If church was as much fun as the Sojourners’ Oct. 6 show at the Geomatic Attic, I’d probably get religion more often.
The Sojourners brought the word without sounding too preachy while giving a solid intro to the history of gospel influenced blues music.
Ins
tead they sang a lot about dying and death an going to Heaven. Marcus Mosley, Will Sanders and Khari McClelland dressed in natty suits sang heavenly harmonies backed by Paul Pigat on guitar, drummer Jeff Hicks as Rob Becker laid down the bottom end on bass.
One immediate highlight was the Reverend Gary Davis’ “Death Don’t have No Mercy, which the Grateful Dead popularized.
A lot of their songs are on their latest, soon to be released CD “Sing and Never Get Tired.” The Staples Singers’ “Why Am I Treated So Bad” was especially soulful.
“They played an excellent cover of “For What It’s Worth.”
Their cover of Los Lobos’ “The Neighbourhood” was especially uplifting as they sang about taking care of your neighbours. Each vocalist got to shine on that song. The three frontmen practically sweated soul and oozed passion as they took turns singing lead and would sing harmonies into each others’ microphone. They were simple stunning.
Pigat, who has the record for performer who has played the Geomatic Attic the most times, thanks to playing with numerous different Vancouver acts, usually blazes on the fretboard, but, played more subdued solos for the Sojourners which was exactly what was needed.
