donovan wood

let me know when we get there // if we get there

last night i went to see fink at the garrison on dundas west. and nights like last night, remind me why i love living in the great city of toronto.
dare i saw i've never ventured into this double sided wonder of concert heaven? it's a great venue. good beer on draft and in the can (bottles too maybe - i didn't notice), a bit seperated from the street, and some chairs chill in the front for people to sit close to the stage (making lots of standing room - where you can actually see!). they had great lakes pumpkin ale on draught! duh. i'll be visiting again. i can't believe i've never been (as it's less than 5 blocks from my house).
warning. these may be the worst concert photos i've ever ever taken, to date. as a result, i've also included other people's photos (credit included). so, thanks to them.
we walked in to a smallish crowd... and the dreamy and ever talented and amazing and wonderful donovan woods was opening (how did we catch THAT lucky break??). he's a toronto songwriter, originally from sarnia (but we'll forgive him for that). first album was out in 2007, and since then, he's just been kicking ass and taking names (= writing songs, and singing like a beauty). new album coming in january - and he played some new stuff, so i'm amped about it.
he was perfection. his voice is so familiar, and so calm. his writing is perfect, his singing suits his songs, and he's hilarious. he also wrote a toronto anthem for 'the grid' that you are not a torontonian if you've never heard or don't listen now. go. i can wait.
sorry dudes. didn't note the song list, and showed up a bit late (damn!).  however, he played a length play list. THAT i know.
then, mini break. then, fink. fink is an english artist, based out of brighton. while i would describe him as a bluesy singer songwriter, he has often said he was heavily influenced by his rave days, and the techno that came along with that. throw in some jazz influence (from his very first recording), and you've got fink - a medley of experiement and bluesy songwriting. the fink trio, typically consisting of fin, the MULTI talented tim thornton (LOVE) on drums and guitar, as well as bassist guy whittaker (who was missing last night...), the band is an honest, and gutsy one. they're bold, and EXTREMELY talented (they recorded their last album in 16 days)... and i am constantly in awe when i listen. watching fin and tim perform last night was no exception.
see - told you they were bad
they came on, and instantly started in. just the two of them on stage. and i will say this - any 2 people who can hold an entire performance together, in a small club, while capturing the entire crowd, deserves massive high fives. not unlike first aid kit last week, these two guys are obviously in love with what they do, and they power through their music as though it's the last show they'll ever play. i love that as an audience member.
they dominated their entire set... their english accents thick, and subtly hilarious. the music was consistent  and perfect... better than any album you could listen to. as they played 'this is the thing' my friend alex - who randomly happened to be at the show that night too - wrote me a text that said, "and some songs are those songs that just take you right back, and put your heart in your throat". this song, if you've never heard it, does exactly that. 
'and the things that keep us apart keep me alive and the things that keep me alive keep me alone. this is the thing'
in finishing their set with 'sort of revolution', fin dropped the guitar, and finished off with a mix from his pedals. a quasi dj set on the ground, if you will (you can see what he did here in this video from earlier this year - at about 7:40). beauty. perfect way to end. but then we got an encore. dayum.
set list for fink (missed the first song):   yesterday was hard on all of us   //   pretty little thing   //   save it for somebody else   //   berlin sunrise   //   perfect darkness   //   trouble's what you're in   // wheels   //   this is the thing   //   sort of revolution   //   encore: if only
you should absolutely watch fink perform 'pretty little thing' here. drink it in.
and listen to one of my faves from donovan. try not to like him.
and then, do your research. find donovan on the web here, and check out some future shows here. and don't forget to buy his albums here. find fink on the web here, and check out shows they have coming up here. and then, follow these dudes on twitter here: donovan woods & fink.
thanks boys - even without the bassist, your music was flawless. the crowd was enamoured. and hey - if you ever need jewelry, i'm your gal.