The Be Good Tanyas played their first gig in Lethbridge at the University Theatre, May 16. An appreciative audience enjoyed a very informal, laid back set of  gorgeous folk music performed by three beautiful ladies plus a drummer John Raham and bassist Mark Beaty.

The Be Good Tanyas weren’t taking things too seriously.

It was like a group of old friends getting back together after a long break, which was nothing more or less than the truth.

Guitarist/ banjo player/ harmonica player Trish Klein rushed off stage at the beginning of their show to fetch a  capo, to Sam Parton, playing mandolin, guitar and banjo  noting she and drummer Mark Beaty drove out  to Lethbridge from Vancouver on their “second honeymoon.”

Vocalist/ guitarist/ banjo player Frazey Ford asked if anybody remembered their performance at the 2001 South Country Fair, which lead to Trish Klein correcting her , saying it was 2001, then Klein raved about eating at the Abyssinian restaurant downtown.

That lead to Sam Parton observing they weren’t  very good at on stage banter,  and Ford added they used to just get on stage and played the CD all the way through.

 So in between the banter, they effortlessly exchanged instruments and delivered spellbinding vocal harmonies. In between leisurely tuning their instruments, they asked the crowd if they had any questions for the band.

There weren’t any other than asking the name of the drummer and shouting out a few requests. The latter lead to Ford saying they wish they rehearsed more than the songs on the setlist.

 So I didn’t recognize many specific songs, I was too caught up in their beautiful melodies  and instrumental overlays and quirky humour. They played a couple new songs which were stunningly well crafted.

 I haven’t seen the Be Good Tanyas perform for several years, so was great to see them again.
 But there were a couple highlights including “Little Birds” and a gorgeous set ending cover of the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun.”