McKinley Dixon’s Magic, Alive! Tour will revive you

Heading to the McKinley Dixon show on Monday, I was so tired. I mean, it was a Monday. Mondays are typically reserved for reconciling the weekend and doomscrolling. Despite the fatigue hanging on my body, I knew McKinley Dixon would be unmissable. So I stumbled to La Sala Rossa, somewhat revived from a Trip de Bouffe sandwich and my curiosity for the show ahead. Dixon is touring for his latest album, Magic, Alive!, which was released this past June. The album received much critical acclaim and cemented his identity as an incredibly thorough, versed artist and storyteller. 

To be honest, I had never heard of McKinley Dixon until Magic, Alive! caused enough buzz to appear in the CJLO Tapeworm picks, and therefore trickled down to my inbox, and then my earbuds. Dixon’s incredibly intelligent lyricism, paired with jazzy instrumentation, makes for an immersive and soulful listening experience. The sunny track titled “We’re Outside, Rejoice!” quickly became one of my July and August anthems. 

And so, walking into the venue, I was hoping for upbeat rejuvenation - for that, I didn’t even have to wait for the main act. Rita Yemeli was the opener for Dixon’s Montréal tour stop, and she certainly brought the energy. The Montréal-based artist sang tracks from her recent album Hemle; she had the crowd in their feels with ‘Affection’, and then had them dancing again for an extended version of ‘Kongossa’, an English/Spanish/French song that felt like the soundtrack of a Montréal summer. Needless to say, the energy was there for when McKinley Dixon appeared, starting strong with ‘Sugar Water’. On the stage, Dixon and his band — which solely consisted of a drummer and an electronic keyboardist – were in complete harmony. They all showcased extreme talent, immense focus, and a whole lot of stank faces, indicating the collective passion that makes McKinley Dixon an incredible artist and a magical live experience. There is no question that the highlight of the night was seeing how much the band loved to perform – and in turn, how excited the audience was to have this music shared with them. 

Even though I only came across McKinley Dixon this summer, by the time he reappeared for the encore to perform the beautiful and significant ‘Run, Run, Run’, I knew I was sure to be a long-time fan.