Arena Rock: Julie Doiron
Photo by Peter Gardner.
Julie Doiron
Fairfield United Church, Feb. 27
Upon entering the Fairfield United Church to see Julie Doiron, I wasn't quite sure how to feel about the setting.
But once I got settled in, the opening musician, Himilayan Bear (a.k.a Ryan Beattie from Chet), had my full attention. With the ambient lighting and unique acoustics in the church, Beattie’s performance was haunting and captivating.
When Doiron took the stage, she began singing a capella before saying anything to the crowd. Before beginning the rest of the show, she mentioned that she was quite nervous, as she hadn't played solo for quite a while. Although she made mistakes, and forgot lyrics throughout the show, her grace and talent shone.
She wasn’t as upbeat and cheerful as some of her other shows, but the sleep-deprived Doiron put on an entertaining and unique show that everyone in attendance is sure to remember.
Throughout her set, she explained how her last week had been. Her show banter was so true to everyday life; she mumbled her recent ups and downs in an awkward yet graceful way.
She didn't have a set list, but the songs she chose flowed very well with her mood and created an intimate environment. Doiron’s alluring voice combined with charming lyrics mesmerized the audience and pulled us into her current world.
The only downside to the show was that it was in a church, so the surroundings were quite different than a normal concert.
Good sound and lighting aside, the venue was quite uncomfortable. The washrooms were awkwardly situated right beside the stage, and it felt almost rude to walk in front of people mid-song.
Sometimes a sit-down venue can be nice, but the pews got uncomfortable, and no one was dancing or moving around.
Then again, I've never seen so many interested and alert people in a church before. And no one fell asleep.
CCSS Nexus promo