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Sound Opinion Reviews Downsview Park: 07/01/07 Pat the White Band I had never heard of them before, but after hearing their set I was convinced that these guys must have been around for a while. I found out later that Pat and his group have played many major festivals in Canada. Their experience showed in their set, to be sure. I was surprised to hear another blues band at the festival, but Pat the White Band was a very different kind of blues, Pat the White Band were more like the Allman Brothers. Pat’s voice was perfectly fitting during the portions of the songs that required his traditionally influenced blues-rock vocals. The whole band sounded like touring veterans when the songs delved into jam territory. Pat’s guitar solos during the jams were impressive and extended, but never self-indulgent or too lengthy. Another factor that made Pat the White Band’s set so strong was that the solos, and the returns to the structured parts of the songs, were never jarring; every passage in the set flowed naturally into the next one. If the performance was missing anything, it was a little more variety in tempos and tones between the different songs. There was, though, a great deal of variety between the different passages within the songs. At the end of the day (literally and figuratively), Pat Leblanc and his group gave the afternoon’s overall strongest set.

They may be a blues band, but we definitely weren't sad we checked out Pat the White Band. Hailing from Quebec, lead singer Pat the White (also known as Patrick Leblanc) belts out his tunes in an almost southern drawl instead of the thick francophone accent he speaks in. Their sound is multi-layered guitar-driven blues with spectacular harmonies that almost overwhelm the senses. They weren't heavy on the lyrics last night, instead leaning towards impressive long, complex guitar solos that left the crowd screaming. Songs like "Nothing Else To Do" had people dancing on the patio and passers-by pressing their faces up against the window to see what all the commotion was about. It was definitely a good time had by all. –AMANDA BUCKIEWICZ

Bottom Line: Reviver is a great name for a collection of Pat The White’s music; unlike many new bands, they don’t just take part in the classic rock revival by playing rock songs that sound old. Pat The White Band also play in the inspired style of legendary classic rock and blues jam bands. Pat The White Band’s passion, enthusiasm, and knowledge of the material are proof that the style of music is alive and well in them, and doesn’t need any reviving. For a complete review please visit: http://www.soundopinionmusicreviews.com/patthewhitereviver.htm

Pat the White By Eric Thom Out of the wilds of Carleton, in the Gaspesie region of Québec, comes a blazing new talent who fuses blues to rock in that progressive fashion that has long been a part of French tradition. Pat the White (a decidedly Anglo translation of main man Patrick LeBlanc’s name) takes care of all vocals and guitars and wields his weapon like a young Frank Zappa: aggressively and with pinpoint accuracy. Fellow players include Christian LeBlanc on B3, Big Ben on electric bass and Nikolas Lalonde on drums. Cameos on this first release include the underexposed Nanette Workman (on one of the disc’s best track, “Feels Like Mississippi”), Kim Richardson (on the sensational “Soul of a Dead Man”). Stylistically, these guys are all over the map — feeling their way towards a style they can call their own. But the good news is they cover a lot of territory (including covers of Pete Anderson, Tom Waits and Muddy Waters) and can choose their path with confidence. Live, they positively smoke — recently blowing the dust off Healey’s rafters during the Blues Summit in a blinding exhibition of raw power and seasoned chemistry. Guest Guy Belanger’s harmonica reinvents “Cross-eyed Cat” while Jody Golick’s guest sax on the blistering instrumental “Risk” clearly demonstrates that these young mavericks can own whatever turf they claim as theirs if they so choose. (Bros)

Pat the White is a blues rock group that would seem more at home in the deep south than their native Quebec. Nonetheless, the band, lead by prolific guitarist Patrick Leblanc, has received critical acclaim at home and abroad for their album Reviver. The band might be one of the few with enough chops to make a solid cover of the Allman Brother’s classic “Whipping Post.” If you don’t have 14 minutes to spare you should check out their track “A Good Fool is Hard to Find” instead”.