Thursday, October 24, 2013
After filling up on burgers at Ace Burger and ice cream at Dee Dee’s, we spent Thursday night at The Marquee Ballroom for some Toronto and East Coast favourites. Earlier in the evening we also had the chance to see some of Louise Burns’ stripped down solo set in the CKDU lobby at Dalhousie University. Besides being impressed with the simple power possessed within her voice, we also appreciated the chance to check out a bit of the school campus.
PUP (9:30PM)
It was Toronto pop-punk band PUP’s first time in Halifax and right from the get-go they were amped to fill the still half-empty venue with their feisty spunk. An opening band’s worst nightmare quickly occurred however as they blew power on just their second song. Left at the hands of the stage crew, Stefan Babcock (vocals, guitar) and Steve Sladkowski (guitar, vocals) filled the dead air with self-deprecating jokes and those poking fun of Moncton. Dubbed “the comedy portion” of their set, they took what could have been a disastrous situation and turned it around as their personalities won over the crowd. Power soon restored, they came back louder than ever – older songs like “Back Against the Wall” had new life injected into them. Newer songs like the maniacally ferocious “Yukon” and set closer “Reservoir” truly released their pent-up aggression and unrelenting force.
Just finished touring across the country with Hollerado and The Zolas, the band has been making waves and creating a stir at every stop along the way. They proved they deserve every ounce of the buzz and hype.
The Mouthbreathers (10:30PM)
It was a bit of an out-of-body experience seeing Sackville’s The Mouthbreathers for the first time as we were not prepared for the level of insanity that ensued immediately after they took the stage. I’m pretty sure all of Sackville had made the trek out to see this obviously much-adored band as literally everyone in attendance knew every single word to every single song and weren’t afraid to sing right along with vocalist Lucy Niles or catapult themselves from every single part of the stage available to them. The band themselves rose to the occasion to ensure that everyone enjoyed their unadorned grungy pop-rock set filled with scrappy quick-hitters and sharp-tongued lyrics.
If you haven’t checked out The Mouthbreathers yet, both of their albums are up for download on Bandcamp on a pay-what-you-want basis.
Cousins (11:30PM)
The energy of the crowd carried over for the local two piece Cousins and it was well deserved. There is something to be said about the amount of noise that a mere two people on stage are capable of making. The powerful garage-rock duo of Leigh Dotey (drums) and Aaron Mangle (guitar) let loose a banger of a set filled with one dynamic and explosive track after another. The two are a well-oiled machine and their energy provided the audience with a excuse to never stop head-banging the length of their set.
Fucked Up (12:30AM)
Toronto’s Fucked Up are known for their antics and tonight was no different. CBC’s Vish Khanna introduced the headlining band members name by name with the issuance that “no one else could make up Fucked Up.” With that, the boys of PUP took the stage and began playing “Queen of Hearts,” not even a smirk crossing their faces to give them away. A look of confused dismay overtook the packed crowd, many of whom hadn’t seen the showcase openers and therefore weren’t in on the joke. Luckily frontman Damian Abraham soon joined them on stage before the remaining actual band members came out at the song’s end to take over. It was one of those one-chance-only moments that we’re so glad to have caught! (PS – Noiseography managed to get it all on video, if you weren’t there to witness).
As for the rest of Fucked Up’s set, it was everything a Fucked Up set is supposed to be. Still running on the adrenaline high from their earlier set at The Pavilion, the formidable and relentless punk rockers didn’t show any signs of slowing down. There is something about the energy that emanates from Abraham while he yells and banters with the crowd that fuels you and makes you feel alive. Much of the crowd had likely followed them here for a second dose and they too were more than willing to create some mayhem in the pit, constantly crowdsurfing and taking over on vocals on more than one occasion.
Oh, and for their encore? The band tossed full (still piping hot!) pizza boxes out to members of the audience to chow down on during their last song. Because they do what they want. | CD
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