The Walin' Jennys

Concert Review: Wailin’ for the Jennys

Nick Pannu, Associate Staff Writer

The Wailin’ Jennys performed at the Capilano College Theatre on September 9.
It can be a little overwhelming having a conversation with someone who is in awe of a performance they have recently seen — their verbal exchange becomes oversaturated with hysteria. They’re stuck in one mode and they keep repeating phrases like, “That was the best performance I’ve ever seen.” Last weekend I succumbed to that level of uncontrollable hoopla after seeing the best folk musicians perform live: The Wailin’ Jennys.
Kicking off their Western Canadian tour on September 9 at the Capilano College Theatre, the Wailin’ Jennys played to a sold-out crowd. The response from the audience itself was amazing — a standing ovation at the end of the performance brought the artists out again to perform two more songs. The Wailin’ Jennys have, with no doubt, built up quite the cult following here on the West Coast; some Vancouverites surely have not forgotten the performance the trio debuted two years ago at the Vancouver Folk Festival. To this day, the Wailin’ Jennys hold the record for having sold the most CDs at the festival. Even at this recent show, a frenzy of people snatched their latest album, Firecracker.

Band members Ruth Moody, Nicky Mehta, and Annabelle Chvostek consolidate an original and unique folk bluegrass style of music. Individually, the band members have an artistic arsenal that is diverse, to say the least. As well, their vocals are also impressive. Performing their hit single, “The Devil’s Paintbrush Road” a cappella, they illustrated the depth of their vocals.

Even more impressive was the versatility the Wailin’ Jennys demonstrated, as they not only played an eclectic array of instruments, but played each of them very well. During one part of the show, Nicky pulled out her harmonica while Ruth Moody strapped on her accordion, and Chvostek played the violin. Other instruments incorporated into their performance included an acoustic guitar, tambourine, banjo, and ukulele. It was also incredible to see how they were able to co-exist as one unit, complementing and accentuating each other — surely their impeccable timing seemed to facilitate this. Seeing the Wailin’ Jennys perform was an experience in itself. The trio, who are scheduled to tour the rest of the continent, were quite humble with the overwhelming response they received, and promised that they would be back in Vancouver next year.