Lane’s Privateer Inn was ROCKING last night! After the Songwriters Circle, I headed over to Lane’s to see one of my favorite Halifax-based groups, Ryan MacGrath and Harlow perform. The emcee of the showcase said they were “undoubtedly the best dressed performers in Liverpool” as they all matched each other dressed in different styles but all in whites and blacks. Harlow has changed their music style a little since the last time I saw them play. There was more of a darker edge to them last night plus the addition of the Koile sisters singing backup vocals. They also presented some new songs while putting a spin on some of their classics. Ryan manipulated the first verse of “Unscathed” into a spoken word style and then reverted back to its original approach. This contemporary rock band of talented musicians, MacGrath, Dan Pirrie, Matt Rhind, and Joe Landry finished second place in the Q104 Battle of the Bands competition last year and have been playing at various venues and festivals across the province in the last couple of years. This year was their second appearance at NSMW, pleasing a pub full of fans new and old. PLEASE PLEASE watch out for them, they are going to be big!
The next act after Harlow was a duo that I thought was so fresh and cute, yet professional and delivering no bull, called the Superfantastics. They were super! They were fantastic! The young girl and guy duo of Stephanie D’Entremont and Matthew MacDonald from Halifax stole my heart when Stephanie introduced their song called “Back to the Future Part 3.” They won me over entirely when they sang the line, “I forgot the flux capacitor.” Genius! They kind of reminded me of a younger, fresher, happier, peppier version of the White Stripes, full of pop and charisma. A girl on drums and a guy on a guitar! No bells and whistles. To the point, and awesome! Plus, their CD cover for their album ‘Pop-Up Book’ is actually a pop-up book. Too cute!
The pub at the Inn was packed, the beers were flowing, the music was awesome and the roads were treacherous. The power went out briefly a few times, but everyone was happy and everyone was having a great time. But the night was just about to begin….. !
