June 29th

  

 It was June 29th, 2006 that I saw Wilco with opener Elliott Brood at the Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton.

Elliott BROOD Live in Sherwood Park October 17th 2025

  It was a couple of weeks ago that my buddy A-Bomb and I went to see Elliott BROOD and the Great Lake Swimmers show at Festival Place in Sherwood Park. We were hesitant about going to this show as it is a seated venue, which doesn't really work for a band like Elliott BROOD, but we went anyways.

 The show started with a surprise to us, it was Elliott BROOD opening the show, didn't expect that. Must have been a co-headlining tour. This would be my 8th time seeing Elliott BROOD in concert. Elliott BROOD is a three piece band from Toronto that play a folk, alt country style of music. Their shows are always a lot of fun with lots of energy with dancing, clapping along to songs and singalongs. And that was the biggest problem with this how at this venue. It was a very subdued audience with everyone seated. The band was great, sounded good, vocals were great, just couldn't get the crowd into it. They played a good selection of songs covering their vast catalog of music, having been around for 20 plus years. But as always with a band that's been around that long there are always songs you wish they had played but didn't. And how do you not play the song "Oh, Alberta" when playing in Alberta. They played a 70 minute set and it was in the last ten minutes that it felt like they were really starting to find their groove, but then the show was over. this band needs to play venues where you can dance and drink. Kind of a disappointing show.

Elliott BROOD.

 Headlining the show was another three piece Toronto band, that being the Great Lake Swimmers. They too have been around for 20 plus years, but a band that I have never really paid any attention to. I have heard a few songs before but nothing I got into. Folky style music that I found to sound all the same. Tony Dekker the lead singer sings a very hush style of vocals, and he had tune his guitar after every song which was frustrating but it did give the drummer time to fill the void, he was actually quite a funny guy. Probably the best part of their set. I just couldn't get into their music at all, and I don't think I was the only one. The lady in front of us was all cuddled up in her jacket looking really relaxed and i believe had fell asleep. I lasted five songs and I was done. I went for a smoke and never came back. I told my buddy that I had seen and heard enough, but if he wanted to stick it out, go for it, I'll be outside. Well he lasted two more songs and had seen enough as well. While outside, i saw six other people leave as well saying the same thing I was thinking. Incredibly boring. They'd been better opening, at least then people would have to stick it out to see Elliott BROOD. Overall this show was kind of a disappointment. 

Great Lake Swimmers.

T-shirt.

February 18th

On February 18th, 2015 I saw the Toronto band Elliott Brood in concert at the Starlite Room in Edmonton. Elliott Brood were touring for their Work and Love album. Opening the show was another Toronto band called The Wilderness of Manitoba.

Concert Shirt/Poster Of The Day Dec.23rd (Wilco)

Today's poster is from the fifth time I saw Wilco in concert. This show was at The Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton in 2006 with Elliot Brood opening. Wilco was touring for their live album 'Kicking Television'. I went to this show with A-Bomb, who came from B.C. for the show. I had got a good buzz on before the show, during the concert lead singer Jeff Tweedy pointed me out of the crowd and mentioned how stoned I looked and proceeded to go on about how I looked like someone that had concerts going through his head 24/7, I would say he has a damn good judgement of character. I like to tell this story and then back it up with the bootleg recording I found on the net of this show, and say, hey that's me he is talking to. Again, this was another great performance by Wilco.

Unfortunately I missed openers Elliot Brood, whom I didn't know at the time. I kick my ass now, cause they are an awesome band.

Front.


Back.

Elliott Brood Live in Edmonton October 12th 2023

 

 My buddy A-Bomb and I went to this Elliott Brood show at the Starlite Room. This would be my 7th time seeing them in concert and first time in six years.

 Opening the show was a singer-songwriter from Winnipeg by the name of Grant Davidson with his three piece band called Slow Leaves. Their music was very folky with some well written songs. A pretty good set.

Slow Leaves.

 Next up was the five piece folk/rock band out of Fernie, B.C. called Shred Kelly. The band is led by husband/wife team of Tim Newton on banjo and lead vocals and Sage McBride on keyboards and background vocals. They play a high energy show that had the near full venue dancing and singing. They looked to be having a lot of fun performing. I really enjoyed their set but found myself half way through the show starting to find their songs starting to sound all the same. Overall a fun set!

Shred Kelly

 By the time Toronto's alt. country rock band Elliott Brood hit the stage the place was full and ready to have a good time. There was a real good vibe in the room, people seemed to be really letting loose at the show without being rude and obnoxious. It's always nice to see a room full of people all there for the same reason, to let loose and checkout some great music.

 I've always been a big fan of this three piece band that consists of Mark Sasso on guitar and banjo, Casey Laforet on acoustic guitar and bass pedals and Stephen Pitkin on drums,  and of all the times I have seen them this was probably my favourite show of theirs. And with it being six years since I had last seen them play it was awesome to hear a bunch of songs that I had yet to hear them play live.

 And they had just released a brand new album called Town, which is really fucking good. Half way through their set they played three brand new songs "Dark End Of The Road", "Dried Up" and "Rose City". The new songs went over really well. They mixed up their set very well playing some older songs, like the second song of the night "Oh, Alberta" from their 2004 album Tin Type. Of course that really got the crowd jumping. Again it was good vibes throughout the room, lots of dancing and singing along and a lot of drinking. Second last song of the night the band brought out the openers for a rocking rendition of Queen's "Fat Bottomed Girls", that was fun! Then to end the nights of music Elliott Brood handed out tin stove top covers and wooden spoons to the audience, probably about fifteen sets to play along to the song "Write It All Down For You". And of you know the song, this works really well if the audience knows the song. Well, not everyone knew the song, so it was a lot of off beat drumming on the tin, but man, people were having a blast. The band has been known to do this quite often in their shows. A great way to end a show with crowd participation. A fun fun night out! Good times!!!

Elliott Brood.

Elliott BROOD Live in Edmonton September 22nd 2017

What an amazing weekend of live music. The weekend started with the Elliott BROOD show Friday night at The Needle Vinyl Tavern with opening act The Garrys. This was a sold out show in which my buddy Buzzard and I were able to get tickets to. A sold out show is always a great thing for the acts and the venue, but holy shit it was some packed at The Needle, to the pint where it was hard to get around the place. So much so that, we did manage to wiggle our way to the side of the stage, but when I went to fetch us a few beers there was no way I was getting back to him, therefore I had to drink both beers, what a bummer!

The opening band The Garrys from Saskatoon are three ladies who play a garage surf/pop style of music. I thought they were alright but nothing I would rush out to buy or go see again. I did think the bass player was pretty decent. Overall, not bad.

The Garrys at The Needle.

The headliner was of course the main reason for being there, and I would be talking about the three piece alt country, folk group out of Toronto called Elliott BROOD. This was my fifth time seeing them live and first time since February of 2015, which seems like a long time to go without them coming through town, especially being a Canadian band. But nonetheless here they were gracing the stage of the Needle to a sold out show. Elliott BROOD are on the road promoting their newest album Ghost Gardens via Paper Bag Records that just came out a few weeks ago.

Elliott BROOD who consists of Mark Sasso on guitar, banjo and lead vocals, Casey Laforey on guitar and vocals and rounded out by drummer Stephen Pitkin sounded great. They played a great selection of songs from their whole catalog of six full length albums. Songs such as Little Ones, Northern Air, Bowling Green and Oh, Alberta which got a huge response for obvious reasons. And of course there were some new ones from the Ghost Gardens release Til The Sun Comes Up, Dig A Little Hole, The Widower and 2 4 6 8. Those are the ones I recall anyways. They also brought out openers The Garrys for a couple of cover songs. All and all a great set by Elliott BROOD. Good times!!!

Elliott BROOD at The Needle.

Elliott BROOD Live in Edmonton Feb.18th 2015

On Wednesday night I went to the sold out double bill of Elliott BROOD and The Wilderness of Manitoba concert at the Starlite Room.

Being a weeknight show, I had to have myself a nap after work, as I knew this was going to be a later show. I was hoping to catch the tail end of the openers The Wilderness of Manitoba set, but by the time I got to the venue, the line up to get in was huge. I guess I wasn't the only one getting there a little late. So by the time I got in, I had missed their set.

After a quick change of gear it was time for headliners Elliott BROOD. This was my fourth time seeing the band in concert but the first time I have seen them headlining. Elliott BROOD are on tour to support their album Work And Love that came out in October, an incredible album, one of my favorites of last year.

This Toronto alt-country trio made up of Casey Laforet on guitar and vocals, Mark Sasso also on guitar/banjo/ukulele and vocals and drummer Stephen Pitkin were ready to rock the Starlite Room. On this tour the band was rounded out with steel guitar player Aaron Goldstein, an added addition and a nice touch.

Their hour and twenty minute set was excellent playing lots from their album Work And Love, like "Each Other's Kids", Jigsaw Heart", "Little Ones" and "Nothing Left". They also did "Oh Alberta" from the Tin Type album, a song that had the crowd singing along. The band was trying to get the crowd to jump up and dance, but with the floor area so packed it was hard to get the crowd reaction they were looking for. As the show went on it started to thin out a bit, not because it was a bad show, but more like it being a work night and it was getting late. But once it thinned out, you could see the crowd really get in to the performance more, that and probably because there had been a few beers consumed as well. So as the show went on, it just seemed to get better and better.

The band covered a Crazy Horse song called Dance,Dance,Dance wrote by Neil Young, but during this song guitarist Casey ran into technical problems which kind of ruined the song. After getting that fixed the band came back strong. For the encore Elliott BROOD came out with ukuleles and played the song "The Valley Town" from the 2008 album Mountain Meadows. A great way to end a high energy performance from the band. An awesome show overall. Good times!!!

Elliot BROOD at the Starlite Room.

T-shirt.