B-Side Guys

Moving from behind the drum kit to center stage, Hamilton’s Mike Leon delivers unflinching portrait of middle-age compromise on “Living Large,” a track that transforms everyday disappointment into affecting folk narrative. Following his SiriusXM North Americana success with “Hey Boy,” Leon proves equally skilled at rhythm and brutal honesty.

The production creates perfect environment for examining life’s adjusted expectations. When Leon confesses to living “somewhere between the boy I was and the man I’ve been searching to make something of me,” the arrangement supports this sense of suspension between past dreams and present reality.

Through careful accumulation of detail, the track builds compelling portrait of contemporary struggles. Lines about trying to “raise a family” while “cost of living’s getting crazy” land with particular impact, grounding abstract notions of aging and compromise in concrete economic reality.

The arrangement demonstrates Leon’s deep understanding of folk traditions, likely gained through years touring Canada alongside artists like Rose Cousins and Elliot Brood. This experience informs his approach to storytelling, allowing space for both personal confession and universal observation.

Particularly effective is how the track handles its central question of authenticity. The narrator’s wondering “who am I to say to reach for your dreams” carries extra weight coming from someone who’s made the journey from supporting player to frontman, supported by production that emphasizes clarity over artifice.

The lyrics create perfect balance between specific detail and broader themes. References to “doing work you love for a decent cheque” in days where everything seems “harder than it seems” transform personal observation into generational portrait, capturing how economic realities reshape artistic ambitions.

Through its exploration of being “sick and tired of growing old / of falling short / of losing touch,” the track creates something both intimate and universal. Leon’s ability to maintain hope while acknowledging harsh realities – “sure I’ll be alright / but dreams are lost” – demonstrates sophisticated understanding of how to handle complex emotions.

“Living Large” succeeds in capturing the particular challenges of maintaining artistic dreams in an increasingly expensive world. Through careful attention to both musical craft and emotional honesty, Mike Leon proves that sometimes the most affecting stories come from accepting rather than denying life’s compromises.