The Waltons - Live In Buffalo - May 4, 2013

 

The first time I saw the Barenaked Ladies was in a truck garage-turned-bar called The Ikon, in Buffalo, NY.  With approximately 400 people crushed into a space that legally allowed about 250, it was quite a death defying experience.  Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night, however, was the opening act.  A four piece from Regina, Saskatchewan called The Waltons.  The Juno Award winning group had an independent album, Lik My Trakter, which was in the process of being optioned by WEA Records Canada, and brought their own inviolate energy to a catchy mix of acoustic folk and rock and roll.  Warner never really supported The Waltons, and in spite of placement on one of the Friends soundtrack collections the band never really took off in the states.  Nevertheless, the band was among the most talented to come out of the Toronto Indie scene of the early 1990’s.

The Waltons went their own ways in 2001.  Jason Plumb has gone on to become one of Canada’s most respected singer/songwriters, both independently and with his band The Willing.  By 2013, the band hadn’t been in the same room in about eight years, but on one mild spring night last weekend in North Buffalo, The Waltons were reunited in the living room of a friend.  For the stretch of thirteen songs, the Waltons were as vivacious and alive as ever they were.

This particular lineup included Jason Plumb on vocals and guitar; Keith Nakonechny on bass and vocals; Sean Bryson on drums; and Jeff McLeod (Jason Plumb and the Willing) filling in for Todd Lumley on keys.  In spite of not playing together in close to a decade, the Waltons were on.  Jason Plumb joked about not having the range he once had, but the appreciative crowd never took notice.  The set was heavy on tunes from the band’s first album, and in spite of years apart The Waltons didn’t miss a beat.  Fan favorites such as “The Middle Of Nowhere”, “Colder Than You”, “Michaelangelo’s Tummy” and “Beats The Hell Out Of Me” were well received, but the biggest reactions were for “Colder Than You” and “In The Meantime”.

The Waltons worked their way through ten songs, and were enticed into playing three more by the small but enthusiastic crowd.  “I Could Care Less” got everyone moving, but the band’s cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Boxer” was a highlight of the night.  The words didn’t come to memory easy, but the performance had an impromptu and fun feel that was very laid back.  The detour into David Alan Coe’s “The Rodeo Song” in the middle might have had something to do with it.  The Waltons had one more hit in them before the night was through, bringing down the house with “The Naked Rain”; a long time fan favorite.

This year marks the 20^th Anniversary of Lik My Trakter, and The Waltons plan on playing a handful of club gigs to celebrate.  Regina, Toronto and Buffalo are sure to be on the agenda.  Dates will be limited because the band members all have families and careers these days, but if this house concert was any indication, The Waltons have still got it.