Reuben And The Dark Warm A Cold And Windy Night
Review By Robert Thomas
Despite being cold outside it was a warm and receptive crowd as Reuben and the Dark performed in the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre's Mae Wilson Theatre on Saturday evening.
Reuben and the Dark were in Moose Jaw just the day after their new album Un Love was released and the group known officially as a folk group played a concert which could best be described as unique hybrid drawing from folk crossing seamlessly over to more of folk, classical and mid range rock sound.
It’s a combination sound which is not only unique but pulled off with the clarity and precision of French classical music with the openness of freestyle jam sessions. It’s a sound which is both rewarding and relaxing to the audience but at the same time a power sound making the audience want to get up on their feet.
To start off the concert there was an unannounced lead off backup performance by New York based Hannah Epperson.
Epperson who performed a set with a classical violin that expands into the realm of seeming Appalachia an intertwining of souls. There is multiple influences in her music which are blended in a soul soothing manner.
Her act could best be described as the soothing eloquence of classical music about to leap into a happier time.
It is a soothing music which masterfully ties in classical music in addicting mellowing manner in an exact opposite to the classical cover band Silenzium.
But Epperson's backup is a loop station which the barefoot performing musician easily multi-tasks with.
Epperson's use of classical instrumentation is a much softer sound not as brash and outspoken, but with that said it still brings in bass to accentuate and enhance.
Epperson's set was one which took one to the eeriness of a loon as you walk barefoot on a beach at a northern lake as her vocal range went from an inviting lisp whisper of an innocent and helpless soul touching on occasion to a more gravely whisky voice.
It is a sound which was appreciated by the audience.
Following the classic witticism of Epperson's introductory act Reuben And The Dark took the stage.
As much as Epperson’s opening was one of soft strength Reuben came out with an act that sometimes seemed to be folksy but in reality carried a lot more punch.
In his 14 original song and two encores performance for a highly appreciative crowd the Calgary based group easily proved why out of dozens of possible songs they ended up on Netflix's El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie's soundtrack.
Their music is a unique gutsy sound that really does not completely fit in the folk music genre or any real genre for that matter as it seemingly borrows from many and sets this band apart effectively standing on its own.
Reuben Had The Audience On Their Feet In Moose Jaw - photo by Whitney Taylor
Reuben And The Dark is really a masterful combination of folk, country and rock all put into a blender and smoothed out with just the right amount of Reuben's voice.
The band opened up their performance with You and I which despite its use of more powerful drumming is in fact a love song and perfectly drew the audience into the concert.
The concert would feature such songs as Dream where a non-member of Reuben And The Dark's loyal fan club can immediately remember hearing the song even if you cannot put a name to the band. An upbeat tempo which when tied altogether with the new album and soundtrack appearance could and should make the band much more of a household name.
By the group’s third song Hurricane Reuben had already established himself as the vocal leader of the performance as the blend went from a softer to acoustic guitar sound to one of the power of the drums beating.
Despite the seemingly soon to overpower feeling Reuben's voice is never quite overpowered by the strong drums and bass which more than once broke out during the performance.
But like his music the chaos and strength of the bass is overcome by Reuben who finds peace in the lyrics of his music.
In a brief break in the concert Reuben spoke about the hectic 48 hours the band had been through.
“We put out a new album yesterday and then drove nine hours to put on a show,” Reuben said to the applause of an appreciative audience.
Immediately following the record announcement the band offered up a new song to the audience – Faultline.
This was followed by the acoustic to electric mix Heart In Two.
By far though the highlight of the night was when Reuben was alone on stage and spoke about the band's recent success – the new album and the El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie trailer appearance – as giving the group, despite the hectic life, the opportunity for a couple of months to just focus on their art and music.
Given the audience's reaction the trailer and soundtrack appearance has created a larger following as the Netflix original series has a massive cult following.
Then with the acoustic guitar and limited pre-recorded backtracks Reuben sang Blackwater.
The concert continued with Epperson returning to perform vocals and play the violin for Rising the number one track on the new record Un Love.
Epperson's voice and classic violin seemingly tying the new track together better than the album itself.
The final big moment came as the tempo building song Dancer – the final track from Un Love – where Reuben's voice powered the song through an ever rising tempo.
After a double encore – where Reuben allowed the audience to chose the style of song – the concert ended as the audience left uplifted and warm against a cold and windy night.