The Weakerthans @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg

September 20, 2009 - New York, NY

By Amanda Hatfield

The Weakerthans @ Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY - September 17, 2009 - Photos by Amanda Hatfield

The punky folk rocking Canadians The Weakerthans invaded the Music Hall of Williamsburg last Thursday in Brooklyn, and Amanda Hatfield was there to soak up the show. She also brought her camera to take some photos!

Words by Amanda:

It was a really, really incredible show- Tomte & Rock Plaza Central opened. Tomte sang entirely in German, made some funny only slightly mangled English comments between songs about health care, or rather the lack thereof in the US, how our new slogan should be "no we can't!"- then, when met with incredulous stares, called political satire and blamed their complicated German senses of humor. (Also, they said only foreign exchange students would probably enjoy their set, but everyone was pretty into it.)

Rock Plaza Central had a veritable menagerie of instruments on stage, which they switched between with ease - their violinist did double duty on trombone, one guy was switching between a mandolin, guitar, and trumpet, and they all sang in gorgeous sometimes six part harmony. They went through the usual, we're from Canada, is anyone here from Canada, then: "Does anyone here dream of Canada?" Which, met with a resounding yes, summed up the evening quite well.

As for The Weakerthans: I love these guys, have for a while, John K. Sampson's lyrics are some of my all time favorites; they express the kinds of sentiments you felt and never had a name for in perfectly poetic fashion, and it's quite easy to adopt any and all as personal anthems.

What it's easy to forget is that in bedrooms all around the country, other people are falling in love with the same lyrics, and suddenly you're at a show and everyone is singing along to every word. When the lyrics in question develop such personal significance, the experience of finding yourself in a room of others similarly moved is like stumbling, at last, into your true musical home. Corny, but true, and that was certainly the feeling I got from this show.

We were treated to a mix of old and new favorites, a Virtute the cat double header, and a two part encore, as no one was willing to stop screaming and clapping and let the guys leave the stage entirely.