Concert Review: The Main Thing

Our Rodeo Rocker gets his groove on amongst Toronto hipsters at Wrongbar.

Courtesy of Hanasvibe_

This past Thursday I went to Wrongbar on Queen West to check out The Main Thing. I originally hadn’t planned on writing a review for the show, but once the band hit the stage I knew I had to get the word out. It was packed and you could practically smell the sexual tension – but for good reason. With seamless grooves that reflected the influences of groups such as Sly And The Family Stone and Maceo Paker, people had no choice but to dance dirty.

The band, which is composed of a rhythm section and a horn section, was as tight as they come. Bassist Warren Bray, one of the best bassists I’ve seen live, and drummer Bobby Lee played as if they were a single unit. Lee’s style seemed to be a mix of modern funk and fusion, while occasionally hearkening back to Mitch Mitchell-esque beats, which I loved. The group made great use of musical space. Their tasteful and punchy horn lines continually caused me to make a face that could’ve suggested that I was experiencing bad indigestion; it was painfully good.

Courtesy of Hanasvibe_

I was excited when I realized that the show was set up as a musical revue, with the band showcasing the vocal stylings of different singers. The first vocalist was a complete fox with a really nice voice, but I wanted to hear her push it, which didn’t quite happen. The trio of girls that followed took a bit of time to get warmed up and comfortable with their tuning, but they settled into the groove more comfortably after a couple songs. For me, this was the weakest aspect of the show. The singers were all talented, but not quite to the same degree as the band backing them.

As a whole the show was great, and one of the things I love about seeing this type of music live, when it’s played well, is how widely appreciated it is. It was an eclectic crowd, made up of bald heads, side bangs, fedoras, dreads, and even the typical wasted frat boy that dances far worse than the average white guy. It was a great example of Torontonian diversity coming together for a great time. I’ll definitely go see them whenever I can.
Rating: 4/5

– Ross Gower of the Poisonous Glass.