Friday, October 25, 2013
As part of Halifax Pop Explosion, Joel Plaskett performed with Symphony Nova Scotia (conducted by Martin MacDonald) at the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium on two nights. These special sold out performances featured Mo Kenney and some special guests and friends (David Christensen, Erin Costelo and Bill Plaskett). As you could probably imagine, the concert I was lucky enough to attend was simply magical.
Martin MacDonald and Symphony Nova Scotia kicked off the night, but the crowd was noticeably elated when Plaskett stepped on stage starting off with “Harbour Boys.” Plaskett engaged the crowd with his usual storytelling. He was candid and charming on stage, treating the audience as though they were watching him in a much more intimate environment.
After performing a couple songs, Mo Kenney took the stage. Kenney silenced the crowd as she performed “Sucker,” but it was when she sang “In My Lungs” that she had completely won over the audience. While her stage presence is quiet, there’s something entirely heart-warming yet powerful in her vocals that just resonates with the listener.
Plaskett returned to stage after Kenney’s two songs and, building on this relationship with the audience, later he had the crowd singing along for “Park Avenue Sobriety Test.” After performing “Old Friends,” it was time for an intermission and the crowd was buzzing.
After intermission, and another performance by Symphony Nova Scotia, Kenney returned to the stage. After playing “Eden,” she once again had the crowd enraptured for “Scene of the Crime.” When Plaskett returned to the stage and sang “Light of the Moon,” dedicated to his son who always notices the moon in the daylight, I could hardly believe the night was approaching the end.
While all the guests were exceptional, it was a real treat when Plaskett brought out his father, Bill Plaskett. Plaskett closed out the night with “Lightning Bolt” and he joked that he wanted to pick a song that would be most difficult to perform with a symphony. It was flawless. | CL
Set list:
Overture to Il signor Bruschino – Symphony Nova Scotia
Harbour Boys – Joel Plaskett
New Scotland Blues – Joel Plaskett
Lyin’ on a Beach – Joel Plaskett
Sucker – Mo Kenney
In My Lungs – Mo Kenney
Love This Town – Joel Plaskett
Park Avenue Sobriety Test – Joel Plaskett
Old Friends – Joel Plaskett
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Akasha (Sky) – Symphony Nova Scotia
Eden – Mo Kenney
Scene of the Crime – Mo Kenney
Déjà vu – Mo Kenney with Joel Plaskett
Light of the Moon – Joel Plaskett
Nowhere With You – Joel Plaskett
I’m Yours – Joel Plaskett
Rollin’, Rollin’, Rollin’ – Joel Plaskett
Lightning Bolt – Joel Plaskett
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