John K. Samson - Provincial Album Review
Tuesday, January 31 
What defines a Canadian? Is it the plethora of plaid shirts we have hanging in our closets? Our unconditional love for all things maple? Maybe it’s the fact that we’re just all around swell people? Whatever it may be, John K Samson has managed to capture it’s essence for over a decade now, distill it down into musical brilliance that transcends folk rock, and take the listener on a ride they won’t forget.
With Provincial, John K. Samson has taken his unique method of storytelling, perfected by years of headlining seminal Canadian band The Weakerthans, and crafted a fantastic debut solo album. If you’re familiar with his previous EP’s you’ll recognize a few returning songs alongside many more originals (and Taps Reversed a previously un-released song he recorded with his songstress wife Christine Fellows). It’s also an album that any Weakerthans fan needs to add to their collection. I would hate to simply dismiss simply it as a 5th Weakerthans record (like I did after the first listen through) but after experiencing Provincial a few times now it becomes obvious this is John’s album and not his bands. The recognizable storytelling is still there from the start as well as his distinctive vocals, but there seems to be an element of fun and whimsy carried throughout. It sounds like John is eager to get these stories out for no other reason then his desire to share. He’s taking the listener on a journey across Canada, from rural Manitoba, to decrepit houses, to cruise nights in small towns, to Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. Most importantly, over the course of the journey John maintains his ability to make you laugh one minute and break your heart the next. Musically you’ll find everything from the pop rock-ish ‘Cruise Night’ to the acoustic ‘Heart of the Continent’ which will certainly remind many listeners of the fantastic Weakerthans track ‘One Great City’
If you have enjoyed any previous experiences with John or The Weakerthans then this album deserves to sit on your shelf. And if you haven’t now is your chance to dive in head first and I envy that experience. As you travel long deserted highways and discover dirty dorm rooms with John just remember what you’re doing. Taking an audible trip across Canada with a man at the top of his form, an incredible storyteller who wants nothing more then for you to pack your bag and start traveling with him. Or you know, go see him in concert in the next couple months.
March 7—Kingston, ON—The Grad Club
March 8—Ottawa, ON—Mavericks Bar
March 9—Montreal, QC—La Sala Rossa
March 10—Boston, MA—Brighton Music Hall
March 11—Philadelphia, PA—Union Transfer
March 13—Washington, D.C.—Black Cat
March 14—Hoboken, NJ—Maxwell’s
March 15—New York, NY—Bowery Ballroom
March 16—Pittsburgh, PA—Club Cafe
March 17—Buffalo, NY—Mohawk
March 18—Hamilton, ON—The Casbah
March 20—London, ON—The Aeolian Hall
March 21—Guelph, ON—E-Bar
March 22—Toronto, ON—Great Hall
March 27—Winnipeg, MB—West End Cultural Centre
March 28—Regina, SK—The Exchange
March 29—Edmonton, AB—The Royal Alberta Museum Theater
March 31—Vancouver, BC—The Biltmore
April 1—Seattle, WA—Tractor Tavern
April 2—Portland, OR—Doug Fir
April 5—San Diego, CA—The Casbah
April 6—Los Angeles, CA—The Troubadour
April 7—San Francisco, CA—Bottom of the Hill
April 8—Santa Cruz, CA—The Atrium
April 11—Bellingham, WA—The Shakedown
April 12—Kamloops, BC—Hero’s Pub
April 13—Calgary, AB—The Palomino
April 14—Saskatoon, SK—Amigos Cantina
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