Live music from a students perspective
In late 2025, I was surprised to get a request from a student’s father regarding an essay his son wanted to write about one of my shows. I’m really glad I responded, because I was able to get a copy of the essay.
Joshua, the student who reviewed our show, reminded me of the power of intimate live music settings and the connection one can foster from being up close and personal to the musicians. I hope you’ll take a minute to read his essay! Thanks Joshua, it was an honour to receive this and I’m glad you enjoyed the show so much.
Live Music at The Admiral: Exploring the Genre of the Blues
-An essay by Joshua M
This review will cover two live performances I attended during this fall term, exploring the musicians’ styles, songs performed, audience response, and the overall experience of live music in an intimate close setting. It also includes a backstory on the performers and the works they performed, such as who composed them, why they were written, and any historical significance based upon available information. In addition to this report, a personal reflection, and impression of what I heard into using course terminology and describing what made each piece unique and particularly how texture, dynamics, and improvisation shaped the performances.
There is nothing like attending a live music event. The anticipation before the musicians take the stage, the lighting, the energy in the room, and the audience’s reaction to the opening note all come together to create a special moment in time. In contrast to listening at home or on headphones, there is no rewind, fast forward, or pause. Live music is unpredictable, and that spontaneity is what makes the experience so engaging and memorable.
For this assignment, I chose to explore the blues from two perspectives. The first performance featured LJ Mounteney, whose blend of blues, jazz, and rhythm and blues highlighted her expressive vocal style. The second performance featured Arsen Shomakhov, a blues guitarist known for his skilled and energetic playing. Although both artists performed within the same genre, their approaches offered different experiences: one centred on voice, the other on guitar. This made for a meaningful comparison between two interpretations of blues performance. Both shows took place at The Admiral Pub and Grill in Burnaby, with Mounteney performing on October 1, 2025, and Shomakhov on October 22, 2025.
Before these concerts, I had never attended a live music event in a small venue. My experiences had always been in large arenas, concert halls, or symphony spaces, so I did not know what to expect from a more casual setting. After attending both performances, I was surprised by how personal and powerful the music felt. The close setting made the sound immediate and engaging, and it gave me a new appreciation for live performance as an experience that can only truly be felt in the moment.
LJ Mounteney & Her Band
Attending my first live event at The Admiral Pub and Grill, featuring LJ Mounteney, was a night that both radiated warmth and charm. The audience’s average age ranged from the early 40s to mid-60s, with the exception of myself as the youngest. Her band included a bassist, drummer, guitarist, saxophonist, and LJ on lead vocals. The sound in the room was full yet vibrant, supported by an ensemble of amazing musicians who backed up LJ’s dynamic voice.
The setlist included original songs like Mama Danced (LJ Mounteney, Jon Roper, and Lillooet Fox), the title track of her 2022 album. This soulful, rhythmic blues tune had the audience moving and swinging to the beat, while LJ’s vocals’ delivered a smooth sassy tone. Mama Danced is a tribute to her mother. The song’s arrangement featured a steady groove from the rhythm section, with melodic fills from the saxophone and guitar that added texture without overwhelming the vocals.
Another highlight was her cover of Wild Women, recorded by Ida Cox in 1924. Cox, a pioneering blues singer who used her music to challenge societal expectations of women in relationships, inspired this song (Wikipedia, 2025). The song celebrates female independence and freedom, rejecting the idea that women need to depend on men. LJ’s rendition captured this essence through her playful and expressive vocals, making the performance strong and engaging.
Coming from a musical family background, LJ’s mother played classical piano, and piano accordion, and her Hungarian grandfather was a talented self taught multi-instrumentalist. She grew up listening to her mother’s impressive album collection of Dolly Parton, Hank Williams, and rock legends Loggins & Messina, and blues icon Muddy Waters. Having trained in jazz voice at Vancouver Community College, which helped her develop a versatile and expressive singing style that later included blues, pop, and R&B, this versatility was well expressed during her set, which reflected how natural and dynamic her vocals were between her originals, and classic blue covers (Mounteney, 2025). What also stood out was her interaction with the audience in the room and on the dance floor. Her vocals moved effortlessly from soft to soulful intimate tones, making the performance feel personal and engaging as her energy remained vibrant and compelling throughout.
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- Joshua M