The Edmonton Muse November 2019 | Page 50

Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and loop pedal artist extraordinaire, Paul Woida, wowed a packed house at Edmonton’s Winspear Centre on October 24. The second local artist to take the leap and successfully fill Edmonton’s downtown concert hall, Woida follows in the footsteps of British expat turned Edmontonian, Martin Kerr, who returns to Winspear Centre with the ESO this month. Historically a stage for artists of national or international acclaim, both Woida and Kerr have capitalized on their primarily local following in this largely unprecedented approach, under the guidance of music manager, Anthony Lovesy, who seems to be (successfully) reinventing the road to musical success before our eyes.

What Woida and Kerr also share is a connection with their audience…the relationships they build with fans that are key to filling a 1700 seat world class venue at a stage in their careers most musicians would not attempt. Winspear Centre could have been your living room on October 24, it was so comfortable and conversational, but the music in your living room was never this good. Woida slips between originals and covers, instruments and pedals, beatboxing and falsetto, with skill, finesse and authenticity. His strong vocals can be polished or raw, and his energy, good humoured or melancholic, whatever is true to the moment. This one-man band, including acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards and drums, flawlessly seamed together with loop pedals (never guilty of being gimmicky) projected a full band sound in a synergy of impeccable orchestration no solo artist should be able to pull off. Few can. Woida can in spades.

Attendees went home with not one, but two exciting new musical finds in Woida’s openers, Cab’Ral and Mike Ruby, the latter having joined the headliner on stage for a duet only to be called back for an encore. Woida mused that Ruby was another incarnation of himself, and the musical chemistry between the two was palpable.

To learn more about Paul Woida visit www.paulwoida.ca

Paul Woida Wows at Winspear Centre

-Shauna Specht