For future reference, The Dakota Tavern is an excellent place visit on a Friday night to start your long weekend.
To kick off our May Long, we hit our favourite basement in Toronto to see The Middle Coast and Johnson Crook - two bands with deep Manitoba roots, making good music, and having good times.
You've heard us talk about Johnson Crook before. Heck, we were just at their EP release party at The Dakota a couple of weeks ago. But now we're here to talk about those boys AND The Middle Coast!
Related: Call Me Home: Johnson Crook EP Release Party, Toronto
The evening started with Johnson Crook on stage, kicking things off with Old Crow and their sweet harmonies. And from there Noel, Nathan, Trevor, and Jared rolled through their set with smiles on their faces and all of the comfort and confidence that we've seen them build over the last two years.
The songs from the EP, and the upcoming full-length album continue to sound great live, and we know that summer 2017 is going to be a good one for these dudes from Manitoba/ Alberta/ Pennsylvania.
The Johnson Crook set wrapped with Minnedosa, Canada To Heartbreak, and a fun collaboration with The Middle Coast on The Doobie Brothers' classic, Long Train Running.
Note: The entire night was being filmed for a live concert video that we can't wait to see... and that you're going to want to see as well. Stay tuned for more on that!
And after a brief change over on stage, The Middle Coast hopped up for their turn.
Liam (keys), Dylan (guitar), and Roman (drums) came back to the stage to do their thing, and they wasted no time getting into a groove.
With slick three part harmonies, and Dylan and Roman taking turns singing lead in a very Glenn Frey/ Don Henley, The Eagles kind of way, The Middle Coast filled the room with music, and musicianship.
One of the coolest things about this band is how young they are, and how good they are already. And if current trends continue (we're told they get better every time Johnson Crook sees them), these dudes are going to be a band that you're going to be pretty familiar with.
All three of The Middle Coast members are likeable and witty on stage. They come across as laid back, hang out and have a beer, sing a song in the kitchen, kinds of guys... and that's always alright by us. Also, Dylan gives some pretty awesome guitar face when he gets in a groove.
The boys played through tracks from 2017's The Making Of, including Every Now And Then, Prey On Me, This Isn't Love, Wasted, Paycheck, and more. And as we watched toes tap and heads bob, we realized that we want to see them again the next time they're in Toronto.
The Middle Coast set wrapped much like the Johnson Crook set, with both bands on stage together - this time jamming out to The Band's Up On Cripple Creek. It's easy to see that these guys all truly like each other, and they enjoy the hell out of the chance to play together at the same time.
Here's hoping they get to do it again soon, and we're there to see it and sing along.
More Photos of The Middle Coast with Johnson Crook!
