Minto @ Rancho Relaxo
By: Andrew Horan
Posted: March 15, 2010 – Toronto, Canada
When Minto frontman Ryan Hoben announced, "I love this town!" it was somewhat surprising given that the Vancouver country-rockers had their van stolen the last time they visited Toronto.
Thankfully, he announced that it had been returned. "Thank you for fucking us and thank you for giving [our van] back," Hoben said, endearing himself, in a backhanded way, to the sizable crowd gathered at Rancho Relaxo.
Hoben, who bears an uncanny resemblance to John Goodman in The Big Lebowski, was probably the most entertaining thing about the band's set. Not to slight his bandmates, whose four-part harmonies were impeccable, but Hoben almost seemed to be preaching to the audience at times.
After they played their first rootsy number, Hoben declared the venue to be "the sex cavern right now. It's nice and sweaty."
As for the music, any band that can incorporate a mandolin into a song that makes you want to dance gets an automatic pass. One of the tunes had a bit more of a heavy classic rock feel but for the most part they stuck to a party-friendly roots rock sound.
There was even an innovative contest when Hoben offered a free album to the person who could guess which two members of the band were "assholes". And when they were told they had five minutes left, someone in the band jokingly suggested playing "Freebird" for the finale. When bassist Johnny Stewart started babbling drummer Jimi Cuel's praises, Hoben cut him off.
"C'mon! We got a show to play here!" he exclaimed before launching into their last two songs. What followed felt like a long five minutes, but they put on such a fun show that no one seemed to notice.
Video: "Burnt Down Trainbridge Blues (Lawyers)" by Minto
