It’s always refreshing when an artist is just as good live as they are on the radio. Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats were better.
Local act Casa Lagarto, Spanish for “lizard house”, opened the show at TD Place on Wednesday night. The five-piece played a relaxed, surf brand of rock, amidst the neon cacti, plastic rat and black fabric horse adorning the stage. It appeared they were going for a quirky desert vibe with some psychedelic elements, ala Fear and Loathing in Los Vegas. Lead singer Jonny Yuma had a low, monotone voice used in a style better described as speaking rather than singing. Yuma also played keys and guitar, in addition to two other guitarists, a bassist, and percussion. They played one cover, The Cramps’ “Georgia Lee Brown” (1986).
The dance floor filled out considerably when Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats (NRNS) hit the stage. It was no surprise and a well deserved feat that the show had moved from the Bronson Centre, a mere 900 seat venue, to TD Place, which holds thousands. Despite the price increase to go with it, fans weren’t deterred from coming out on a Wednesday night to be wowed by NRNS’ impressive performance.
Seven musicians filled the stage to start the show, including two saxophones (tenor and baritone), a trumpet, keys, percussion, bass and guitar. A groovy bass line welcomed the eighth member to the stage, presumably Rateliff himself. While the other members of the band were all dressed in black, Rateliff contrasted in white, highlighting himself as the night’s preacher who urged the audience to testify to the larger-than-life performance. The band seemed to simply be vessels for the music, which appeared to move them as much as it did the audience. Even seat holders remained on their feet for the performance, dancing up a storm. At one point, keyboard player Mark Shusterman very intentionally and specifically removed his hat, just so he could rock out harder.
NRNS was extremely upbeat and full of energy. Their danceable rhythm and blues felt like a celebration. It was the type of music that gets into the bones and warms the blood. Their songs were soulful with some rockabilly twang, heavy with harmony but still feeling light. There were also a few quiet and chilling tunes sprinkled into the set, namely “Still Out There Running” (2018), during which Rateliff vocalized passionately with very minimal accompaniment. Throughout the set, Rateliff also played guitar, harmonica and tambourine. He amusingly and quite literally tossed both the tambo and guitar off to stage hands when he was done with them.
The band pleased with hits including, “You Worry Me” (2018) and “Say It Louder” (2018), the latter of which Rateliff dedicated to kids across the US trying to change gun legislation. The building was literally thumping for the foot stomping tune, “I Need Never Get Old” (2017). After playing their massive hit, “S.O.B.” (2017), which blended into “Trying So Hard Not To Know” (2017), the band left the stage, predictably generating a massive cry for an encore from the audience. NRNS obliged, returning to the stage for three more tunes, including the title track from their latest record, Tearing At The Seams (2018). Rateliff touchingly dedicated the tune to the band’s former producer and friend, Richard Swift, who recently passed away.
