Tom Lynch

Canada’s great Great Lake Swimmers offered their latest, "Ongiara," in March, on Nettwerk Records, and it’s what to be expected—the soft folk-rock matched with an indie-rock sensibility, comparable to, of course, Red House Painters or Iron & Wine, is heart-throbbing and melancholy, less wintry than one would expect, more of a soundtrack to a lonely late, late summer night. The band’s best record is still its first, the self-titled mood-shifter that opens with crickets and proceeds into "Moving Pictures, Silent Films," a gorgeous, acoustic-guitar-based ballad that breathes and broods slowly, and an introduction to leader Tony Dekker’s smoked-out voice. Live, most importantly, the band translates well, with multiple guitars and banjo, brush-drumming the night away. At least I think so: the one time I’ve seen them was terrible, the Saturday night Subterranean crowd far too loud for the group’s hushed hymns to be heard at all. Tonight should be rewarding, I would think, as the Schubas room is a much better fit.

Great Lake Swimmers play June 30 at Schubas, 3159 North Southport, (773)525-2508, at 10pm. $10. (2007-06-26)

Also by Tom Lynch

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