The first thing I want to say is the only reason I made it out to this show was because of the newsletter I received from the Toronto Botanical Garden. The other reason is that I mentioned Lily Frost’s name to my wife, and she immediately screamed out she does the theme song for the show Being Erica! Well, it seems I will be going out tonight.
When I arrived, I was surprised to see such a capacity crowd fill the space so much, that people were sitting behind the stage to listen to this artist.
Lily Frost walked on stage looking like Mother Nature. She came on and pronounced what to expect for tonight’s show. She was here to showcase some of her new music from a new recording that pays homage to Georgian Bay. How Canadian is that?
After hearing songs like, “Enchantment”, and “Willow”, her wistful voice floated throughout the open space like a sprit humming into a wave of warm mist from a rain forest. Her style of music slides around with the sense of gentle pop to slow jazz to a cinema scope of visual storytelling.
Songs like Viridian Torch is a beacon to light up the green nature all around us. I believe her message is to appreciate what this planet has given to us. You can feel it with other dedicated songs to Canadian artists like Emily Carr and Tom Thompson. She even quoted David Suzuki about how our perceptions of our planet are very skewed. We need to realign with our natural selves again. I couldn’t agree more.
There were a couple really stand out moments for me during her performance. She added a string section in, to sing a haunting song about Forest Fires. Sitting amongst the tree of the Botanical Garden, I could visualize everything she was doing. They way the band could paint this song was beautiful in its horror. This was a moment when her style really brought me back to another artist named Imogen Heap who does this with her music.
Lily really brought us through that forest and relieved the anxiety with such a fun song called “The Bug Tax”. I was back up north at a cottage as Lily was swatting and scratching at the mosquitoes and black flies that irritate our weekends away.
As I watched her band, there was a certain joy as they got to break out of the traditional way of playing and really create the mood and atmosphere of each song with more emotions than notes written on a page. This was really apparent with a lovely rendition of “Lullaby”, where you can feel a mother’s love of putting her child to sleep.
My wife got what she came for. The second last song was the Theme song called “Do what you love”, from the hit show, Being Erica. It really is a very charming song and is a perfect fit for the show.
Lily and her band were very gracious to meet with fans who wanted to speak with her. I was very surprised to look at her merch table and see so many of her recordings. I didn’t realize she has so much music to enjoy. So, for the fans out there, I give you her website so you can go and buy more of her music. The two my wife picked up does not disappoint, so I am sure the rest is just as wonderful. I really am looking forward to her new CD. Hopefully Blast Toronto will have a chance to review it.
Here are photos of Lily Frost:
P.S. The Toronto Botanical Gardens put together some great concert series throughout the summer. There is only one left. I hope you can make it. In the meantime, here is the link to check the schedule and be a part of this open space to hear beautiful music.
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