Toronto Live! Club Hub Chronicles: Relaxing at Rancho Relaxo... Shomberg Fair, Luther Wright & the Wrongs, Krista Muir

Although I don't get up there as often as I used to, Rancho Relaxo is a great place to be if it isn't packed solid, as it can be at times.

Last night (Monday) was ideal. It's cozy enough that it's like being in someone's living room at a house party. You meet fellow music fans, and the musicians performing that night are just wandering around the room too, when they're not on stage. What could be better?

Monday was, in principle. Krista Muir's night... it was her CD release party... but she couldn't have asked for two better opening bands... Toronto's own Schomberg Fair and Luther Wright & the Wrongs from Kingston.

I saw Shomberg Fair for the first time at the Horseshoe in September, when they opened for Vancouver's Pack AD.

I was totally impressed and knew I had to see them again. Named after.. you guessed it... the Schomberg, Ontario Agricultural Fair which dates back to 1850, you really don't have any idea what the music will be like until you see them. I'd put them loosely in the alt-country category; but, by contrast, they make Blue Rodeo sound like your grandmother's music.

Luther Wright & the Wrongs has been a long-time favourite for me.

They didn't have their drummer last night (I forget what Luther told me about that), but you can see them (with drummer) on Wednesday at the Horseshoe. You won't be disappointed.

I remember Krista Muir best through seeing her several times in her alternative persona... Lederhosen Lucil. Lucil is a wonderful romp of eccentricity (did I really say that?), that can't be missed either if you should get a chance (http:lederhosenlucil.com).

But last night she was the seductive and talented Ms. Krista Muir, playing mellow folk/pop songs from her new CD, Accidental Railway. Naturally, I picked up a copy and have been listening to it all day. It's great!

So, there you have it! Another one of those great Toronto live music evenings where everything clicked.

I'll just finish off by appending a few vanity photos of yours truly with some of the great folks who were out there...