Here is Roman Soltys' review of the show
The Rose Theatre is by all accounts designed to be "acoustically perfect". So while most of us have seen the Spoons at bars and loud concerts... THIS venue was different and the show was rather special. The Spoons have excellent sound equipment so playing in this venue allowed the songs to come through wonderfully... it really highlighted their talents and the strength of their material. How wonderfully rich, complex and melodic the songs are. You can appreciate the guitar work or the harmonized singing between Gord and Sandy in a venue like this. And they DO have great voices. You can be forgiven for thinking that Gord just plays and sings... but in a venue like this, his excellent singing voice REALLY came through. Sandy's higher voice also came through better here and when blended with Gord's, took me right back to the albums.
So while the crowd mood was subdued initially by the atmosphere and "stuffy" venue... by the second set, they were WELL into the show and thoroughly engaged. Gord encouraged us to overcome the feeling of being watched by what he called "The Dance Police"... LOL... and said... "They aren't here tonight, feel free to dance wherever you can find a spot"... and for the last song (Nova Heart) and then the three encores... we sure did!!!!
(The set) started with "Trade Winds" (just like the old days when they would walk onto stage during the instrumental with smoke)... and then broke into Arias & Symphonies... it sure got me going! They played a long mix of old and new... right from Dropped Dishes and Annita... to Waterline... and even the "lost" material from Unexpected Guest. Heck, they even played "The Rhythm" which sounded GREAT there! They even managed to get some smoke and lighting effects to complete the mood for "Red Light"... a treat for those who remember it from back in the day. Steve Sweeney mastered the synth work with ease and really nailed the sound layers on ÒRed LightÓ, which had a very deep, robust and ominous sound in that room.
At the back of the stage, Steve Kendry got a major workout throughout the show and provided some solid drum work. He was able to showcase his abilities during the long drum solo lead-in to ÒTell No LiesÓÉ at the end of which a stick shattered in two and was sent flying across the stageÉ he seamlessly picked up a new one without missing a beat. "Bending" sounded great and I think the crowd who may not have been hardcore Spoons fans... were reminded of just how many great songs this band has in its repertoire. Even one of the young ushers in the hallway commented to me during the first intermission... that he had never heard of the Spoons before this... but he liked everything he heard in the first set! There's a WHOLE new legion of fans out there!
The last song of the night was Romantic Traffic, a fan sing-along favourite. The crowd continued to sing the chorus on their own... while the members sequentially put down their instruments and quietly walked away from the stage. Gord was the last to leave and then waved good bye as the crowd finished singing... a very poignant exchange between the band and an appreciative audience !
After the show, some CD's and albums were available for purchase... and Gord and Sandy took the time to sit down and sign autographs for all the fans who lined up... HUGE kudos to them for doing that! Steve K and Steve S were also in the crowd and conversed freely with people that stayed after the show.
Unfortunately, photos or cameras were NOT allowed, cell phones off etc. so I don't think many pictures from the show will get posted here. (I DID see one flash go off during an encore). On the plus side... NOT taking my camera allowed me to focus on the show and enjoy it more.
Even though it was not a typical Spoons venue or performance, those in attendance will take with them a memorable experience in being able to appreciate their sheer talent and sound in a venue that allowed those elements to come through.
First Set:
1. Trade Winds
2. Arias And Symphonies
3. Smiling In Winter
4. Bridges Over Borders
5. Waterline
6. When Time Turns Around
7. Romantic Traffic
8. Like A Memory
9. Dropped Dishes
10. Red Light
11. Rodeo
Second Set:
1. No Electrons
2. Old Emotions
3. Talk Back
4. Bending
5. 2000 Years
6. Love Drum
7. Tell No Lies
8. Symmetry
9. One In Ten Words
10. Nova Heart
Encore:
1. The Rhythm
2. Annita
3. Romantic Traffic
PHOTOS
Coming soon (maybe)