Cary Brothers Live In Toronto
The Horseshoe Plays Host to intimate acoustic Set Mixing old and new
- Genre: Alternative / indie / rock
- Cary Brothers (vocals / acoustic), Kestrin Pantera (cello)
- Sounds like: Pete Yorn, Badly Drawn Boy
- Home: Los Angeles, California
- Venue: The Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto
- Date: Monday May 07 2007
- Cary Brothers
There's an old saying that in order to find out if a song's really as good as it sounds, then strip it down to just the singer and an acoustic guitar. It's a saying that certainly has some merit – just take a look at the likes of Damien Rice for proof of how great music stands out regardless. Or the wonderful acoustic version of Teenage Angst by Placebo, or Fake Plastic Trees by Radiohead, and the strength of a great song is instant.
Nashville singer-songwriter Cary Brothers obviously subscribes to this way of thinking. His 2 EPs (2004's All the Rage and 2005's Waiting for Your Letters) were both succinct lessons in simple, effective writing. Songs like Blue Eyes, which found a massive home in the Zach Braff movie Garden State, or the languid Something (both which can be found on Brothers' first EP) are songs that sound as good with a single guitar as they do with full band backing.
Less Is More
Tonight at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern in downtown Toronto, the music lovers of this wonderful city also found themselves subscribing to the less-is-more theory, as Brothers was joined onstage only by cellist Kestrin Pantera, to run through a set of old favourites as well as new tracks from his debut full-length album, Who You Are. And as the cheery Mr. Brothers found to his delight, it's recognition of his songwriting skills that the crowd was cheering as much for him as they were for headline act Brandi Carlile.
With the songs that he has at his disposal, perhaps it's no surprise that Brothers received the kind of welcome normally reserved for the bigger headline acts (although he is due to return to Canada in July for his own headlining tour).
The song that is perhaps his calling card, Blue Eyes, was an intimate tour-de-force, with Brothers highlighted on stage by a single light, guitar in hand, as fans both old and new sung along, word for word. A beautiful song in its own right, tonight it took on a more magical feel, with Pantera offering not only a brooding backing on cello, but adding just the right amount of despondent harmony on vocals.
Other old favourites like Ride (also a key part of another Zach Braff film, this time The Last Kiss) and Honestly were just as well-received, and fit in with the newer songs like the sumptious The Glass Parade and All The Rage. The new tracks felt like a natural progression from the ones on his older EPs, and bode well for future success for this unassuming singer from Nashville.
Easy Rapport
And perhaps it's this, as much as the songs, that will offer Brothers the success he deserves to have. His quiet yet friendly nature is as endearing to the guys in the crowd as well as the girls (who still appreciate his rugged charm and playful nature), and he enjoys a genuine rapport with his fans. Telling Toronto that he loves coming to Canada and will be back a lot more in the future could be seen as a ploy in the hands of others to get the crowd on his side – yet here you know it's genuine (as backed up by Pantera, who admits she cried whilst crossing the border, as it'd been a dream since she was 5 to come to Canada).
There are a lot of singer-songwriters in today's indie scene, some better than others, some enjoying success that others should be having. With a brilliant new album to tour on, as well as an involving and intimate live show, that success should soon be inviting Cary Brothers into its ranks. If there's any justice in the world, it'll be sooner rather than later.
Cary Brothers live in Toronto
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Cary Brothers live in Canada 2007
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Kestrin Pantera live with Cary Brothers
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Cary Brothers, Toronto acoustic set 2007
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Who You Are by Cary Brothers is out now on CD
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