Lanois Rocks Parry Sound

Charles W. Stockey Centre For The Performing Arts

Parry Sound, ON

on Nov 8 2008

Andrew Hoshkiw (CHARTattack)

11/11/2008 10:17am

To be sure, it was an unlikely setting: a small theatre in a quiet, rural town. But there he was: Daniel Lanois.

Lanois is arguably one of Canada's most prolific musicians, and is also no doubt the most underrated. He's produced, co-written and played on albums for the likes of U2, Peter Gabriel, Bob Dylan and many others. Despite this, he's virtually unknown to average people.

Lanois played to a modest, though enthused, audience of about 200 on Saturday.
The evening was a departure from the usual concert format, and first opened with the showing of Lanois' new documentary, Here Is What Is, an autobiographical look at his music and an attempt to show where it comes from.

"I'm trying to make a film that's beautiful in itself, about beauty, about the source of the art rather than everything that surrounds the art," Lanois said during the film.

The documentary is a wandering exploration of the subject, a visual song of sorts, and involves the various people Lanois has worked with over the years — including his good friend Brian Eno.

"What would be really interesting for people to see is how beautiful things grow out of shit, because nobody ever believes that," said Eno. "What's so interesting — and really should be a lesson that everybody should learn — is that things come out of nothing."

The 90-minute film was followed by an intermission and then two solid hours of music, which made for an overwhelming evening Lanois goodness.

While the concert promoter briefly announced that flash photography wasn't permitted, Lanois stepped onto the stage and said, "Flashes are OK, dancing is OK, anything is OK," before launching into his trademark song, "The Maker."

"As a young guitar player, I traveled through all these parts," Lanois said, about 20 minutes into the show. "We played the local hotels, one-week stints making our meals in electric frying pans. I still make a good spaghetti."

Beyond this, Lanois spoke very little. It was an evening of much music and few words, much to the satisfaction of the audience. Lanois played 19 songs, followed by a five-number encore. His set included many audience favourites along with a generous selection of tunes from his newest album, Here Is What Is.

Lanois — who looked alarmingly like a younger Fidel Castro — was joined by drummer Steve Mister, bassist Marcus Blake and guitarist Jim Wilson, who have their own band called Mother Superior.

Lanois will play the final Canadian stop of his tour at Toronto's Massey Hall on Friday before heading to Boston for one American show and then on to England.