Many admired Canadian songwriters have in the prime of their day ventured south of the world’s longest international border, where some of the best have flourished by helping Americans understand how music could and maybe should sound.

Fewer have entrenched themselves at the local level of this country’s most bustling and trend-setting artistic communities. But about a decade ago, that’s where Duff Thompson found himself: smack dab in the heart of New Orleans, surrounded by like-minded, energetic players with a shared appreciation for homemade recordings, vintage equipment and an age-old sound.

With three full studio albums in his catalogue, each released on his Mashed Potato Records label, the Ontario native’s established a rare tone that surely grips and can even haunt the discerning listener.

The exquisite longing in his lyrics, his slick guitar form and the far-off appeal of his own recordings set Thompson apart even from the group of musicians he blossomed alongside in the Big Easy — and with whom he continues to work closely today as a respected engineer.

The night of July 10, an intimate audience reveled in the chance to observe and hear Thompson at the coziest and most stylish old-fashioned venue in the nation’s capital: Pie Shop.

Duff’s out on tour as a co-bill with his longtime musical collaborator and fellow multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Steph Green. Green has released both her albums on their Mashed Potato Records label, including her latest, Lore. Thompson supported her in DC on electric guitar and with backing vocals. On keys was Kyle Taylor, Duff’s cousin.

“We’re a family band,” said Thompson, who’s out promoting his newest work, Shadow People II, released just last month as the second half of a two-part series.

But he began his set with “Feel What You Want,” a delightful and doting piece from Thompson’s December 2020 premiere, Haywire, which registered just before the pandemic and most certainly in its wake as an unforgettable DIY masterpiece.

Listen to Shadow People II by Duff Thompson via Spotify:

While the 10-track achievement is simply categorized by some as indie folk or indie rock, it boasts a wide range of influences: from ragtime to the blues, from soul to psychedelia. The album properly introduced Duff’s mesmerizing style and his attention to compositional detail, and it showcased a torn, desirous voice and his assortment of skills, as he handled not just the guitar, but organ, violin, and more.

At Pie Shop, Thompson presented songs from each of his records with an emphasis on Shadow People — released last October — and Shadow People II, which were both recorded in 2021 when he was in “purgatory,” stuck in Canada due to the pandemic.

In authentic fashion, he was joined in DC by the backing band he brought with him to Montreal to lay down the 19-song saga: Green, who played keys during his set, as well as Taylor on bass.

On the latest record, Thompson plays both rhythm and lead guitar, and last Wednesday at Pie Shop, he switched from electric to acoustic and back again. He used touch and subtlety, and his arrangements featured sparkling chords and tense, divergent riffs that bottomed out to enrich the moodiness of each track. And he oversaw percussion duties as well, pounding a pair of kick drums positioned at his feet and even adding a third instrument to his mix.

“Throw It Down II,” a forlorn meandering from Shadow People, was extraordinarily lonesome thanks to Thompson’s use of the harmonica. Hammering the drums to funky and hypnotic effect on “Girls” from Shadow People II, he led this luminous and fanciful march and it culminated with his stirring howl.

Attendees hollered at the stage from the dark of the small space, making their appreciation loud and clear. Beforehand, Thompson had kindly lingered with those on hand, even patiently listening as some fumbled over their words attempting to express how much his music has meant to them.

Watch Duff Thompson and his New Orleans friends perform his song “Crab Walk!” via YouTube:

During the set, Thompson moved from song to song but reciprocated his gratitude for the audience and the opportunity. As he went, he imparted a friendly sense of humor thought to be built-in to folks hailing from North America’s largest country.

“Is it fake to say the rock and roll is sort of flowing through you?” he asked at one point. He was absolutely feeling it, and the sweat poured off his brow, even getting in his eye.

Duff playfully expressed his displeasure with a particular shipping business, sharing the backstory to some challenges he and his crew faced in keeping vinyl in stock for this tour.

“Worst company ever,” he concluded.

But he acknowledged his relief to be out on tour and promoting new music following a few tricky years: “It’s nice to have the new album finally out.”

Music is vital to Thompson, who’s openly discussed his obsession with it as an art form. His way suggests that one can learn a lot about it and find imaginative inspiration in the multicultural Toronto region and in the nooks and crannies of downtown New Orleans.

Revisit Duff Thompson’s 2020 premiere, Haywire, via Spotify:

And while his songs are quickly becoming sacred to listeners far and wide, his impact is not limited to his own productions. A quick examination of the albums he’s helped bring to life in some way indicates Thompson isn’t just another resourceful creator, but a master of his craft and a visionary who is making a tremendous impact with a hand in some of the best independent music being invented today.

Though Duff has toured in a limited capacity so far on his solo endeavor and not all his followers might yet be aware of his accomplishments, he drew a pack of fans last week who stood in the muggy heat under impending storms, eagerly waiting for the Pie Shop to open its doors.

“Sometimes we don’t know what to expect when we come to a city we’ve never been to,” Duff told them. “You could’ve been doing anything on a rainy Wednesday, but you came here.”

Setlist

Feel What You Want
Throw It Down II
Girls
Just Like Me
Shapeshifter
Swoop My Way
Sleight Of Hand
Stranger
Put It On The Line

Below are images of Duff Thompson along with co-headliner Steph Green performing at Pie Shop on July 10, 2024. All images copyright and courtesy of Casey Ryan Vock.

Duff Thompson

Steph Green