John Grant at The Danforth Music Hall

I caught John Grant's show a few years back when he opened for Midlake at The Mod Club. I was instantly taken in by his lyrical counterpoint of misery and humour, and the counterpoint of his instrumental and vocal delivery with that sense of humour.

He opened for Elbow at their fantastic show at The Danforth Music Hall in Toronto. He played tunes from 2010's Queen of Denmark and last year's Pale Green Ghosts with a guitar player and accompanying himself on keyboards. It was great to see him again, and I look forward to the next time I get to see this unique and powerful songwriter.

Highlights for me were "Sigourney Weaver" and "Where Dreams Go To Die" from Queen of Denmark and "Glacier" and "GMF" from Pale Green Ghosts. I loved his intro for "GMF" where he advised us all that if you're with someone who doesn't think that you are the greatest mother fucker in the world, then you should ditch them immediately. My only wish would have been for him to play "Chicken Bones".

And now, on to the tunes:

"GMF" from his newest album Pale Green Ghosts

This is quite the incredible version of "Glacier" from Pale Green Ghosts

"Sigourney Weaver" from Queen of Denmark

"Where Dreams Go To Die" from Queen of Denmark

"Chicken Bones" from Queen of Denmark

New John Grant

Well, this isn't up-to-the-minute new John Grant. The clip came out in December. But the album, Pale Green Ghosts, isn't out until March 11, so this is still news, right?

Here's a cool tune; the title track from the new album.

And some older John Grant for those not hip to his brilliance.

"Chicken Bones" Love the lyrics in this one!

"Marz"

John Grant: Powerful with a Light Touch

Continuing in the spirit of my post about Dan Mangan, here's a quick one about John Grant, who I was lucky enough to see with Midlake at the Mod Club last year. I found him quite a powerful performer with great songs. Here are two of them from his album Queen of Denmark.

Here he is performing "I Wanna Go To Marz" on Jools...



... and him performing "Where Dreams Go To Die" in a Parisian Cafe. Somehow perfect.