Hello Friends,
Bruce Peninsula are a six-piece (or they were on Friday) band from Canada, with a style pulling influences from gospel, rock, folk, African, and almost any other genre you can imagine. Ultimately a stylistic definition is unnecessary; the music transcends a clear genre. Having been familiar with the band for over a year now, I was psyched upon hearing they were playing in New York and had very high expectations.
During their 45 minute set in a (sadly) nearly empty room at Pianos, Bruce Peninsula played with a fervor and passion exceeding my already grand expectations. Led by the intoxicating voice of lead singer Neil Haverty, the band performed with joy and precision. Haverty's voice, both unique and oddly beautiful, evoked memories of a soulful Joe Cocker and reminded my ear a bit of Tom Waits. His energetic vocals were complimented by the rest of the band, all of whom also sang. The "chorus" of the band consisted of three female vocalists, who provided stunning harmonies that were interwoven within each song. The harmonies were the only aspect of the music that stayed constant, as the band took the audience on an adventure through a plethora of musical styles during the show. All the members contributed to the percussive backbone of the songs as clapping, tambourines, and stomping shook the stage throughout the concert. Far from an acapella group, the instrumentation behind the songs was remarkable, as the two guitarists used a variety of effects to set the tone of each tune, while the keyboard/bass player and drummer provided an ever interesting backdrop to the music. Words cannot do this band justice, my recommendation: buy the album and see them ASAP!
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