These three performers gave the receptive crowd a night to remember at the Broom Factory.
On May 19, Juno nominated singer-songwriter and producer John Fellner, from London, Ontario, took the stage at Kingston’s Broom Factory, alongside Matt Bazinet and Brother Elsey. The intimate venue meant a smaller crowd, but that didn’t stop the audience from coming together to enjoy the music from these three artists.
Bazinet, a Kingston-born musician, was not originally on the bill to perform, but the headliners, Brother Elsey, gave him the opportunity somewhat last minute. He kicked the night off at 7:30, letting the audience know that he’d be playing a combination of original music and covers. The audience was restrained, evidently unfamiliar with his music and surprised by his appearance, but still happy to enjoy the show.
During a pause between songs, Bazinet called his music introspective, stating that he began writing music during a time when he faced many roadblocks. Although his solo performance was quieter, the calmer vibe only added to the overall show.
After a short break, the audience gathered again to watch Fellner’s performance. By the time he took the stage, more people had joined the crowd and remained engaged throughout his set.
His early experience in music producing was evident in his performance, from his confidence with his instruments to the use of a looper pedal, which recorded the audio and played it back. Fellner confessed to the audience that it was his first time using it live, but the audience would not have been able to tell.
Like the performer before him, Fellner considered his music to be closely linked to his life experience. In an interview with The Journal, he stated that “there was a lot of sadness integrated into [Crossroads],” his first EP.
His second body of work, “Boundaries”, releasing on May 29, is “more drum heavy, upbeat, and playful.” When he played his most recent single “Green Lights”, the audience caught a glimpse of Fellner’s more optimistic side. With a catchy back track and spirited guitar solo, the song successfully brought up the energy in the room.
Then, Fellner chose to dip into his past by playing what he considered his saddest song, aptly named “Misery,” after which he emphasized the importance of recovering, swiftly transitioning into “Healing Song.” The slower song was written for Fellner’s grandfather, a war veteran who turned to music after struggling with the aftermath of combat.
Despite the story of its development, lyrics like “hard times brought you to your knees and still you kept on swinging / thank god you kept on singing,” reminded listeners that it wasn’t an entirely sad story.
Fellner ended his set with his radio hit, “Broke Skin,” which had the audience clapping along. Despite being aware that the audience may not know his music, Fellner’s connection to the crowd is unsurprising, as he considers the connections he makes with audience members to be the most valuable part of live performances.
“I think going on tour and being in front of people is […] really important to me as an artist,” Fellner told the Journal.
Shortly after Fellner’s set ended, Brother Elsey took the stage, playing crowd favourites, which got the audience moving and engaged them in some call and response chants. The room seemed a lot busier, as people danced to the band’s high energy performance.
Although they’re from Detroit, the band has played in Kingston multiple times, at venues like the Ale House and the Merchant, and showed their appreciation for their Canadian audience throughout the set.
By the end of the night, the Broom Factory, along with the artist’s musical prowess, had created a lively yet intimate environment perfect for the stories the three performers hoped to tell through their music.
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