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Back to HomeFeature Article - February 23, 2012 “Crooked Wood” brings the east coast to Sharbot Lakeby Julie Druker
Photo: The trio Crooked Wood at their sold out show at the Crossing Pub in Sharbot Lake l-r, Chris Murphy, Jon McLurg and Steve Kennedy
Billed as a Newfoundland Kitchen Party, the latest sold out show at The Crossing Pub in Sharbot Lake was just that and more. After tucking into a traditional Newfoundland Jiggs dinner of salted beef and veggies, sirloin steak and turkey followed by a traditional bread pudding for dessert, listeners settled in for three generous sets by local Celtic crooners Crooked Wood. The trio showcased their rich repertoire of tunes inspired from the rocky shores of Newfoundland, the old stompin' grounds of pub owners Sandra and Frank White. The trio, made up of Chris Murphy, Jon McLurg and Steve Kennedy, opened the show with selections from their own original solo material demonstrating the fact that these three gents can definitely hold their own both vocally and instrumentally on stage. McLurg sang “Old Montreal” off of his 2008 CD titled “The Auctioneer”; Chris offered up “Finally Coming Home”, the title track from his latest solo project of the same name that will be officially released March 10 at a concert and release party at the Sydenham Street United Church in Kingston, while Steve delivered his very own “Mouse and Man” from his 2010 CD titled “Consider the End”.
In the second set the three joined forces, with Steve primarily on bass, Jon on guitar and mandolin and Chris taking up guitar, banjo, mandolin, penny whistle and the Bodhran drum to perform an all encompassing set - a combination of classic east coast tunes along with multiple requests from a very enthusiastic crowd, who showed their appreciation by taking to the dance floor and donning souwesters in a tribute to the Canadian east coast.
Early in the set Chris belted out Ron Hynes' “Sonny's Dream” in a clear and crisp voice with Jon plucking out instrumental solos on mandolin. The trio shone brightest when singing together acapella as they did on the east coast classic “General Taylor” with McLurg singing the low bass line and Steve on lead. Their next was the audience’s request for “Squid Jiggin' Ground”, a classic east coast lament delivered straight from the heart and pitch perfect by Chris. The trio also sang a couple of surprising choices, one a Beatles mash-up of “I've Just Seen a Face” and “Octopus's Garden”, for which Brown pulled out his banjo to play a rollicking accompaniment. Their bests were their rousing east coast classics and they delivered many throughout the night including “Excursion Around the Bay”, “Farewell to Nova Scotia” and Stan Rogers' “Barrett's Privateers”, the last of which had the audience thumping their table tops in time.
Though Crooked Wood members are all from the local area and do not define themselves primarily as an east coast band, they do admit to loving Celtic music, which has its roots in Newfoundland. “We're basically a folk band with a Celtic sound but that being said we know a lot of east coast tunes and thought it appropriate that we lean that way tonight,” Chris said.
The Whites were thrilled to present the trio to this very enthusiastic crowd. “We've been wanting to do this for a while now. It's fun for us to revisit our roots this way and it's great to see so many people in this community enjoying it as well.” Anyone who missed the show can visit ww.crookedwood.ca.
