Daniel Lanois at the Regent Theatre, Picton, Ontario
Wherein the master shows that many things can improve with age
I've followed Daniel Lanois' career for ages--few probably remember that was one of the acts on the first edition of the Tragically Hip's Another Roadside Attraction outdoor festivals, along with Midnight Oil and Hothouse Flowers a band that has recently reformed. That was a killer lineup.
Cut forward to 2011 and the Greenbelt Harvest Picnic in Hamilton, Lanois' hometown. Emmylou Harris, Gord Downie, Ray LaMontagne, all scheduled rigth around my 40th birthday--the lineup was irresistible and I flew out from Toronto with my girlfriend and threw a review up on No Depression. Happiest days of my life? Put this in the top five. Repeat two years later (different girlfriend!) and I'd say that festival, in its brief life, presented the single greatest day of live music in Canada.
Lanois has been playing live a little more than he used to, though appearances are still a rare treat as it were. Still, he's taken to doing short tours in Ontario with his new trio at smaller venues and it's quite a lovely thing to see. This was his second visit to Picton's Regent Theatre, one of those lovely old theatres built before amplification that's been restored in recent years. It's a treat to be in. On his last visit Dan commented on the theatre's "...commitment to quality..." being readily apparent. It really is.
This visit was no less impressive than the last, with the trio of Lanois, Jermaine Holmes and Jim Wilson playing--as the saying goes--all the hits. Emmylou's recorded voice made an appearance, and the pedal steel guitar (his self described "...church in a suitcase..." had time to shine.
I've never left a Lanois show disappointed, and this was no exception. At 73 he's aged like a fine wine, and he can still play that Gibson Les Paul better than most no matter what age. This is your reminder to catch him if he ever comes around.
As a short footnote, I may have an Acadie problem (the edition at the bottom is limited to 1500, hand numbered, and only available on tour. What, I was going to leave without buying it?)
