Midnight Poutine.ca

Last night I tried to get people to get people to come out with me to check out Old Man Luedeke, who was launching his new album Proof of Love at The Yellow Door. Apparently my friends are all scared of the banjo, because my attempts were unsuccessful. I think many people have some pretty rigid preconceptions about this instrument. It appears as though it’s not the case for all Montrealers because when I showed up, the room was completely packed.

Amy Campbell opened the show with a set of simple ordinary music. It didn’t really do anything for me. It sounded a lot like the singer-songwriter stuff that came out in the late 90s (i.e. Dave Matthews, Ani Difranco). She had a good voice and played well and all, but I felt the compositions lacked maturity.

Old Man Luedeke played a great show that contrasted greatly with the first part. He doesn’t take himself too seriously and lives up to the Old Man name as he recounts stories much in the same way that funny old men like to tell you what it was like back in the day. He has a great sense of humor and has a way of putting people at ease.

The audience was warm and sang along comfortably. The songs were nice and Old Man’s stage presence was really great. He’s a pretty adorable little man who clearly loves life and has a way of sharing that point of view through music and stories that makes us all warm.

- Sarah Brideau