With a long tour across Canada and England under them, the Wilderness of Manitoba came home. After running what has become an extended music collective out of their home, the band has made a lot of friends. Whether it's a fabled Delaware House show in their majestic backyard or in the basement* when it's too cold, chances are they've introduced you to some great music. True to form the band brought some of those friends along for support as they headlined their first show at the Shoe.
Up first was Olenka minus her Autumn Lovers. This girl has that kind of presence on a stage where it takes you a while to realize she's standing there alone. It helps that she has a beautiful voice that reminds you of Joni and a real talent at songwriting. It was a short set, but sweet. Olenka also gave us a nice full band sound by inviting some of the WOM to the stage for a couple of songs.
Next, the soulful songs of Leif Vollebekk charmed the room. How Leif hasn't exploded with popularity yet is a wonder**. Like Olenka, he doesn't need anyone around him on stage to hold your attention. All he needs is a guitar and that voice of his. I've seen him a bunch of times now and I never get bored hearing him sing about love. While it sucks that it sounds like he was screwed over a couple of time, that experience just makes for a better song. I think I've heard him croon the Cairo Blues about five times now, it never fails to get some sort of emotional response the crowd. It also helps that Leif is a charmer on the stage. One of my favourite things to do while he's playing is to look at the women in the audience swoon. There were a couple of crushes formed that night. Lucky Leif.
When the Wilderness of Manitoba took to the stage, there was something different about them. While I've seen them play countless times, I have never seen them play a set with their drummer. One of the drawbacks to playing summer concerts in their backyard means that they have to sideline drummer Sean Lancaric. Luckily the Horseshoe doesn't have problems with noise bylaws so they let him out of his cage. That carefree attitude revealed one more thing about the band: they can rock. While the WOM can evoke the most CSNY-like moments with their aptitude for four-part harmonies, remove their restraints and they join the ranks of the best folk-rock bands.
One thing became quickly clear during this gig; all that time spent on the road has clearly paid off. Over the years the band has not only grown better in terms of the songs they write, but they have also become tighter and tighter as a live act. It helps that four out of five of them live together, meaning they can constantly bounce ideas off of each other. It also helps that they can sneak in a performance while hosting a Delaware House concert. What helps the most is their clear love of music and the individual talents that each of them bring to the table.
It's not just the audience who loves what they do on and off the stage. Look at either Now or Eye Magazine's top ten local albums of the year and you'll see that the critics are responding big time to their latest album When You Left The Fire.
This November night was not only a homecoming for the Wilderness of Manitoba, but a coming out for the rest of Toronto. Whether you go to see them at a bigger venue like the Horseshoe or somewhere far cozier, you'll understand why this band gets so much love wherever they go.
* I once sat on their basement steps and watched the Rural Alberta Advantage play an acoustic set.
**Seriously folks, if you haven't listened to Leif yet go to his Myspace page and check him out right now.
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