Date: Oct. 16, 2007
Venue: The Horseshoe

You’ve got to love Dave Bookman’s Nu Music Nite at the Horseshoe Tavern. Often a mixed-bag, but always free, this weekly event provides an excellent opportunity to happen across some great talent. Case in point, Tuesday night’s lineup featuring Boston’s Drug Rug and Halifax giants, Wintersleep (among others, sorry A Northern Chorus, I couldn’t stick around).

Initially billed as Wintersleep’s CD release show for the fantastic Welcome to the Night Sky (reviewed here), I was surprised to see that the Horseshoe’s listings had the East-coast band slotted 2nd of 4 acts that evening. However, the moment the enigmatic and spunky Drug Rug took to the stage there wasn’t time to ponder the odd schedule, as anyone not paying attention to these kids from Massachusetts was missing out.

Ridiculously cute, but also menacing enough to have a welcome edge, Drug Rug powered through their short and diverse set as they rotated between three lead singers, all the while accompanied by bursts of saxophone, keyboard and vocal harmonies. Eagerly led by charming front-woman, Sarah Cronin (reminiscent of a young Amy Millan), who was nearly dwarfed by her hollow-body Epiphone, Drug Rug deftly maneuvered through rousing roots and blues influenced jaunts.

Check them out if you get the chance—I picked up a 12” copy of their self-titled debut, which, while lacking some of their live flair, is a perfectly enjoyable outing (the magenta-marble coloured vinyl is a nice touch).

Drug Rug at the Horseshoe (Click the thumbnails to view larger images and hit the arrows to scroll through the set):

As for what many considered to be the evening’s main attraction (if the comparatively thinned out crowd remaining afterwards is any indication), Wintersleep was a sight to behold. Sure, the set was unfortunately short (as to be expected with and Edge Nu Music Nite), but the band made the most of it as they exploded through Welcome to the Night Sky.

Seemingly excited to be back in Toronto after a long absence, singer Paul Murphy was all smiles between tracks. Leisurely bantering with the receptive crowd, he laughed as audience members began shouting random province names, and happily dedicated “Weighty Ghost” (featured here) to the band’s recently injured touring van. Attempting to gauge the crowd’s affinity for Wintersleep’s earlier material, Murphy asked “Does anyone have our second record?” to which he was met with a chorus of cheers before diving into a rousing rendition of that album’s standout, “Jaws of Life,” which, incidentally, was the evening’s only representation of the band’s two previous releases.

To say Wintersleep put on a fantastic show is to put it mildly. Even “Murderer,” a track I previously criticized as the only weak link on an otherwise stellar album, was presented with enough explosive fervour to have me eating my words.

These guys look to be on top of their game in anticipation of their fall tour with The Wooden Stars. Moreover, they look to be enjoying every minute of it.

Wintersleep at the Horseshoe:

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Check out Drug Rug’s Myspace to hear some of their tunes and learn more about the band, and buy digital copies of Wintersleep’s albums here. Don’t forget to take in Wintersleep and The Wooden Stars at the Mod Club on Nov. 16.