IDLES AT HISTORY IN TORONTO
This show was the first of two nights at Toronto’s newest 2,500 capacity music venue, HISTORY (created by the Six’s own Drake and Live Nation). IDLES had sold out its first night upon the tour announcement and night two was looking on its way to selling out as well. The UK's most promising, heartfelt, and energetic post punk band are currently on their most anticipated tour since the pandemic and the release of the two acclaimed additions to their discography CRAWLER and Ultra Mono.
The one and only opener of the night was Injury Reserve from Phoenix, Arizona. They are an electronic/hip-hop duo who mysteriously arrived on stage in full, cloudy smoke, and strobes. One tall single light resembling a lamppost flashed on stage along their beats, and rapper Ritchie with a T and DJ Parker Corey arrived on stage. Their sound can be defined by if you put HEALTH and a more chill JPEGMAFIA together, into an immersive listening experience. Ritchie strode around the stage, silhouette only seen while Parker was stationed at the DJ setup. Midway through their set, they noticed the crowd wasn't quite getting pumped up just yet. Ritchie asked for crowd support saying, "I know this is a punk show, but we're going to make this hip hop for a bit," and asked for crowd participation by getting them to bounce their arms to the beats. It lasted for maybe 30 seconds, but there were a few noticeable fans jumping sporadically. Toward the end of their set, the duo walked off stage and their music distorted. Chaotic beats continued to play with the lamppost flashing on beat and the clouds puffing away. Immersive, quite immersive. I had a visual in my mind of finding a rave in a New York City alleyway vibe. It was a unique and well thought out set up of their stage. Finishing their set, they played a song that finally used the stage lights, although quite strobing. They peaked my curiosity and I will dive into their work on Spotify.
Pulsating red lights started off IDLES’ set. Guitarist Mark “Bowie” Bowen wasn’t present as he’s currently on paternity leave - congrats Bowie! He was temporarily replaced by a lady named Tina for this leg of the tour. They opened with their classic, big build up song "Colossus" from their 2019 album Joy As An Act of Resistance. At the point in which the song pauses, then crashes down into punk chaos, Joe Talbot paused to instruct the audience to part in the middle and prepare for the "wall of death". Cups went flying, smiles were had, and shoes lost. To top off the insane energy of just the first song, guitarist Lee Kiernan jumped into the crowd with guitar at hand. It is always such an impactful opener. The next song was "Car Crash", which I think could someday replace “Colossus” as an opening song to their shows as it has a similar build up and release; but “Colossus” is still king for now.
Moving well between albums, they next played “Mr. Motivator” from Ultra Mono, a full-force high energy track, which also brought to my attention the upgrades to their lighting set up. It was awesome, very flashy. At a break, Joe took a moment to point out a fan who wore a Metz shirt. "That METZ shirt is fucking sick," he said. The band has had a relationship with the Toronto band for years. He also mentioned that he had the privilege of going to the Taylor Hawkins memorial show in London where, "…there are beautiful people with empathy all over the world. You are not alone.” He also went on to describe how he and his bandmates created this band to make themselves and others not feel alone. IDLES and Joe have always told their fans how grateful they are for everything that's happened for them, their band, and their personal recoveries. Also, he took a moment to mention Tina who was covering for Bowie, and the crowd cheered just for her.
As the setlist played along, bouncing super well between albums (mostly their last two), I noticed the guitars seemed a bit squashed and didn't punch in spots I had wished it had like in "War". The crowd never stopped their energy for one bit unless the music was off. It was so authentic and never instructed, truly showing the power this band is having over people. I was surprised they played their 30 second interlude “Wizz”. During “I’m Scum”, Joe did at one time instruct everyone to go down, squatting in anticipation to jump for one of the last choruses, which then threw crowd surfing Lee in the air! Chris the bassist of Toronto's own Metz joined on stage to play in place of bassist Adam who joined the surf. They soon started chanting, “Fuck the Queen!” and little did they know what was going to happen the next day on Sept. 8th; the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Joe took another moment to thank the team, the band, and the fans saying, "It’s a very unique feeling to travel around the world and feel at home. We started from the bottom now we're here,” (a nod to Toronto’s Drake). He teased the song “Danny Nedelko” by saying, "Be grateful for immigrants that built your fucking country." During the song he swapped lyrics saying, "My blood brother is Canadian," which was met with cheers. After “Danny”, Joe sang the chorus of “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” Super random and a couple months off, but no one cared! Joe was very attentive to the crowd. "Someone lost a shoe," he said pointing. The lights flashed as he began to chant, “GET THAT SHOE!” IDLES ended with their anti-fascist track “Rottweiler”, which was super extended with wild strobing to put anyone in a trance. They had no encore as many rock bands have not done as of late, but the crowd tried.
This band is one of the most important in the influence of current alternative culture, which is influencing some mainstream artists who are trying to be “edgy” but simply cannot pull off the authenticity of a band like IDLES. People ask the question, what makes a band authentic? To that I say one answer could be the uncontrollable need to dance or sing your music. If you’re in a band and you have to beg your crowd to cheer, dance, or mosh, your music might be a bit shit. I did end up going to both shows. Being the observer and the mosher, they are above and beyond on both sides. The big upgrades to lighting were a cherry on the top of the experience of IDLES from a person who would stand in the back, but as a mosher, it was bananas. I have bruises on both my elbows, but it was super worth it. The crowd had quite the stamina and I was just so lost in yelling along, bumping with a bunch of people and a couple friends. Top tier stuff if you’re a punk or want to get into harder rock. “Hard rock for softies” as the band brands themselves. Cheers!