Photos By Brandon Teed (brandon@rockscope.com)

It's all good

All rock, no talk was the plan of action for the Matthew Good show at Massey Hall. Good touring electrically off his 2007 release had little to say Thursday night, some would say a rare instance for the often outspoken musician. Though it hadn't been long since Matthew had last been in Toronto, this time he brought some friends. Last time through town he played solo and acoustic for his late 2007 release Hospital Music. The album can best be seen as a journal of material written during perhaps his toughest year that saw divorce, depression and an ultimate hospitalization with bi-polarity. This album perhaps the rawest and most earnest there is.

Now back with full electric compliment, Good delivered a solid set of both material off Hospital Music, as well as fan favourites from past albums of the now defunct Matthew Good Band and his own solo efforts since. When Good did stop to converse with the crowd between songs it was not his usual expected political commentary, but that of a more Canadian flair, Hockey and Beer. Talk though was kept short as Matthew and band stormed through a two hour set that closed with a double encore that saw Matthew back on stage alone, armed with only an acoustic guitar. This night, the final song played was a cover of Daniel Johnston's True Love Will Find You In The End. A fitting end for a night where the songs were left to do the talking.