Throwing and banging on expensive gear/Drumming on wine

(No uploads of last night's set yet, this works tho)

Hands down the most amazing performance at Folk Festival was Patrick Watson. I suppose the insane amount of touring they've been doing in the last few years has lead to this absolute perfection, from engaging, humourous and honest stage banter to amazing, trancendent, forceful songs. The simple beauty of the album versions gives way to magnificent expanses of sound. I may be biased (I think the drummer is an unbearable fox, a veritable tree to climb) but the drums on "Beijing" live took an already great song to a whole other level. Though Patrick's voice and piano... I was almost in tears for "A Man Like You," though it may have been a C'est pas moi je le jure! flashback. Even after the closing set by Buffy Sainte Marie, I was still elated and buzzing from Patrick Watson. I couldn't sleep, just watched YouTube videos until I finally drifted off an hour before my alarm went.

(The entire weekend was just a delight, daytime lounges at the workshops and teaser concerts, BD Willougby and Belle Plaine hometown hero fantastic, working in the Gallery's ATC tent while listening to Buffy host the Metissage workshop session (K embroidered the Festival Logo on a card, I made shoddy musician pop-art trading cards cut out from the program, Buffy was petite and amazing), street vendor food (curried chickpeas and vegetables, ice cream, iced tea, fries with vinegar), lots of entertaining Francophone bands in the mix, Calexico were a bit underwhelming on Saturday night but entertaining at thier host workshop on Sunday morning, I spent all of Saturday night on the blankets and chairs area but was front row standing/dancing -or more of an instense swaying shoulder shaking- for Patrick Watson. Best of all, no sunburns and minimal mosquito bites despite so many hours spent in the park.

How does one sway and shake appropriately while seated indoors? Patrick, you are a mad genius. Robbie, I would like to build a house in your branches. I don't know what that means, but it should be interpretted as both tender and tawdry. Finally, Mishka and Simon, you were also both great, please save the ancient harmonium. Oh boys, thank you for being one of the best shows I have seen in a long long time. Enjoy your break from touring, record that new album soon, be well among your friends and family, and come back down the western road within the year please or playing shows when I am back in Montreal (Librissime! Unicorn! Gallimard! Drawn & Quarterly! Fuschia! Juliette et Chocolat! Fries with mayonaisse! Galleries everywhere! Efficient public transportation! Be still my heart!)