Maybe Smith: On Tour

WHO: Maybe Smith
WHERE: Amigo’s
WHEN: June 8/07

Colin Skrapek’s (aka. Maybe Smith) magnetic stage presence is undeniable. While checking out the crowd I heard at least two clusters of girls turn to each other and go “I love him” with shiny wet doe eyes.

Skrapek has that lead singer quality, the charisma. The stage magnet. His voice raises all sorts of comparisons to all sorts of credible singers, yet he is unique. He conducts the band along with him, sometimes you could feel his energy literally driving them along, steering them through the music and pushing them harder. He puts his all into the performance, at one point banging two mallets on a drum, singing and sweating so hard it was literally flying off his face.

And then in Peter Parker fashion, Skrapek comes off the stage and puts his glasses on. He’s soft spoken and extremely nice.

CBC Radio 3’s Grant Lawrence recently hosted a podcast called “Saskatoon Secret,” in which they unveiled Maybe Smith as the next big thing, an unsigned treasure soon to break it big. Whether or not that happens might depend on who Skrapek finds to steer through his songs. While the show had lots of energy, there is no denying Skrapek is the main attraction.

Maybe Smith and Carbon Dating Service will tour across Canada from June until August, with a stop at O’Hanlons in Regina on June 29 and a possible Ness Creek appearance July 19. Maybe Smith also plays the Regina Folk Festival in August.

For a reference point to Maybe Smith, check out his myspace and listen to the song Open War. www.myspace.com/maybesmith. Clap along.