If I was booger, would you blow your nose?

teresahaydon
Oct 5, 2016
3 min read

Artist: Courtney Barnett

Date: May 30, 2016

Venue: The Danforth Music Hall

City: Toronto

Price: $25.00

Seats: General Admission

Genre: Alt Rock

Overview:

This girl can wail! Courtney Barnett is singer songwriter and amazing left-handed guitarist from Melbourne Australia. Her debut record, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I just sit has won critical acclaim from Rolling Stone magazine and the New York Times. She was also nominated for Best New Artist at this year’s Grammy awards and recently performed on Saturday Night Live. Her songs are cheeky, anxious, political and awkwardly lovable. Have a listen to “Nobody Cares If You Don’t Go to the Party” and sing along with the relatable chorus line “I want to go out, but I want to stay home.” Then check out “Dead Fox” where she rambles about organic veggies and culling cards instead of sharks.

Vibe:

I love being able to catch a new and upcoming artist in a small venue for under $30. It’s kind of like buying a stock in Start-up Company that you know will earn big dividends. I will definitely look back and say I was lucky enough to see her before she started selling out arenas. The vibe was pretty perfect…everyone, young and old tapping their toes and bobbing and nodding their heads as if we all in agreement that rock and roll lives on through her fingers.

Venue:

We’ve attended a few shows at The Danforth and I always love this venue. It is a huge music hall with a slanted floor, so when they pull out the seats for a GA show, everyone get s great view – tall or short. There are two bars along each wall to make it convenient to grab a pint and not miss a beat.

The room was cool and comfortable and not too jam-packed, which was nice because it was a hot night in the city. Hints of wacky would sift through the cool air and that just added to rocking vibe.

The acoustics are great in the hall and we never have an issue grabbing parking on one of the side streets off the Danforth.

We stood against the wall behind the bar and had a great sight line to the stage. Really, there is not a bad place to stand in the place.

The only short-coming is there is only one ladies room and you may have to wait in line before and after sets. But, that’s pretty typical of all music venues.

Highlights:

It was the kind of show where you just stand back, listen and appreciate how this girl can make so much amazing noise. The licks and riffs rolled through the hall with ease as we all applauded and cheered her amazing talent on the electric guitar.

For me, the highlight of the night was the encore when she came out to sing an acoustic duet of “Being Around” with Evan Dando. Dean turned me on to this Lemonheads cover song a few months ago and I have it in heavy rotation. How can you not like a sweet Aussie singing lines like:

If I was in the fridge, would you open the door? If I was the grass, would you mow your lawn? If I was yo

ur body, would you still wear clothes? If I was a booger, would you blow your nose? Would you keep it? would you eat it? I'm just tryin to give myself a reason, for being around.

Other great tunes included Three Packs a Day, Avant Gardener and Nobody Really Care if you Don’t Go to the Party.

Setlist:

Dead Fox

Scotty Says

Debbie Downer

An Illustration of Loneliness

Out of the Woodwork

Small Poppies

Depreston

Three Packs a Day

Pedestrian at Best

Are You Looking After Yourself?