Concert Review: Sarah Shook & The Disarmers, August 25, Horseshoe Tavern

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It was Sarah Shook’s first time in Toronto, but it seems she’d already made some friends, pointing out someone in the crowd during Saturday night’s show who she had previously only known online but who had welcomed Shook to her home for a little apartment party before their show.

Apartment parties notwithstanding, Sarah Shook & The Disarmers brought the party to the stage as well for an excellent show at the Horseshoe Tavern. After all, there was something cathartic and rather fun in shouting, “I need this shit like I need another hole in my head” out loud during the band’s performance of “New Ways To Fail.” During their set, Shook and her talented bandmates (shout out to the bassist for wearing a WFMU t-shirt) ran through a number of songs from their latest album Years and last years’ Sidelong with numbers such as “Dwight Yoakam”, “Fuck Up” and “The Bottle Never Lets Me Down” standing out as particular highlights.

“Thank you. We love you too,” replied Shook at one point when a fan shouted out their approval in between songs. “It’s our favourite fucking thing,” she said, going on to describe her feelings on playing music with one simple word: “Heaven.” I’d wager those in attendance on Saturday night felt the same way.

Posted on by Paul in Concerts