So the last song of the night was “I’ll Bring the Sun.” A good send off to a decent concert. Collett and his band were tight, with enough energy to keep the crowd’s attention. I wouldn’t consider top of the crop in the style of music they play, for they pilfer their influences instead of tipping their hat to. But they at least do a good job in the robbery, and even if not exception it provided a good evening of music.

Elsewhere

By Ryan Johnston
Photos : Andy Scheffler
Published : April, 2008.