The Abrams bring generations of Canadian country and bluegrass to Pinawa!
Review by: Brian Adolph
Photo Credits: Derrek Owen
Braving a bitterly cold winter night, the crowd at the January 23 performance of The Abrams witnessed the amazing energy that’s created when audience and artists truly connect.
John and James Abrams began performing together at the ages of 11 and 9, respectively, and at 15 and 12 became the youngest Canadian duo ever to perform at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. The brothers come from a musical family that has been performing for four generations, and their work ethic is undeniable. To paraphrase John Abrams: if a Canadian country performer isn’t playing the tiny towns across the country, they aren’t doing their job.
With Simon Lekasewichj on bass and Isaiah Gibbons on drums, the quartet ran through a program of original, traditional, and crowd-pleasing cover tunes. James Abrams dazzled with his fiddle virtuosity on Orange Blossom Special and The Devil Went Down to Georgia, and not to be outdone, John peppered the show with some amazing bluegrass picking. A standout moment was John’s moving tribute to the brothers’ grandmother, leading into a beautiful rendition of Vince Gill’s Go Rest High on That Mountain.
The Abrams were once known as The Abrams Brothers, changing the name of the act about ten years ago. With the name change came a shift in musical direction. Moving away from traditional bluegrass, The Abrams adopted the New Country sound evident in their popular original songs Good Old Days, Fine, and Homecoming. To the delight of the audience, the band also performed a great version of the New Country mainstay Knee Deep by the Zac Brown Band.
The Abrams, with their warm and genuine stage presence, remarkable musical talent, and support of charitable causes, are a Canadian treasure—and one can only hope for a fifth generation of this grand musical family.
EMCA's next concert, Dizzy and Fay, on Friday, February 13, promises to spice things up for Valentine's Day with a glamourous show of smooth jazz and wit. Get your tickets now at the Pinawa Solo or online here: Tickets - Dizzy & Fay
