CMW, CMF: Daniel Lanois Offers Two Parts Rock, One Part Dubstep

There are a myriad of genres one can associate with legendary Canadian rocker Daniel Lanois -- rock, blues, ambient -- but the producer/songwriter can now officially add Jamaican dubstep to his sonic resume.

Fans on hand for last night's sold-out performance at Great Hall, where Lanois played as part of Canadian Music Week, were treated to more than a typical concert. Taking a cue from his 2010 Nuit Blanche installation, Lanois created an intimate environment by setting up the stage in the centre of the theatre, allowing the audience to surround him better. He also put up two projection screens and built a small hut to host his dubstep DJ set. What transpired definitely reflected more of an artistic showcase than a regular rock gig.

"This will be the ambient dubstep chapter of the evening," said Lanois, detailing a three-part event that began with the DJ set and was promptly followed by two rock sets, one solo and one with musicians Brian Blade and Jim Wilson.

So why Jamaican dubstep? Lanois revealed in his introduction that he will be moving to Jamaica soon, but he explained that it shouldn't come as a surprise, adding, "I've always been influenced by the music there."

Lanois' aim to curate a seamless night of music worked well, as he literally jumped out of the DJ hut into his proper blues-rock set, creating a flow between not only two distinct genres but two disparate parts of the evening.

His powerful set of classic tunes included "Marie Claire", "Fire" and 1989's "Still Water." He may have proven his skills in spinning ambient dubstep earlier on in the night, but it was his main set that really captured the singer-songwriter's legendary alt-rock sound.

Earlier this week, Lanois was inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame at the Canadian Music Week headquarters, the Fairmont Royal York Hotel. Lanois joked about the award, asking, "Why is it a hall of fame? Why not the boudoir or a gymnasium of fame?" He also expressed his appreciation for the honor.



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