Robert Cherry knows how you feel. According to his biography, he enjoys drinking in “endearing shitholes,” and he “lives in Cleveland, Ohio, by the shores of Great Lake Erie, under heavy cloud cover.” See? You already have something in common. Cherry copes with the help of an extraordinary support system: For this show, a CD-release party for his latest disc, The New Forever, his backing band will comprise three quarters of Toronto mood rockers Leviride (who will also perform their own set), Lovekill bassist Carla Cherry, and keyboardist/collaborator Kenneth Leonard. Aside from the breezy “Time to Stop,” Cherry’s tunes are delicate and downbeat — but it’s music that makes you feel better. Even if you’re under heavy cloud cover.

This article appears in Aug 31 – Sep 6, 2005.