Steve Goldberger & The Gentle Spirits — Whatever Gets You Through the Night

And I mean packed.

Steve Goldberger & The Gentle Spirits had brought an eleven-piece band to the stage, and judging by the crowd, plenty of people had come out to hear them.

The music had a wonderful New Orleans feel to it, with a generous helping of funk and soul, a touch of country and a hint of blues, all firmly rooted in rock & roll. The horn section really rounded out the sound.

It was quite an ensemble.

Goldberger was showcasing much of his original material, and there was plenty to enjoy. His vocals sounded good, his bass tone was superb, and the overall sound in the room was surprisingly clear considering how many musicians were sharing the stage.

Both guitarists delivered some excellent solos, while the horns added colour and punch to the arrangements.

Lead vocal duties were passed around throughout the evening, giving several members of the band an opportunity to step forward.

Laurel Minnes was a particular standout. She played ukulele, but it was her singing that really caught my attention. What a terrific voice.

And then there's Serena Pryne.

I've seen Serena perform before, and I swear that woman has a permanent smile on her face. She always looks as though she's having the time of her life, and Saturday night was no exception. It's hard not to enjoy watching someone who so obviously loves what she's doing.

The pedal steel guitarist provided another surprise.

I'm not particularly a country music fan, but his playing fit remarkably well into the band's mixture of styles. And when he stepped up to sing, I wasn't quite prepared for what came out of his mouth.

Calling his voice raspy doesn't begin to describe it.

He makes Tom Waits sound golden-throated.

And I mean that affectionately. This wasn't someone struggling to sing through a bad cold. It was a remarkably rough, distinctive voice, and he clearly knew exactly what he was doing with it.

There were a few familiar covers among Goldberger's original compositions, including Michael Jackson's “The Way You Make Me Feel.”

I can't say it was the first time I'd heard a trombone solo in a Michael Jackson song.

But I'm reasonably certain it was the first time I'd heard a pedal steel solo in one.

Stevie Wonder's “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)” really got the dance floor moving, although the crowd hardly needed much encouragement by that point.

And that's where I encountered a slight problem.

There wasn't a seat to be had.

I'd been standing in the middle of a crowded room, getting bumped and politely exchanging “excuse me” and “pardon me” with people trying to make their way through.

Normally, that wouldn't be much of an issue.

Unfortunately, to borrow from Danny's vernacular, this old fart's back, neck and knees have developed opinions about standing for extended periods, and none of them were particularly favourable.

I'd also arrived hungry, but ordering a plate of Mexican food while standing in the middle of a crowded room seemed like a logistical challenge I wasn't prepared to undertake.

So there I was, surrounded by good music and good food, unable to sit down and unable to eat.

Whatever gets you through the night?

Apparently, a chair.

After a little more than an hour, someone I knew was leaving and offered me a ride. Reluctantly, I accepted.

I want to be very clear about something: I wasn't leaving because I'd had enough of the music.

Quite the opposite.

Had I found somewhere to sit, I'd happily have stayed for the rest of the evening.

Even after stepping outside, I lingered in the parking lot talking with people who were arriving late, while the music continued inside.

And then I heard Jackson Browne's “Running on Empty,” a personal favourite.

Naturally, I poked my head back through the door to catch some of it.

Apparently, my ears weren't quite as ready to leave as my knees were.

I can't speak to the remainder of the performance, but what I heard was a thoroughly enjoyable evening of music from a talented and versatile group of musicians.

The Gentle Spirits had the room moving, the crowd was clearly enjoying itself, and Goldberger had assembled a band capable of bringing his songs to life with plenty of personality.

My only regret was that I couldn't stay longer.

Next time, I'm bringing a chair.

Or at least arriving early enough to find one.

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