Babe Haven
Upon walking into Bar Le Ritz, my ears were met with the intoxicating sound of the night’s opening band, Babe Haven. Their highly energetic, queer, punk attitude and stage presence held a firm grasp on my attention for their entire set.
Their set began with If I Were You, off their album Nuisance, released last year in 2024. It got the night started on an insanely high note, instantly bringing my feet to movement. A healthy mosh pit quickly formed at the front of the crowd, bodies of people thrashing into one another along to the heavy beat of each song played.
Lead vocalist Lillie Della Penna led the crowd with her undeniable charisma. She demanded everyone listen when she screamed out lyrics that heavily criticize the corrupt world around us. On multiple occasions, Lillie told her audience exactly what she and her bandmates thought about ICE and the Nazis that join their inhumane wrongdoings. “The only good Nazi, is a DEAD Nazi!” she yelled out, earning cheers of agreement from her audience. The moment was immediately followed with a performance of their song Big Trouble, which is all about the need to defund and abolish the police and ICE.
Babe Haven mentioned halfway through their set that it’s their first time ever playing in Montreal, and how much fun they were having playing their set for us. It was so clear to see how much heart and soul the members of Babe Haven put into their work, and it certainly pays off. The band sounds incredible live, they have the perfect, infectious energy and great talent that you can feel with every single note.
I’m hoping they find their way back to Montreal in the future, and I hope to see more lesbians in the crowd…
Die Spitz
After an opening set that I couldn’t possibly complain about, it was time for the night’s headliner. All the way from Austin, Texas, the members of Die Spitz made their way onto the stage in front of sold out Bar Le Ritz. They got right into their set with I hate when GIRLS die, steadily building up the momentum that would continuously blow my damned mind.
They were heavy, angry, everything I could’ve ever wished for and more. The mosh immediately breathed life once again, completely taken over by Eleanor Livingston’s captivating vocals. Each member of Die Spitz had so much fire crackling energy that totally rubbed off onto the crowd and myself. I felt like with every song I dove deeper and deeper into a blissful madness, like I was an unstoppable force to be reckoned with. That energy was useful throughout the night, there were way too many creeps in the crowd.
Die Spitz had a pretty stacked setlist planned, with songs like Down on It, My Hot Piss, Voir Dire, and Grip. Members Eleanor Livingston, Chloe de St. Aubin and Ava Schrobilgen frequently switched between vocals, guitar and drums. It kept the audience guessing, and offered different styles depending on who was leading.
Even though Chloe warned the crowd that she was suffering from a fever, I swear you would’ve never even known. Her voice was somehow still incredibly sounding, she never once faltered while on the drums. You’ve gotta have some crazy insane talent to be able to perform like that while enduring a fever. Kate Halter kept a high energy on bass, and danced around the stage while playing for the entire set. The stage presence Die Spitz have collectively is insane, they are an incredible unit of performers.
There was not one dull moment during their set. Each song was thrilling and got the blood in my veins pumping. I danced harder as the night progressed, and moshed so much I had to grip my glasses in my fist as not to lose them. The only thing I would change if I could, was the crowd. A lot of older men were in attendance, older men that were filming Die Spitz’ entire set on a GoPro. Men that were rude and disrespectful.
Before continuing with their encore, someone on the Die Spitz team got on stage and asked the men that were up front to take some steps back and give the space to the girlies for the rest of the show. Unfortunately, most of the men up front did not do so, and were being creeps about it. I had to yell at some guy that would not leave one of my friends alone, even after they had shoved him off of themselves a couple times. Despite that, we still had a great time. Can’t let some creep ruin your mood. And a Die Spitz show is the perfect place to let out some of that frustration.
Although the creeps in the crowd pissed me off, I had the time of my life at that show. I got a sick T-shirt, I was covered in sweat, I got to move like crazy to some amazing live music. Die Spitz are nothing short of incredible. They have insane talents that translate beautifully for both recording and performing, and I somehow left their show an even bigger die-hard fan than before. I hope to see them in Montreal again soon, and I hope to see less creeps and more queers in the crowd.
Review – Jamie Siddall
Photos – Steve Gerrard
