We attended another stellar concert

Lennie Gallant, along with his immensely talented nephew, Jeremy Gallant, was
last night’s guest at the Homeport Historic B&B, in their “Homestages” series.

I have been an avid and adoring fan of Lennie’s since the release of his first recording, Breakwater, somewhere around 1990. Bill and I have travelled to PEI to see his show, Searching for Abegweit, four years in a row. His recordings, in both French and English, are the soundtrack for many of my road trips.

I love the experience of Lennie’s full band. Their sound is tight, yet they convey a sense of passion for the music. The generosity in their performance fully engages the audience. That being said, I wasn’t sure if the two Gallants could provide the same calibre of musical experience, but they pulled it off and then some. They filled every molecule of air in that elegant, high-ceilinged salon with their vocal and instrumental virtuosity. With a guitar, a harmonica, and an electronic keyboard, they wove Lennie’s poetic lyrics into a textured tapestry, embellished with stories that elicited laughter and the occasional tear.

Although Lennie chose to do several ballads, with Jeremy’s solid back-up vocals and skilled keyboard accompaniment, he did full justice to some of the more lively songs in his discography. The audience was treated to a number of fan favourites as well as some songs which will be included on his next recording.

There are many reasons Lennie Gallant is recognized as one of the finest singer-songwriters this country has ever produced. The range of themes in his lyrics is extraordinary, from youthful romance to the constancy of mature love; from social and environmental issues to the supernatural; from historical events to a story about a wronged wife who changes her life with the help of concrete lawn ornaments.

Lennie Gallant is a consummate performer whose authenticity comes across whether he’s playing solo to an audience of fifty, or as the front-person for his band before an audience of hundreds.

There are more noteworthy musicians appearing at the Homeport over the next few months. To be included on the mailing list contact Ralph Holyoke at:

ralphholyoke

Ralph and Karen also host house concerts at their home in Millidgeville. You can find out more about the line-up at Dancing Tree Listening Venue by contacting Ralph at the above address.