I don’t usually make it to Monday night shows, but there are exceptions — like when Toronto songstress Sarah Burton comes to town — especially when she has a band with her. 
She usually has a lot of competition on the same night , but not on Aug. 17 when she returned to the Owl Acoustic Lounge. She still didn’t have the audience she deserves, but the ones there were there for her. She had a hard core table of fans in front of the stage shouting and singing along, making requests and excitedly cheering after each song.
The first set focused on the laid, back, hypnotic piano pop stylings of her most recent CD “ Make Your Own Bed,” but she also played one of my favourites “Love To Love You baby,” in the first set.
She had a beautifully smooth, smoky, jazzy feel to her vocals.
Guitarist Alfred Chow added to the ambient atmosphere of the music, adding ethereal textures and the occasional subtle solo while using an octave pedal to replace the bass . Burton supplemented Scott Nickol’s drumming with synth drums and sound effects of her own. She added wave and beach sounds to her current single “ Ocean Town.” The title track “Make Your Own bed ” was another highlight.
She smiled blissfully, eyes covered by a floppy hat, as she told stories of past relationships and the stories behind the songs.
She packed away her piano for the second set as she took on her element — the guitar —for a more upbeat set of more alternative country and folk.
This let Alfred Chow shine more on guitar solos, which he enhanced with his octave pedal, giving his solos a more laid back, psychedelic Jimi Hendrix feel.
She opened up with a “Young Neil” Neil Young cover of “Like a Hurricane.”
She sang the more countryish songs in her sultry jazzy voice and told more stories of past relationships. she also took the opportunity to play a handful of new songs including the upbeat and heartfelt “ I Still.”
She let her band take a breather as she performed a couple of new songs on her own before bringing them back for a couple more including “I Don’t Love You anymore.”
