NB beat
Reach for the top.
A few months ago this column told you about an exciting new music venue in Saint John that offers something unique for music fans in the area. Long a mainstay of fine dining in Saint John back in the day, the Top of the Town restaurant was known for great food and an atmosphere second to none. In case you missed the column or have never been to the Top of the Town, it's a room situated eight stories up in the Fort Howe Hotel. Back when it was a Keddy's Hotel, Top of the Town was the place to be for a fine evening out. The food was well-respected and the view of Saint John Harbour from eight stories up really is quite something.
As you may recall, Top of the Town had been somewhat dormant and new management at the Fort Howe Hotel are trying to breathe new life into the room by making it a live music venue and offering intimate "unplugged" shows by a rather impressive list of performers.
A week and a half ago I got to enjoy the Top of the Town experience when Joel Plaskett, the darling of the Canadian indie music scene played a two-night stand at Top of the Town. The show itself truly was a great experience for myself and the 100 other Plaskett fans in the room. Plaskett played a stripped down set of crowd favourites along with some new material from an upcoming triple CD release he's got planned. Even back in the days of Thrush Hermit I can remember Joel Plaskett for not only his great songwriting but for his ability to connect with his audience. The show at Top of the Town showed another side of the performer and I can truly credit that to the uniqueness of the room.
I've seen live music in more venues than I care to recall. I've muddied my boots at outdoor festivals and had my ass fall asleep in fancy schmancy soft seaters. I've seen some incredibly cool acts at some glorious rat holes too. Having been to all kinds of live venues in all three Maritime provinces I can say there's truly something unique about Top of the Town.
Having the benefit of the uniqueness of being in a setting eight stories above the twinkling lights of the city and with a capacity of only 100 persons the room provides a cozy atmosphere unlike anything I've experienced in the region. With performer and audience literally inches away from each other in a setting that includes nice woodwork, a few fire places and even a comfy chair or two provides an unrivaled intimacy. During the Joel Plaskett show I got the impression that the wall between performer and fan had come down and the evening was nothing more than a night of friends gathered together to share music and stories. In this case, one of the friends just happened to be super-talented.
Is the venue perfect? Not yet, but it's on its way. Given the type of crowd the artists they have booked will be attracting I was disappointed that the beer and wine selection was quite limited with nothing available on tap. Given the good selection of New Brunswick based micro beers available along with a more sophisticated than ever local palate I think a decent wine list and a few nice beers on tap would be a welcome addition. (Craig Pinhey to the rescue perhaps?) I also found that having no debit card machine at the bar proved to be a bit of an inconvenience. Is it nitpicking? Perhaps, but I do think the room is just a couple of steps away from being a great night out for a bit more mature crowd.
Top of the Town has added some very impressive bookings to the calendar for the coming months and they've stuck with a policy of adding local musicians whenever possible for the opening act, a noble pursuit to say the least. In the months ahead we can expect some intimate shows from the likes of The Keats (May 16 and 17), the incomparable Jill Barber (May 23). East Coast stringed instrument kingpin J.P. Cormier (June 13) and one of the finest songwriters this country has ever produced Jimmy Rankin (June 20 and 21). For Top of the Town and music fans alike, the next few months are shaping up to be a very exciting time for the Saint John area. Top of the Town has set a new standard for the region in providing a live music experience for people who truly love music.
Would I plunk down the money to see another show there? Hell yeah!
If your NB based musical act or event would like to be featured in this column please contact the columnist at oneyearofnbmusic@yahoo.ca
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