There were a ton of great shows this year in Toronto’s indie & underground music scene. It was obviously impossible to make it out to every gig, but here’s my list of favourites from the ones I attended in 2019!
#11 - S.H.I.T. + Blu Anxxiety + Wasteland + Losers / Monarch Tavern / June 21
First time seeing the hardcore punk prowess of S.H.I.T. The fabled whisperings of bedlam and chaos were indeed manifested. This is a band that the hordes would follow to the ends of the Earth, or in this case, the homey confines of the Monarch Tavern. The ante was upped by the presence of NYC’s violent-goth outfit Blu Anxxiety, the clamouring ferocity of Wasteland, and the unrepentant noise rock assault of Losers.
#10 - Sparrows + Actor l Observer + Peacemaker + Hopeless Youth + Powerbomb / The Bovine / Dec. 6
Some might say The Bovine is a charming, rad, cozy space to hang out and take in a show. Others might say it’s a cramped shithole. Be that as it may, every band on the bill delivered solid sets. It was cool seeing Alex Pley (ex-Conversation) on guitar with Sparrows after being away from the stage for several years. Boston’s Actor l Observer impressed with a set of non-stop action.
Peacemaker doled out tasty nuggets of post-hardcore goodness, and even threw in a rousing cover of Bruce Cockburn’s “Lovers In A Dangerous Time.” Montreal’s Hopeless Youth lost a guitar player due to technical issues early in their set, but they soldiered on as a foursome. Powerbomb dazzled with their usual rage-fuelled mischief, topped with some spot-on stylin’ and profilin’. Met some new people, bumped into some old acquaintances, threw up in the bathroom. Good times!
#9 - Final Faith/Void show: Gazm + Doxx + Faze + Damagers / Feb. 23
Faith/Void, that pillar of the local indie & underground community, hosted its final show ever. Packed to the hilt. Flying bodies and beer cans. Waves of humanity that basked in ecstasy and elation. A sweaty mass of limbs and lunacy. R.I.P. Faith/Void.
#8 - Toys for Tots: Cold Shoulder + Facewreck + Gold Finch + Reliever + Rust / Hard Luck Bar / Nov. 29
Benefit show to raise funds/provide gifts for children of families in need during the holiday season. Good thing there were no actual tots in attendance as they would have been trampled. This was one of those gigs where there was a reasonable chance you might get knocked out by flying fists and feet. The adrenaline rush overtook the ever-present feeling of fearing for your own safety. The hardcore community was out in full force to support the cause, with members of Powerbomb, Nailbox (R.I.P.), and Damage Control, among others, spotted in the crowd.
#7 - Specks + Doors & Fours + Old Ceremonies + Goth Girl + Gouge Out / Coalition / February 22
Not a big turnout but the fun was rampant and the camaraderie amongst bands was evident. Highlights included Bri from Specks playing bass on top of a pinball machine, and the drunk dude that sprawled out on the stage and got beer poured into his mouth by Adam from Doors & Fours. R.I.P. Coalition.
#6 - Maldita LP release show w/Drëg + Last Agony + Sago + Kibosh / See-Scape / Jan. 17
See-Scape is a rad gaming lounge that’s a paradise for nerds of every ilk. On this night, their second-floor performance space was bustling with the bloodthirsty savagery of those who love it fast, loud, and raw (and at times incoherent). It was a spirited celebration of the release of Maldita’s Aca No Hay Justicia LP. The people cast aside their inhibitions and moshed, surfed, and two-stepped like their lives depended on it. And that’s just the way I like it!
#5 - Ammo CD release show w/Warsenal + Lycanthro + Cellphone / Hard Luck Bar / December 13
Ammo has been a staple of the Toronto heavy metal scene for the past 5+ years. They’ve had a few lineup changes during that time, the only constants being guitarist/vocalist Brett Hexx and drummer Struan Robertson. Rounded out by bassist Alex “Wurm” Erhardt and vocalist/guitarist Jesse Harvey, Ammo embodies the spirit of classic metal. These dudes love to have a good time on stage, not to mention tease each other relentlessly (most often aiming their attacks at lead singer Harvey).
It was a special night in which they officially released their long-anticipated debut EP, Taking The Throne. Having followed them closely over the years, I was glad I could be there to document the proceedings. It was really encouraging to see droves of headbangers come out to support these local metal heroes. The rest of the bill was nothing to sneeze at either, with Cellphone, Montreal’s Warsenal, and Ottawa’s Lycanthro infusing their musical muscle into this mammoth rager.
#4 - Gazm + Stepping Stone + Tashme + The Fact + Raze / Duffy’s Tavern / Aug. 4
This was one of those rare shows in which every band on the bill destroyed. The assembled mob was already in a frenzy thanks to Raze’s opening set, but then The Fact — a gangly bunch of youthful upstarts — came out of nowhere and impressed with a super-charged display that lasted mere minutes. Props to Tashme and Regina’s Stepping Stone for keeping that shit going and passing the red-hot baton to the headliner, Montreal’s Gazm, who gave the bloodied and bruised revellers their final dose of euphoria.
#3 - Losers single release show w/Cellphone + Scorpio Rising + Wrot / Owls Club / Jan. 24
First time seeing a show at Owls Club, a legion hall with an old-time aesthetic and a welcoming vibe. Hints of bubbling insanity, along with unrestrained jubilation from bands and spectators alike, was a total rush to the system. Highlights included Wrot’s off-kilter frontman prowling the room like a dubious panther on the verge of mentally unravelling, and Scorpio Rising’s vocalist tumultuously romping like an unrelenting firecracker. Losers are the kings of throwing shows at the raddest of unconventional spaces. On top of that, they released their “Feedback” single on… floppy disk! Fucking legends!
#2 - Hostage + Cruel Bloom + System System + Gouge Out / Tail of the Junction / Feb. 15
Unintentional destruction always makes for a great show. Hamilton's Hostage literally brought the house down when a light fixture “somehow” got separated from the ceiling near the end of their headlining set and landed on Gouge Out’s moshing frontman (who thankfully wasn’t hurt). Of all the shows I attended in 2019, this was the single greatest moment I witnessed.
#1 - Dawn Vally + Creatures + In Other Climes + Scarfold + Hotel Murder + Her Majesty The King / Duffy’s Tavern / September 7
I’ll remember this night for featuring some of the wildest, craziest shit I’ve seen at a gig. If you’ve been to Duffy’s, you know it’s tight quarters and anything can happen when a packed house decides to get rowdy. Most notably, I saw a dude get his nose broken and bloodied in the mosh pit. That was a scary moment. But by the end of the night, that guy’s nose was back in place and he was casually puffing on a cigarette outside the venue!
France’s In Other Climes was a pure delight to watch as they threw all fucks to the wind and raged like nobody’s business. Montreal’s Scarfold also left an impression with their aggressive, hypocrisy-smashing set. Hometown metalcore champs Dawn Vally closed out the night with a rollicking, unpredictable set that saw their singer gash his head open on something or other. But the show went on! To hell with flesh wounds! Favourite show of 2019! That’s it!
