In our interview, prior to the September 24th Tea Party concert at the Jack Singer Concert Hall, singer Jeff Martin stated that this tour – playing the album The Edges of Twilight in its entirety, followed by a second set of songs – could be the best Tea Party concert you will have seen. High standards for a band that has consistently delivered amazing performances: it was the promise of something special; something for the fans who have stood by the band through their career, break up, reformation and rebuilding to take us to that night.
Live, the Edges songs are even stronger than on recording. Some of them have not been played in years, if ever, yet there was no sign of struggle with bringing them back to life. Martin walked on stage, looked at his audience, and instructed them to rise. The church of The Tea Party was in session and Martin immediately took control with the trio of "Fire In The Head", "The Bazaar" and "Correspondences".
"We started off with those and then do a slow Irish song... that’s what makes us the Tea Party," Martin quipped after instrumental track "The Badger". It was a little odd having "Sister Awake" early in the set, as it has long been a main set closer to concerts. It was like old times: drummer Jeff Burrows sneaking out from behind his set to lead the audience in a clap along, as Martin played guitar and Stuart Chatwood played keyboards. Hearing songs like "Drawing Down The Moon" and "Coming Home" was almost surreal – beautiful and powerful. All too soon the album was done, and it could have been left there as a special evening.
Things were not done however. After a brief intermission the band returned for a second, shorter set of other Tea Party songs, playing a track off of every album except for Splendor Solis and The Interzone Mantras. The title track from 2014’s The Oceans At The End was the only aspect of the show tying in with their latest release. The main set concluded with one of the all time best Tea Party songs – "Psychopomp". The amped up Jack Singer audience loudly subbed for Martin in singing the chorus as he played his guitar feet away from the front row.
At the pre-show VIP sound check and meet and greet, the band met a couple who included a Tea Party concert as an early date, and chose "Heaven Coming Down" as their wedding song. Hearing this, Jeff Martin promised to play it, and he did, scrapping original set closer "Temptation" for the song. This kind of thing is part of what has made The Tea Party so loved by their fans. The connection on stage is palpable, and that they would change their set to make two fans’ night extra special speaks to what the support has meant to them.
Was it the best Tea Party concert ever? Well, that is always a personal preference; I will always have a soft spot for their 2000 concert with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, personally. It was absolutely up there with their best performances, and the band is tight and on fire in its current incarnation. If you have been a Tea Party fan and were not there that night, you missed out. If you have not seen them since they reunited, then you must make a point of catching them next time. With plans of a new album in the works and possible tours recreating albums Splendor Solis and Transmission, there will be other opportunities to experience one of Canada’s greatest bands, doing what they do best: performing live.
