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  Delta Rae 1
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  Delta Rae 2
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  Delta Rae 3
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  Delta Rae 4
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  Delta Rae 5
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  Delta Rae 6
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  Delta Rae 7
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  ZZ Ward 1
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  ZZ Ward 2
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  ZZ Ward 3
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  ZZ Ward 4
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  ZZ Ward 5

"Touring their 2012 debut, Carry The Fire, the six-piece have an interesting style in that there’s no one lead vocalist."

Concert Review

Artist: Delta Rae

Opener: ZZ Ward

Venue: The Mod Club

Location: Toronto, Ontario

Date: Thursday, February 28, 2013

Reviewed and photographed by: Sarah Rix

It was a quiet affair at Toronto’s Mod Club on Thursday as Delta Rae and ZZ Ward took to the stage. Delta Rae was impressive in their first visit to the city, the folk rock band bringing a rich display of harmonies. Touring their 2012 debut, Carry The Fire, the six-piece have an interesting style in that there’s no one lead vocalist. Three siblings – Ian, Brittany, and Eric Hölljes – share vocal duties, as does Elizabeth Hopkins.

It’s an interesting, collaborative approach to music and one that works well. They certainly draw on an older style, like listening to the fantastic O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack. A shame, then, that much of the fairly sparse crowd decided to take off after opener ZZ Ward played. Hopefully their next time in the city will see more people turning up.

ZZ Ward’s brand of soulful blues is good, but not entirely ready for a big stage. She had some trouble hitting all the notes. At times, it felt very much like Zsuzsanna Eva Ward was yelling instead of singing. The young artist has a good voice; it’s the control of her instrument that she needs to improve.

The Oregon-based singer was a long way from home, and did well to entertain the crowd with songs mostly about ex-boyfriends and heartache (watch out, Taylor Swift.) Songs such as “Save My Life,” which she penned with Michael Fitzpatrick from Fitz and the Tantrums was good, as was her three-piece backing band that kept things upbeat. She did end on a positive – her last four songs were far and away the best. “Put The Gun Down” is a stomping number that shows her at her best.

While I had some qualms about her performance, ZZ Ward is young and – if the turnout for her second performance in Toronto is any indication – she doesn’t have much to worry about.

Thanks to Live Nation.