Party it up

Broken Social Scenester Jason Collett's Toronto show ends in a late-night jam session

By Stevie Howell
Published: December 20th, 2007 | 11:37am

December 18, 2007, in Toronto — Jason Collett really knows how to host a party. Sauntering onto the stage, he greeted the sold-out show's crowd like a bunch of old friends. He casually discussed the lineup and then, while strumming over his newest song, he offered this disclaimer: we should prepare ourselves, because the night was going to rock so hard that many of us would be calling in sick to work.

This was the third in a series of shows the Broken Social Scene breakout artist has been holding at the western-themed Dakota Tavern, each one featuring a range of artists from the Arts & Crafts record label and beyond. The audience itself was full of some of the biggest names in indie music, along with avid fans, and this show was especially festive since it was the last in the series and just before the holidays.

The show featured a string of artists performing just a few songs apiece. Each borrowed Collett's guitar, while the other players sat close by and looked on affectionately, making it feel like being a part of some legendary house party. Serena Ryder was spontaneously added to the bill, playing an old Hank Williams tune; another artist was late, so four people from different bands got on stage together and played an impromptu set of incredible songs they’d only worked out the day before. Andrew Whiteman, fellow Broken Social Scenester and frontman for Apostle of Hustle, performed a thought-provoking piece of poetry theater, complete with a wig, television screen, and laugh track. And Canadian indie folk-rock icon Hayden made a rare appearance, and his performance was as heartfelt and melodic as ever. Moving effortlessly between guitar and piano with simple harmonica accompaniment, he hushed the packed room.

When Collett returned to the stage, the mood was positively enthused. Collett’s music is much more roots-oriented and traditionally structured than that of his longtime experimental collective BSS. Playing with five backing musicians, the music ranged from folk ballads to full-on classic rock songs. A number of tunes were from his forthcoming album Here’s to Being Here (Arts & Crafts), out in February 2008, including the surefire hit “Out of Time.” Collett is a dynamic and charismatic performer, and he and his band have a great rapport. The audience clapped, sang, and danced along. The performance was tight, with a few musical interludes that turned into wild jams that had the band members themselves laughing.

Collett and his band played for well over an hour, and when the band broke, raffle tickets were sold in support of "Meals on Two Wheels” — which delivers meals to the elderly on bicycles! Then, late into the night, with the crowd a little thinned, the show resumed with a spirited, long-running jam featuring virtually all of the artists playing together. If Collett comes to your town, make sure you go to his party — you’ll have an unforgettable time, and it’ll be worth it even if you end up sleeping in and missing work.