A Night With James Vincent McMorrow

Last night my best friend and I went to the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto to see James Vincent McMorrow in concert. I'd been excited ever since I bought the tickets about a month ago. A Canadian folk band by the name of Aidan Knight opened up for him. They were great, and definitely deserved to be up on that stage opening for James. The lead singer in the band sang with so much passion. I was surprised at how musically gifted each of the band members were. Here's an acoustic performance of theirs that I enjoyed.

The moment James came on stage, I couldn't hide my excitement. He immediately sang his first song and blew me away. His live versions sounded exactly like his studio versions. He hit all of the same notes and never attempted to play it safe. The band was exceptional as well. The bassist, keyboardist, and drummer were just as talented with their instruments. They also sang some of the best background vocals I've ever heard. Their voices, mixed with James's voice, made my heart melt. Everything was perfect. James said he wanted the lights to look like he was performing on the moon, and somehow that made the night that much sweeter. The spotlight created a strange halo on him, and when he sang--it was magical. I'm not even being dramatic. I was in a trance. He was funny and sweet and mesmerizing. (He's from Ireland, so the accent didn't hurt either. It was one of the best concert experiences I've ever been to). I didn't bring my camera because I didn't want the distraction, and I'm glad I made that decision. Concerts are so much better when you're not looking through a small lens.

This post won't do him justice, so if you ever get the chance to see him live, take it! For now I'll leave you with a live performance of one of my favourite songs by him.