The Persuasions opened for them with an exceptional a cappella set that included a glorious version of U2’s “Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” among other noteworthy vocals.
When Barenaked Ladies took the stage they kicked off their set with the upbeat “Boomerang” and it was followed by the fun “Duct Tape Heart.” “Thank you,” they told their fans, following the warm reception of the first two songs, and they picked up their pace with the infectious “Brian Wilson.”
“Thank you very much. How are you doing everybody?” Ed Robertson asked. “Nice to be here,” and they broke into a rap welcoming the crowd to their show. Robertson also thanked some audience members for coming reluctantly especially since their spouses like their band. “We wrote this song as it was happening,” he said, referring to the welcoming rap.
“Blame It on Me” was soothing and mellow, and they brought back The Persuasions on stage for “Gonna Walk,” which was well-received. The same was true for the song “Don’t Shuffle Me Back,” which featured united harmonies from both bands.
Kevin Hearn noted that “Sound of Your Voice” was about a girl he had a crush on in high school, and The Persuasions helped them dust off the original recording, and they revitalized it with an R&B feel to it. They immediately broke into “Narrow Streets,” where blue lights dimmed from the stage.
The acoustic and drum-driven “Keepin’ It Real” earned both groups a standing ovation for a job well done. “Odds Are” was uplifting and a song that the crowd sung along to.
“Good Times” was laid-back and liberating , while “When I Fall” was another acoustic gem, and it built up into an exceptional ballad with The Persuasions providing the harmony vocals.
It was followed by the fan-favorite recordings, which included such hits as “Pinch Me,” “The Big Bang Theory Theme Song,” as well as “One Week” and the cheerful “If I Had $1,000,000,” where all of the ladies were dancing and singing along. They closed on a witty note with their Barenaked rap.
The Verdict
Going into this Barenaked Ladies concert the “Odds Were” that it was going to be a great show, and it absolutely was. Barenaked Ladies and The Persuasions gave The Paramount a night of high-quality music to remember. There were no gimmicks or auto-tune. Just pure natural talent all night long with well-crafted songs comprised of meaningful lyrics and velvet vocals. Their live show at The Paramount garnered five out of five stars.
