KNOCKED LOOSE AT HISTORY IN TORONTO
Once this tour was announced back in the winter, I knew this was going to be one of the most stacked and hyped tours of the year; worthy of calling it a quadruple headliner show because of the sheer talent and hype of all four of these bands. The build up to Toronto’s stop on the tour was building with all the videos online coming out of giant walls of death, crowd surfers hoarding the barricades, and nonstop moshing. Finally on concert day, fans were eagerly lined up around the block by doors time.
First up on the bill was Australian hardcore punk band Speed. Before Speed’s arrival on stage, the patrons almost sounded like they were initially booing but they were actually chanting “Speeeeeeed!” The Aussie act arrived on stage all in merch of Flatspot Records, repping their North American connection proudly. Once in action, the pent up energy burst in a decently sized pit of moshers and two steppers. After the first few songs, the masculine fueled band took a moment to talk and show their soft and excited side, sharing that when they started to go to HC shows over 20 years ago, they felt so welcomed and it’s a place to “find your people and love them with all your heart.” They also gave shoutouts to Toronto bands Friction and Mil-Spec. Lastly they played their new and viral single “The First Test” which was met with cheers at its iconic flute sections. The song still carried on on its own as a hardcore anthem.
If I were to choose a band of the night who may have been a little breather in this high energy line up, it would be Loathe. Second to play was Liverpool’s own who posed a scene on stage with incense and a Palestinian keffiyeh on the synth board. Bathed in spooky red light, they started with their heavier metal infused songs and then later moved onto their 90s post-punk shoegaze tracks, showing incredible versatility. Lead singer Kadeem France asked for phone flashlights from the crowd only for their most popular synth rock ballad “Is It Really You?”
The haunting atmosphere continued into Show Me The Body’s set as they started in the pitch dark with their synth track “Out Of Place”. Lead singer Julian passionately yelled the politically charged lyric “traded my right to kill / just to live and call this place my state” while the Palestinian flag was hung on a speaker. The lights brightly arrived and they played high energy tracks from their most recent record Trouble The Water and a mix of their two earlier albums. “Metallic Taste”, although a toned down song with a reggae beat and twangs from Julian’s electric banjo, still had the crowd maintaining and gaining more energy. Julian did talk a bit but it was a little incoherent saying “Yeah, yeah, go fuck yourself … know what I mean” and ending with “If you fuck with Isreal, we’ll fight you outside.” before stage diving into the crowd during “Not for Love”.
The curtain was drawn over the view of the stage for Knocked Loose’s epic stage setup depicting a glowing, guiding cross in a mossy forest like their album cover You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To. Opening with their first single of the album “Blinding Faith”, the curtain slipped at the beat drop and strobing lights blasted the room, and absolute hardcore chaos ensued. Crowd surfers kept security beyond busy at the barricade, even keeping us photographers to the sides of the photo pit for safety and convenience after two songs. The singles of the new album like “Suffocate” and “Don’t Reach For Me” were received better than some other tracks, but also a lot of older songs gained the most movement from the crowd. Before every song, lead singer Bryan Garris would command the crowd to move in this or that way, which felt like a possible indication that he wasn’t as impressed with the polite Canadian crowds or that this is what he always does to keep the energy up. I guess some motivation may be needed after 3 high energy hardcore acts. The Upon Loss singles are also some of the band’s best work, and were perfect songs to round the night out with “Everything Is Quiet Now”’s wall of death becoming a tradition.
This tour has been a highlight of the year, showcasing some of the best underdogs and most versatile bands in the hardcore/hard rock scene. Big cheers to all bands.