Date of show: March 2, 2012
Written by: Chiara DiAngelo
If you haven’t seen Teenage Kicks recently, you haven’t seen Teenage Kicks. Having added in a fifth member to the line-up last summer, Pete van Helvoort (vocals, guitar), Jeff van Helvoort (bass, vocals), Christian Turner (guitar), Patrick Marchent (guitar), and Cameron Brunt (drums), released Be On My Side in what will go down in (at least Toronto) history as one of the most impassioned EP release shows Of All Time.
There was a sense of impatient anticipation from the crowd as Teenage Kicks readied themselves to take the stage. With the lights out and the stage dark, the band assembled and were rocking the opening riffs of “I Get What You Give” by the time the stage lights came on. From this moment forward, they had the venue in the palm of their hands – and singing their songs the entire way through.
While they have a harder punk rock sound, with Pete’s gravelly voice, shredding guitar, and pounding drums, there is a certain melodic charm to their songs, thanks in part to Jeff’s harmonic vocals, which was especially evident in second song “Middle of the Night.”
Third song of the set “And Everybody Knows It” had Pete drop his guitar in favour of devoting all attention to the microphone, and it was immediately evident that he has come into his own. Having always been one of the most aggressively dynamic front-men, his intense swagger has now truly transcended to a completely different realm. Holding nothing back, “Setting Son” had him flip the mic stand upside down and bellow “say you want me” into it with the base pressed up against the ceiling.
Never have I experienced such unparalleled passion from both band and audience. Whether it was the crowd feeding off Teenage Kicks’ fervent energy, the band increasing in intensity in response to the crowd’s vigor, or a synergistic combination of the two, the amplitude of the night built and built, never wavering, as the set progressed. The audience wasn’t an audience, they were just as much a part of the performance as those on stage, which culminated in one sea of fists screaming in one voice “I will destroy you” during “Lose Your Head.”
Things continued to get even crazier during “Indian Summer,” which saw Shehzaad Jiwani of Greys fist pumping from a friend’s shoulders and the fans rammed at the front of the stage ready to storm it. “Hearts of Darkness” had the entire crowd singing; “Shook Our Bones” brought Pete down into the heart of the crowd, and his limbs sprawled across the floor of the stage when he finally crawled back up. They finished off with roaring anthem “Brooklyn Bridge,” which came to a close with Turner flying high, arms out-stretched upon Pete’s shoulders.
If that wasn’t enough, the band responded to demands and came back for a screaming cover of the Beatles’ “Helter Skelter,” which left the mic stand smashed, Pete pounding away with Brunt on drums and the crowd up in arms – some literally. Epic, to put it mildly.
With two brand new songs, one of which – “Don’t Lie To Me,” dedicated to “2012: The Year of No Bullshit” – was just debuted the night prior, and a multitude of shows scheduled, including opening gigs for some bands you may have heard of (Treble Charger, Kaiser Chiefs), there’s nothing stopping Teenage Kicks from becoming a household name across the country – and everybody knows it.
Featuring two sets of brothers, San Sebastian is Mike Veerman (vocals), Greg Veerman (bass), Brodie Dawson (guitar), Sean Dawson (guitar), and Ted Paterson (drums). Having previously seen them at an all-ages show packed with high school girls, I was interested to see how they would be received at this show. Turns out they were a perfect lead in to Teenage Kicks. Having brought a sizeable crowd with them from their hometown of Hamilton, they managed to transform the Horseshoe into an all-out dance party by the time they got to second song “Say I’m Alright” (for which they just released a video).
While their songs are super poppy, there is still some grit to them, especially with the wailing guitars supplied by the brothers Dawson. Add in the charismatic spectacle of the ever-rocking singer Veerman and this lifts them out of the realm of “just another pop group” and secures them a spot in the big leagues as a legitimate rock-pop band. And judging from the number of guys getting down on the dance floor, it’s not just girls that are into it.
In addition to crowd favourites “Wake Up” and “Young Youth,” their set included three brand new tracks; all of which maintain the same intensity and driving vocals of Relations (2011), proving that this band isn’t losing any steam as they forge ahead – as Veerman sang “I can’t slow down, I want more.” Pulling Daddy Vermeen (who was celebrating a birthday!) up to the stage to help belt out the last chorus of the infectious, never-going-to-grow-up single “Baby” was an absolute perfect end to their non-stop sweat-fest of a set.
Comprised of Mattie Leon (bass, vocals), Adam Montgomery (guitar, vocals), Andrew Slomka (rhythm guitar), and Mike Leon (drums), The Sweet Mack were the second act of the night, bringing quite the group of friends who were ready to party with them.
They have a relaxed yet lively stage show, with Montgomery’s expressive facial contortions perhaps best conveying the passion they, as a collective, have for being on stage. Offering up catchy sing-along melodies and syrupy sweet vocal harmonies – with a rocking edge – they sure knew how to get the crowd dancing, especially with the funky elements and “oooooh baby’s” of “Over Achiever,” the infectious “oh-oh-oh’s” of “Landslide” and the jangly Hawaiian-esque “Ivory Coast.”
Despite (or maybe because of…?) their pretty hair and melodic pop songs, The Sweet Mack has quite the effect on their male audience. “Gloria” prompted one to rip off his shirt; and while “Ladycat” was introduced by the band as the “song to throw a first around to,” it was actually a boy’s flannel shirt that got thrown – smacking Mattie in the face.
New song “Zoe” off their forthcoming 7” has summer soundtrack written all over it and swept me away from the Horseshoe to lustful thoughts of patios, humid nights and pints of strawberry blonde beer. Looking forward to the release party boys!
What do you get when you cross two indie kids – Jesse Crowe (guitar, vocals) and Josh Korody (guitar, vocals) – and back them with a heavier rock bassist (Pat McCormack) and drummer (Noel Webb)? The answer is Beliefs.
Opening the night with their unique version of shoegaze, the marriage of swirly psychedelic effects and distorted dreamy vocals of Crowe and Korody with the passionate intensity of McCormack, and Webb’s pounding drums make for an interesting contrast that really draws you in.
With a self-produced two-song EP now available and a full-length release set for later this year, Beliefs is a band you want to keep on your radar – and experience live.
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