Words and photos by Nicholas Vallee-Tourangeau.
Neal Francis played The Axis Club on March 22 and showed exactly why he is considered one of the greatest live performances in the modern era of rock. Playing in front of a sold-out crowd, he and his band converted the room into a whirlpool of rhythm, soul, and psychedelic energies—half old and half new. From the first notes, Francis found his groove, his signature keyboard guiding the evening like a much-loved record playing live in the moment. The setlist spanned across his entire catalog, with Alameda Apartments and Can’t Stop the Rain, as particularly hypnotic highlights. Between songs, the chemistry between Francis and his band was effortless, bringing the music loose, with improvisational energy that won over the crowd from start to finish.
Toronto is now a tour stop staple for Francis, something he acknowledged gratefully in an interview before the performance: “We always have a great time in Toronto…We played Velvet Underground last time…It’s such a great room and it was sold out that time too and sold out again tonight,” he said. “Toronto has become a really great center of our fan base. I didn’t expect that to be the case, but I’m really grateful for it.”
The night ended with 150 More Times, a closing tribute to Return to Zero that left Axis Club in awe of a fantastically groovy night. Return To Zero tour has only started, but if you are at all able to go see Neal play live in a city near you it just won’t disappoint. If Francis keeps delivering nights like this, Toronto will be saving him a sold-out spot for years to come.
Aron Harris
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