Jeff Martin - Stories & Spirit from a One Man Wall of Sound

jaybroderick
1 day ago
4 min read

By: Jay Broderick

Oshawa, Ontario - Oshawa’s Biltmore Theatre is arguably the city’s premier room for live music, yet it felt more like an intimate gathering of old friends than a formal concert on December 18th. With no opening act and no theatrics beyond a few pedals and a single acoustic guitar, Jeff Martin, the frontman of one of Canada's most loved rock bands, walked onstage alone, greeted the crowd with that unmistakable baritone, and immediately set the tone: “I’ve been travelling in a petri dish… let’s hope the voice holds up.”

Jeff Martin

Martin opened with Daniel Lanois’ "Still Water", easing the room into a hush before rolling seamlessly into The Tea Party’s "The Maker". The eruption that followed made it clear, this crowd was immediately engaged, and ready for a kickass night of killer music.

Between songs, Martin chatted casually about the 90s, the explosion of Canadian talent, and The Tea Party’s global influences. That led him to Istanbul and a jaw‑dropping solo rendition of "The Bazaar". Somehow, with only an acoustic guitar, he summoned the full weight of the original recording. The roar afterward shook the room.

The night took a more emotional turn as Martin spoke about living in Australia where he now resides, and the recent tragedy on Bondi Beach. He reflected on the fragility of peace, even in countries like Australia and Canada, who are known the world being among the safest places to live. He shared that his wife’s friend had been on the beach during the shooting. “Scary shit,” he said plainly, before shifting into something more spiritual... reflections on grief, on loved ones lost, on the belief that this life isn’t the end. He wants this to be a joyous evening but explains that it simply wouldn't be a Jeff Martin show if there wasn't some heavy emotion. "After this one, I promise, no more sad songs", at which point he plays The Tea Party track "Requiem", woven with a haunting verse from Nine Inch Nails’ "Hurt". It was raw, and vulnerable, yet beautiful.

Jeff Martin performs live at Biltmore Theatre. Photo By: Jay Broderick

Unfortunately, his promise of “no more sad songs" was immediately broken with Peter Gabriel’s "Don’t Give Up", inspired by his appearance on Australia’s Rock Wiz.

Martin’s storytelling was constant and effortless. He spoke about Tea Party drummer Jeff Burrows, and their lifelong friendship and him getting sick in BC, which eventually made its way through everybody else on their recent tour. He asked for a whiskey from the bar, took a sip, grimaced, and launched into Keane’s "Somewhere Only We Know".

From there, the set flowed: "The Messenger", prompting a joyful scream from a female fan, a bluesy "In My Time of Dying/Black Snake Blues" medley complete with crowd‑clapped rhythm, and a thunderous, backing‑track‑powered "When the Levee Breaks" by by Led Zeppelin.

After a brief intermission Martin returned to the stage and tested the crowd’s enthusiasm “SO FAR SO GOOD?”, before tearing into "Coming Home". He had the audience clapping along, throwing in a line or 2 from the Doors' "LA Woman", slipping in a “In an Oshawa bungalow…”

Jeff Martin performs live in Oshawa. Photo By: Jay Broderick

Then came one of the night’s best stories: his 1996 encounter with Jimmy Page after opening for Page and Plant in Montreal. The standing ovation. The phone number. The invitation to stay over. “I tucked him into bed—seriously,” Martin said, grinning. “So even though you can’t play this in the music store, I tucked him into bed… I can do whatever the fuck I want.” And with that, he played "Stairway to Heaven". At the crescendo, he pivoted into a burst of Hendrix’s "All Along the Watchtower", then back into the peak of Stairway. The room lost its mind.

Martin spoke about The Tea Party’s hiatus from 2005–2011, his disillusionment with the industry, and his move to a 350‑year‑old stone house in Ireland. Nearby existed a stone circle. Not as grand as Stone Henge, but a stone circle nonetheless. And within that stone circle, "The Kingdom" came to him. He dedicated the song to his Canadian family, slipped briefly into John Lennon’s "Imagine", then cued the crowd for a soaring “woah‑oh‑oh” refrain. The audience delivered. “Thank you very much—that was beautiful,” he said, genuinely moved.

“I don’t have time for the encore bullshit,” Martin announced. “You want one more?” The crowd roared. He closed with "The Halcyon Days" and "Sister Awake", backed by another thunderous track. The energy was electric right to the final note.

Before leaving, he thanked the crowd and teased what everyone wanted to hear: if the rumours are true, The Tea Party will return in summer 2026. “This has been a very lovely evening.”

For a performer standing alone onstage, Martin never once looked exposed. His voice was rich, powerful, and commanding. It filled every corner of the Biltmore. His guitar work, even without a band, was full, percussive, and impossibly textured. And his banter? Effortless. Warm. Often hilarious.

It was a night of stories, spirit, grief, laughter, and songs that spanned decades and continents. A night where one man with an acoustic guitar sounded like an entire world. Even the voice help up! And then some!!

Concert Photo Gallery (all photos by Jay Broderick)