The Trews (with guest Will Hoge)

My exploration of Quebecois music and culture took a little detour tonight. I was flipping channels, as per usual, when I turned on Plus Sur Commande. They had brought in The Trews for an interview but, to be honest, I missed most of it. Such is the danger with channel surfing. I did manage to catch enough, though, to hear they were playing at Café Campus tonight. Sounded like a plan to me! I can't really say I knew too much about the group before heading out to the show, except that at least one member went to StFX for university (that X-Ring was a dead giveaway. Maybe it's true what they say about it being the 3rd most recognized ring in the world). I can't even really say I was a fan before I left, truth be told, but I'm definitely glad I went.

The doors opened at 7pm, with the show allegedly scheduled to start at 8pm. Now I'm used to the time-honoured Ontario tradition of a bar claiming the show will start at 8pm, when really the headliner doesn't hit the stage til 10:30pm or so, but I decided to take a chance and head down for around "showtime." Good thing I did or I'd have missed one hell of an opening act: Will Hoge. Will's a good ol' boy from Nashville whose music immediately reminded me of the Black Crowes from back in the 90s. This was his band's last night touring with the Trews so fans in Ottawa will miss out, but you can catch his show in Toronto at the Horseshoe Tavern Saturday night. I highly recommend it, if you happen to be in the area.

As I said earlier, I wasn't really a fan of the Trews when I went to the show, but that's changed after tonight. I was surprised at how many of their songs had seeped into my subconscious over the past couple of years. But it's the live show that makes all the difference. These guys are a throwback band-- back to the days when bands actually new how to play live and interact with the audience. They even worked a 5 minute drum solo into the set! I also loved how the snuck The Stone's You Can't Always Get What You Want and Queen's Fat-bottomed Girls into a couple of their songs. But I think the capper was the encore. A lot of other bands would be content to just soak up the adulation of the 300 or so fans in the audience, but instead the guys invited Will Hoge and his band up to join them on stage for the last couple of songs! That's class, folks. There just aren't enough bands out there like the Trews.