Two of the biggest voices in Canadian Country music came to the Danforth Music Hall on Saturday night. The sidewalk was peppered with multi-hued cowboy boots and every shade of blue jean imaginable as fans lined up to enter the storied venue.
Tenille Townes was the main draw, but the night started off with Ontario’s own, Sacha, whose song Hey Mom I Made It just cracked the top ten on the Country singles charts. The singer easily won over the audience with her energetic performance. With explanations of what it was like to move from an urban centre to small town Ontario and develop a love for Country music, Sacha shed light on what makes her tick. From family drama to the hard work of breaking into the music industry, her songs are informed by her life. She is clearly excited about her upcoming major label album and, no doubt, now has grown her Toronto fan base.
When Tenille Townes came to the stage the party shifted into high gear. Townes and her band received a hearty welcome as they launched into their set. Townes embodies a whole lot of Country in her diminutive body. With a chestnut mane and the ability to belt like a rocker, she can hold an audience with her vocals alone, but she also leans into the power of personal connection by conversing with her fans, reading aloud the homemade signs, and even descending into the crowd to deliver a hug.
Her setlist covered her big songs from Come As You Are to Somebody’s Daughter. The audience sang along throughout the show and was particularly exuberant when singing Jersey on the Wall – a song that stems from a real story told to Townes by New Brunswick fans. The lyrics of the heartbreaking chorus were intensified by so many voices asking in unison, “why couldn’t you stop that car from crashing?”. Later, Townes told the story of how she came upon Bryan Adams in a hallway and that led to a bold move where she took a wild shot to make a dream come true… and it did. The lesson? If you have dream – even a pipedream – take a chance and be bold; it might pay off.
The night was also sprinkled with covers, allowing Townes and her band to show off their versatility. Whether interpreting Dolly Parton or The Eagles, they were having a blast doing it. A stripped-down rendition of Leaonard Cohen’s Hallelujah sent shivers through the room. Townes repeatedly talked about how special it is to play the Danforth Music Hall and how appreciative she is of her fans and their support. As she heads into a new era as an independent artist, she is counting on their loyalty. It’s safe to say she has it.
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Be sure to check out Live Nation Ontario to see all of the other great acts that they will be bringing to Toronto this year.
