Garth and Maud Hudson

Garth solo and with Maud, Top O' The Senator, Toronto, May 20-25 2003

Garth on stage

Garth and Maud

Great show with lots of surprises... The first half was an over hour long music lesson. He took the same songs and played them in jazz mode, then honky tonk, then rock, then country, etc. It was great and he was all over the place, each new move another surprise. We also were treated to the "International Medley for Accordian", beginning (of course) with Lady of Spain. (What's the difference between a trampoline and an accordian? You usually take your boots off before jumping on a trampoline) After a long intermission he came back on and Maud was with him again so we expected some vocals. After the first song someone in the audience yelled "It's Bob Dylan's birthday today". Guess which group that one came from? And Maud said "Oh yes, it's Bobby's birthday. We have some stuff here that Bob Dylan wrote that we can do". Now, we're all expecting "I Shall Be Released", and Garth does some pretty wild intros (Chest Fever?), and no one was sure, but really, what else would he play? Right? Wrong. The next thing we heard from Maud was... "Seen the arrow on the doorpost Saying, "This land is condemned All the way from New Orleans To Jerusalem." Which promptly blew us all away. She sang the hell out of it and he played the hell out of it. They followed it with "Makes No Difference", and later did "The Weight" and "The Shape I'm In". You really ought to hear her growl those last two songs, a most amazing voice. I think that most of us who were there this weekend would recommend this show. If you get the chance to see him, it's really worth your time and money. --Posted by "handlevandal", 05-26-03

Garth Hudson, Top O' The Senator, Toronto, May 2003