Originally Published: 2004-05-16

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LISA PATTERSON: This eclectic local singer/songwriter premiered material from her superb new CD, Roam, at the ROM recently. Given the world music elements in her eclectic sound, that was a good venue choice. Patterson has a strong, pure voice and pleasing stage presence, and played fluent piano and saxophone too. The able accompaniment of three other players added depth. Roam will be officially released in the fall.

BRIAN AUGER: This British jazz-rock legend had a successful four night stint at The Orbit Room recently. The night On The Beat attended found the room packed with a crowd ranging from those old enough to remember his 60s hits through to young hipsters now discovering his classic style. His prowess on the rich-sounding B3 organ is the cornerstone to Auger's sound. The vocals of his daughter SAVANNAH were competent, but lacked the sizzle of original singer JULIE DRISCOLL. The rhythm section was a little pedestrian, and it's a pity Auger didn't select more adventurous sidemen. His two sets featured fusion originals and covers of the likes of EDDIE HARRIS and WES MONTGOMERY and DONOVAN ("Season Of The Witch").

NEW RELEASES: Australian rockers POWDERFINGER are often compared to groups like THE TRAGICALLY HIP and STEREOPHONICS in that they're huge in their homeland and unfairly ignored elsewhere. Their fans here will be pleased with their fine new Universal CD, Vulture Street. They're more talented than fellow Oz rockers JET and THE VINES, and deserve to be more popular. On the country side of the fence, the legendary LORETTA LYNN returns to the spotlight with a brilliant new album, Van Lear Rose. The coal miner's daughter wrote all the songs, and the disc was produced by JACK WHITE. That's right, of THE WHITE STRIPES. That'll give Lynn fresh exposure to a younger crowd. Unlike all the garbage coming out of Nashville now, this is the real thing.

UPCOMING: American emo favourites DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL check into Arrow Hall in Mississauga on May 15 (an early show). Local roots music heroes COWBOY JUNKIES have been missing in action for a while, but are back with a new CD and a gig at Revival on May 27. Goofy punk veterans THE DICKIES rock out at Kathedral on May 16, and local heroes the RHEOSTATICS play Lee's Palace on May 14. They recently signed a record deal with True North, and are scheduled to deliver a new album in the fall. The excellent WAYNE OMAHA open.

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