A few months ago, I was lucky enough to be covering a story about an afternoon festival at Dead Dog Records where about a dozen bands would perform for about 20 minutes to showcase their music. These are some of the up-and-coming Indie bands trying wiggle in the crowded musical space of Toronto.
Right in the middle of the show, an unexpected guest showed up to support his friends from the band Altered by Mom. Aysanabee came in with an acoustic guitar and played a couple of his songs and then played an unreleased song that he co- wrote with Altered by Mom.
This was my introduction with this Juno award winning artist. He was grateful and generous and humble. I knew I had to see him again.
Fast forward to Aug 27th and here he was at the CNE Bandshell. I walked in to find the place pretty empty at 7:15. The second he walked on stage a flood of people walked towards the stage and the seats were filling up pretty quickly. As I scanned this audience, it had every age showing up for his music.
Overall, his music has a vibrant youth to it, but there was so much more to it. Like his personality, it was honest and unpretentious. Once he opens up his mouth, his deep soothing voice has you locked into what he is singing.
Lately, I have been to several indigenous musical shows, and I am sensing a strong shift beginning to happen. For centuries, no one was interested in this culture and was trying to silence them. Now, I am finding audiences coming out and sitting respectfully at these shows and listening to their stories. After all, this is one of their truly special gifts they love to give.
Their stories about how they grew up with next to nothing and to rise in this world with a sense of grace will always have my attention. Aysanabee told us a story about how he used to ride in a dune buggy made from a lawnmower was both endearing and real. The story of having a bow and only one arrow, said a lot of the material world that he lived in.
It was the story about going to a friend’s house that had a computer and they would watch YouTube all about guitar players. Don Ross was one of his guitar heroes growing up and as it turned out, he was indigenous. Well, that said it all for me. When you watch Aysanabee play guitar, you can picture him endlessly practicing in front of this computer learning this skill, which he is mastering today.
I know this review said very little about the songs he performed, but it is an invitation to go out and seek his music. Like that child who watched endless amounts of YouTube, this is your moment to open up and bring in the essence of what Aysanabee is trying to bring to you.
One of the songs he did was called “Dream Catcher”, and it is a metaphysical song about finding spiritual freedom. I think this summed up my experience with his performance. The next question is where does he go from here?
I will just wait until he comes around again to tell his stories.
Here are photos of Aysanabee:
Here is his website to start you journey into a new musical landscape.
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