JJ Wilde + Fionn @ Studio TD▪

There’s a great emergence of femme rock lately, and I’m proud to say that a lot of it is coming from Canada.

On Sunday, November 10, Fionn and JJ Wilde brought their rock goddess energy to Le Studio TD for a night of great music and great vibes.

Hailing from Vancouver, Fionn is a dynamic duo (twin sisters) whose magical stage presence is only surpassed by their incredible vocals. Edgy and sweet, they sound like The Beaches with hints of The Runaways.

Brianne (guitar) and Alanna (bass) had no trouble making new fans. Channeling Chappell Roan in their glam makeup and sparkly outfits, the sisters rocked hard. I called them rock ‘n’ roll Barbies, and they weren’t mad.

I really enjoyed hearing “Snake Behaviour” and “Bad at Being Casual” (their latest two singles).

Throughout their set, Fionn gave us humourous backstories, opening up about lousy boyfriends and heartbreak. They then told us about their Celtic roots right before performing a phenomenal cover of “Dreams” by The Cranberries. At that moment, I looked across the room and saw everyone’s mouth hanging open in awe. I honestly have never heard anyone else do that song justice—until now.

Something magical happens when siblings create music together. Whether it’s instinctual, biological, or years of growing up together, there’s an undeniable chemistry that transcends the norm. The delicate contrast of their ethereal voices was heavenly. I would definitely see them again if they came back to Montreal.

This is my third time seeing JJ Wilde, and I was really looking forward to hearing her perform songs from her new album. Vices was released in September, and I love every single track. I brought my husband along because he’s also a fan; he bought me the album on vinyl (which JJ kindly signed).

She’s come a long way since opening for Glorious Sons at MTelus in April 2022. She’s been working hard, honing her craft, and it shows. Dancing onto the stage with her dazzling smile, JJ was in fine form. Dressed in blue jeans, her toned abs showing under a white crop top, she started in second gear with “Off the Rails.” There was no soft and easy intro—she got right down to business.

I noticed a different JJ this time. It wasn’t just the dark hair or the perfected vocals; she seemed so much more grounded. There were no beer bottles or cocktails on stage, and she definitely was not “off the rails,” but she still totally rocked the house.

JJ’s performance was tight, her energy was high, and she delivered every song with heart. Her bandmates played with the ease of best buds jamming for fun, but they all brought it hard.

One of my highlights was her performance of “I’m Not Crazy, You’re Just an Asshole (Toxic).” JJ told us about how she was bullied in school and that the song was based on some shitty experiences we could all relate to. We sang the chorus with its cathartic lyrics, basking in the flames of feminine rage:

So if you’ve got something else to say, say it to my face, you’re so toxic when you talk shit…

Right after that, she did a gut-wrenching version of “Mercy.” Her vocals were more powerful than I remember, and she had the entire room transfixed, hanging onto her every word.

If I had to choose my favourite, it would be “Arizona.” They really took their time with this one, creating an intensely memorable moment. The bassist/keyboardist, who was bouncing across the stage with his wild, frizzy hair all night, stood still for the first time, as did the band, as they waited for JJ to sing:

I found something that I won’t give back. I feel lost, but I’m right on track.

There was so much conviction and vulnerability in her voice that I could feel it deep down in my soul.

Has our wild child grown up? She admitted that when she used to sing “Bushweed,” she’d light up a joint on stage, but after too many warnings from management, she decided not to do that anymore.

JJ ended her set with everyone’s favourite, “The Rush,” which obviously had us shouting for more. She closed the night with “Best Boy” for the encore, reminding us that it’s her game, and she’s calling the shots.