| For two
incredible nights in a row, Toronto’s own Tea Party wowed fans with two
very memorable shows. The selected North American dates were chosen for a
small-scale North American tour in support of the recently released album
Tangents, The Tea Party Collection, a mini anthology of some of
the best Tea Party songs. The album hosts tracks from the earlier works of
1993’s Splendor Solis (Save Me, The River) to 1999’s
TRIPtych (The Messenger, Heaven Coming Down) as well as a brand
new track Walking Wounded.
A second night was added to the bill on account of the first night, December
14th being sold out. The second night was nearly sold out itself, as fans
eagerly took stand before the stage which band members Jeff Martin, Stuart
Chatwood and Jeff Burrows soon embraced. With the very first beat, fans knew
this was going to be an unforgettable show. The rest was history, as the band
played various tracks from each album and even some rarities.
Despite having caught a bug from a recent visit to Egypt, lead vocalist Jeff
Martin apologized in advance for what he thought was a bit of a rusty voice,
which was actually hardly detectable. Martin requested fans to assist him
through certain points of songs, urging the crowd to join in during the chorus
of Heaven Coming Down, which was enthusiastically and willingly offered.
Just before performing the popular and melodic track The Messenger,
Martin welcomed to the stage an entourage of 5 violinists, cleverly declaring
them ‘real musicians’. They remained on the stage for a good few
songs, adding to the timeless sound of the Tea Party.
Other favourites performed were Release, Sister Awake, Psychopomp, A Slight
Attack and Heaven Coming Down. As the show wrapped up after the
performance of Walking Wounded, and the Tea Party went backstage, fans
called them back with a roar of applause, begging for an encore. This wish was
granted as the band played another set. This included TRIPtych’s
last track Gone and the Transmission classic Temptation,
sending fans right through the roof. There was also the spreading of a little
holiday season cheer, as the band performed a Christmas song, blues style. It
was a spectacular show to say the least. The incredible lighting, the
thundering sounds of instruments echoing around, beneath and within, the hearts
of the audience beating to the beat of the music in unison with their bodies,
the night the Tea Party stole our hearts once again. The night our strange
desires glowed under friendly fires…
Tea Party fans can look forward to a new album sometime in the new year as the
band returns to the studio to work on their fifth studio album, Interzone
Mantras.
-review by ~vamp ava
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