It was a night full of pleasant surprises.
The Maybe I’m Lost And I Like It tour is in support The Midway State’s sophomore release, Paris Or India. This was the first show I have attended at the Rickshaw Theatre, located at Main & Hastings here in Vancouver. After what can best be described as a colourful wait in line to get into the venue, I was eager to warm up to a night of good music.
First up was Vancouver-based rockers Prisoners, who definitely gained a few new listeners after their enthusiastic set. Their drummer impressively managed to play and sing lead vocals for one of their tracks – not an easy feat, but he pulled it off.
Following Prisoners was Shawn Hook – formerly professionally known as Shawn Hlookoff. Having heard some of his older tracks in the past, it was nice to see how he has grown musically since. Backed by two-man band, Hook effortlessly held the spotlight as his own, despite a technical difficulty with his keyboard. He had the charm and stage presence that is hard to manufacture. His debut album is slated for release next year.
The Midway State are a band that relishes in their live performances. This fact is evident as they incorporate lighting and visuals into their set – ultimately combining the senses of sound and sight for a true musical experience. Starting off their set with “Fireflies”, the band played a combination of songs from their two albums, as well as a cover of The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony”.
The chemistry of The Midway State seems to have gotten stronger with the release of their sophomore album. Watching them onstage is always a delight, as you can tell that they take pride in the music that they make and perform.
For more information on The Midway State, tour dates, and the set list from the show, check out: http://www.themidwaystate.com.
