Reviews > Shows

Tortoise, Lee’s Palace, Toronto, ON – 2/18

A Thursday evening in February rarely sounded so good. With the requisite ease of a stalwart mentor, Tortoise took the cozy Lee’s Palace stage to a chorus of excitedly respectful applause. “High Class Slim Came Floatin’ In,” the lead track from 2009’s Beacons of Ancestorship, opened the show with a collected determination that would permeate the entire performance and the sell-out crowd settled in for a truly special event.

Since forming in the early 90’s, the members of Tortoise have managed not only to inspire countless other artists, but to create an enigmatic compendium of music. While primarily focused on the cream of the recent crop, be it the blissful shredding of “Prepare Your Coffin” or the subdued rhythmic insanity of “Gigantes,” the band visited some older haunts and gave the audience a little taste of every corner of their catalogue.

De-facto bandleader John McEntire split his time between one of two drum kits at center stage and a bank of keyboards in back, gazing above the heads of the listeners with a look of constant purpose. Doug McCombs expertly anchored each number with tasteful and deep bass grooves as the multi-instrumentalists around him swapped positions and explored new textures. Whatever the arrangement, and in spite of the limits of a typical rock club, each note could be heard with absolute clarity. As the history of Lee’s Palace goes, this was a night of exceptional sonic success.

The triumph of sound was on full display for two selections from 1998’s cinematic TNT : the delicate spaghetti-western saunter of “I Set My Face To The Hillside,” and the psych-jazz saga “Swung From The Gutters.” The latter garnered the heartiest reception of the evening, opening the three-song encore amidst enthusiastic buzzing. Tortoise fans appear well suited to the band itself, observantly taking in the chance visit with appreciative ears and reciprocating encouragement.

Call it prog-rock, call it post-rock, call it avant-garde. The members of Tortoise likely pay no mind to such labels, as they have already accomplished that precious feat so many embarking artists covet: they have forged an existence out of influence and instinct, a unique and vibrant landscape in which to continue their pilgrimage. As the final notes of brilliance and percussive flourishes rang out, the band and its onlookers relished one last optimal moment before parting ways.