Casey Comeau & Centretown Wilderness Club w/ Mercury Pickup & Tom Glenne 5.5 (Irene's Pub)

Those familiar with the Canadian indie scene will remember Casey Comeau with her band the Halfmilers who released their debut CD Dancing with Bones on the reputable Ottawa label Music for Cats Records back in 2003. Since then Casey has collaborated on many projects of which the Centretown Wilderness Club is her latest.

Opening for Casey on this Saturday night (January 14th, 2006) is Vancouverite Tom Glenne and his band the The Tom Glenne 5.5. Although living on the west coast Tom has his main band in Toronto and they will be releasing a CD this month called Free Rock. The Tom Glenne 5.5 travel the whole rock gambit with forays into stoner-rock, '50s rock and roll, and modern rock. He played songs off the upcoming album including: "Have You Got Soul?" and "Llama Face." Since the night was about to be filled with country-tinged music, it was strange for Tom's Band to open, and even though the music was out of place, it was still enjoyable.

The evening started picking up when Trevor Alguire took the stage. Since most of the patrons at Irene's Pub were there to hear the country-styling of Trevor and Casey, it was no surprise that the noise level raised as Mercury Pickup started playing. Trevor, with the help of the great pedal steel player Tom Thompson and others, put on a great show covering a bunch of new songs that will be on their new release called As of Yesterday. We reviewed Mercury Pickup's first CD Narrowed Down, (Read it here, half way down page) and the second CD, if this live version is any indication, should be even better. Songs like: "Through Me," "Blink," and "Misty Morning Light" were highlights. Mercury Pickup's Website

After a short break, Casey and the Centretown Wilderness Club (that is, Richard Jeffrey - vox, guitar, Aalya Ahmad - vox, fiddle, MJ Houle - vox, accordion, Mike Sheridan - percussion, and Dietrich Sider - bass) took the stage with massive audience approval. As with Tom and Trevor, Casey and the band will be releasing a CD soon and gave everyone an indication of its appeal with live versions on Irene's stage. It was quite impressive to hear both an accordion and fiddle on stage together. Casey was her attractive self in her signature green leather pink-starred cowboy boots and shoulder-to-shoulder tattoo. Highlights of the concert included the songs: "Fredericton Juke," a song written by Casey's mother, "Du Rhum des Femmes," a song showing Casey's abilities in the French language, and "Birthday Song for Casey Comeau" a slower song that allows Casey's voice to come to the fore.

Although Casey is the center of attention anytime she hits the stage, the Centretown Wilderness Club is far from a backup band. They have four vocalists who have the pipes to lead and Richard Jeffries writes the band's songs (with Casey collabourating). Casey and the band's website