Half Moon Run got its Montreal fans to celebrate it this year. Six months have passed since the release of his most recent album. Salt. On Wednesday evening, finally, the trio returned home.
It was the first of two consecutive sold-out concerts at MTelus. When artists sell here, you can feel it. Even before the team arrives, it’s hard to move and the agitation of the 2000 people awaiting the arrival of Devon, Dylan and Connor creates a palpable tension. Then the 9 o’clock strike and the lights dimmed. The immediate screams from the crowd were unmistakable: as always, Half Moon Run will be a triumphant reception at home.
The show preserves the trio’s newest opus, the album’s melodies and lyrics mesmerizing us without too many instrumental explosions or fancy artifacts. The concert is in the same vein: we are delighted to see the excellence of the musicians who give new life to their parts on stage, and everything is performed with a certain poise. The setting is simple, a few props in the background, nothing more. Excellent lighting performance does a lot to give its full visual impact.
As for the music, it’s great. Half Moon Run is one of those bands whose effort (and talent, of course) you can feel when they’re on stage. We can only imagine the work they put into developing the show, practicing these songs which they always deliver flawlessly to us. This determined harshness does not take away from their communicative and enthusiastic energy, which is sometimes felt more than others. Along with them, the Esca Quartet often joins the three musicians on stage, providing their always welcome contribution to interpretations of pieces mainly taken from the album. Salt.
Photo by Dominique Gravel, La Presse
Conor Molander The Half Moon Run.
The hour-and-a-half concert lets you play this record, released last June, in its entirety, but sprinkle the moment with some favorite pieces from the group’s previous three albums.
You can go Starts the service. Hotel in Memphis Then continues Everyone is moving east continues. When the time came for the audience to thank them for their attendance, loud cheers from the crowd drew a satisfied chuckle from leader Devon. It must be nice to feel such affection from fans who never seem to lack enthusiasm. Half Moon Run has the merit of being generous to its audience.
The show continues and shows what the group is able to create with their own songs, making them more complex and surprising. An instrumental introduction continues, a verse changes tone, and silences are maintained so that the notes that follow resonate with greater intensity. Devon’s voice, sometimes adventurous, makes for mesmerizing moments. Dylan, a multi-instrumentalist, but primarily a drummer, plays in a one-man band and solo brings multi-layered compositions. Connor, apart from capturing the melody, carries the crowd with his harmonica or keyboard solos, brimming with infectious energy.
Photo by Dominique Gravel, La Presse
Half Moon Run or Emtelus.
Razor blade, which led to a soaring performance, followed by applause from the delighted crowd. A little later, a long guitar intro opens the door for the famous riff Call me in the afternoon. Public enthusiasm increased tenfold. Grow in love, The ghost will probably care, Goodbye Khali lead to I can’t figure out what’s going onThis leads to a better transition She wants to knowShe then mixes You can go. The group still has fun reimagining its songs, taking us somewhere else with these bits that many in the room know by heart. His fans love it.
An hour later, a deafening encore quickly brings the trio back on stage. It is needed, favorite boy And full circle. A second encore allows them to return with the Esca Quartet for one last song, leave itIt concludes the evening with an intoxicating final burst.
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