Montreal’s Half Moon Run made a triumphant return to the city this weekend with a pair of sold-out shows at Algonquin Commons Theatre on Saturday and Sunday. As the final destination for their 2023 world tour, which kicked off in England over two months ago, the fact this was frontman Devon Portielje’s homecoming show clearly made up for any wear the road might have had on the band.
Algonquin Commons Theatre was filled with fans, family, and friends, so despite Portielje having never attended Algonquin (and admitting he attended Carleton “for a year and a quarter”), the atmosphere was akin to a reunion with familiar faces. He reinforced those vibes by dedicating “Heartbeat” to a pair of local friends that he lost this past summer and their loved ones at the show, as well as another dedication to his nephew sitting in the stands.
North Yorkshire’s Billie Marten opened the night, her debut show in Ottawa, with a solo set. A soft voice full of storytelling, Marten recalled times working in pubs in London while she grew as a songwriter.
Seeing Half Moon Run in a smaller venue—after headlining Bluesfest in 2021 and a packed TD Place show in 2020—added intimacy to their introspective songs, with the sold-out crowd hanging on every note. Their harmonies were just as perfectly blended, and with the support of their string quartet, it provided an ideal backdrop for their mix of heartfelt acoustic numbers, as well as their more upbeat songs.
Now a trio again, they all put the “multi” in multi-instrumentalists, with various instrument switches mid-song, often multiple times. Portielje alone played acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin, drum, cymbal, maracas, and at one point, even played piano with the head of his guitar.
Just as versatile, Conner Molander spent most of the show alternating acoustic and electric guitars (including grandiose solos in the spotlight), bass, keyboards, and a quick stint on the drums, plus some harmonica. Dylan Phillips mostly stayed behind the modified drum kit that included its own keyboard, but did pop out front to join his bandmates around the mic for an acoustic rendition of “Devil May Care.”
Having played most of their hits already, the band launched their encore with the help of opener Billie Marten for a spot-on rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” before closing the show with “Need It,” “Favourite Boy,” and the hit that launched it all, “Full Circle.”
If you were lucky enough to go, hopefully, you were ready to sing along and enjoy the energy of the sold-out crowd!
