vaneramos | Bring your heartstrings with the bells

Basia Bulat's concert Friday night was intensely energizing, from the moment she bounded onto stage alone, charango in hand, to the unequivocal encore call by a small, fervent audience at Dublin Street United Church. Videos of her studio performance illustrate her intensity and quirkiness, but on stage she clearly feels in her element. Gone is her expectant shyness, if not her uncertainty. She gives the impression of driving her band almost as hard as she does herself. It bleeds into the longing lyrics and racing rhythms, evocative of an itinerant lifestyle. Under scattered blonde bangs, piercing eyes and smile plead for her audience to connect. And we do.

Evidently she had just returned from a solo European tour, because this seemed to be her first performance reunited with the four band members. She apologized for using the audience as guinea pigs on a few songs, but it was wonderful to see an artist in process. She works hard and leads a restless, breathless life.

Eccentric instrumentation was one of the things that first drew me to Bulat's music, and the live performance was rich with it. Her band members' primary instruments were viola, ukelele, double bass and drums, while she shifted between her signature autoharp, acoustic guitar, piano, dulcimer and the peculiar charango, a diminutive Bolivian lute. But it is the energy of her music, rising above undeniable sadness to carry you on a vivid voyage. Eventually the music ends but does not release you. Pumped and hearty, you stride into a night that feels new, vibrant and endless.