Jerry Leger
@ The Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto
August 9, 2017
Jerry Leger took the middle set at the Horseshoe Tavern tonight, performing a series of songs from his catalogue, including his latest release: Nonsense and Heartache.
The iconic Toronto venue (currently celebrating its 70th year anniversary) was the perfect backdrop for Legerβs blend of blues, Americana and rock. Clad in a brown leather jacket, Leger maintained the attention of the audience throughout his set, shifting from aggressive bluesy numbers like βThe Big Smoke Bluesβ to softer ones like the delicate and morose βNobodyβs Angelβ from his 2014 album Early Riser.
During his performance, Leger shed his skin from song to song. The audience shifted with him, enlivened by the instrumentation and powerhouse energy, then subsequently caught in introspection as the songs became stripped down. The songs that featured a more folk heavy delivery accentuated the meaning in the words, demonstrating Legerβs skill as a lyricist through the often cinematic precision of his images.
Leger capped off the set with βThings Are Changing βRound Hereβ, a thoughtful and meditative tune that draws from the folk trope of the troubadour whose world changes as he travels. The lyrics feel relevant to Leger himself, an artist whose sound and being feels rooted in musicβs past, with a future being rerouted with every album.