Florrie
I arrived at Studio TD a little late after spending way too much time looking for parking. Florrie’s set had just started, and from what I walked into, she had clearly already made a great impression on the crowd that filled up the venue. The show was sold out and packed with people dancing along and enjoying the performance Florrie put on.
Her songs are very catchy, and the audience clapped along and offered loud cheering as a compliment to Florrie’s lovely vocals. Her performance was quite entertaining. She and her band danced around the stage together, encouraging their audience to do so as well. Just like G Flip, Florrie is a drummer and showed off her talents on an electric drum kit for certain songs, even singing while keeping a beat, which is always going to impress me.
Florrie played a very engaging set. The audience made it clear that they had a great time for the entire 45 minutes. She was a perfect opener for G Flip, and Florrie’s drumming certainly got the crowd hyped up for the rest of the night. Even after she had left the stage, the crowd was bustling and dancing along to the songs that played during the intermission.
G Flip
G Flip stepped on stage, waving to the audience while they all screamed in excitement. They jumped up to the elevated platform where the acoustic drum kit sat and began their set with an invigorating drum solo. The crowd was immediately engaged, cheering them on as they impressed with complicated and fast-paced fills. Once their guitarist and bassist joined in, the energy heightened within the entire room. Everyone was clearly pumped up and did not hesitate to exclaim their excitement.
Another drummer took G Flip’s place so they could sing the first song on their setlist, “Get Me Outta Here,” which was a perfect song to start out on. It’s got great, angry energy and is really catchy. The audience wasted no time singing along to every word, and G Flip persistently encouraged more from their crowd. They very clearly wanted everyone to get moving and keep dancing with them. The audience followed their instructions when they cued in clapping or started waving their arms back and forth along to the song.
G Flip really knows how to work a crowd and get them hyped up. Their stage presence is strong, and they seemed very comfortable up there. They spoke to the crowd quite a lot, explaining that they expect each attendee to look after one another and not be, quote, a dickhead.
They’re very charismatic when they speak. The crowd laughed at every joke and listened to every word when they told a story, like how they tried poutine since it was their first time in Montreal, and that a couple in the front row got engaged during the meet-and-greet before the show. After thanking them for including them in their love journey, G Flip asked the rest of the audience to congratulate them altogether. It was a really sweet moment to witness.
Throughout G Flip’s entire set, we got to see their broad range of talents. Not only are they an amazing drummer, but they can sing beautifully while playing. They also picked up a guitar for a few songs like “7 Days” and “Be Your Man” and had their time with an electric piano during their performance of “Waste of Space,” which really brought the crowd to feel the emotion behind the song. Everyone even kept silent to hear them sing. Their voice was incredible to hear live. It’s scratchy and filled with passion, which I’m sure everyone in attendance adored.
During their song “Drink Too Much,” G Flip joined the crowd on the floor and up on the balcony for the duration of the song, sharing great moments with as many individuals as they could while singing. They ended their set with “Gay 4 Me,” a clear fan favourite judging from the reactions the song got, and quickly made their way off the stage alongside their band.
The audience wasn’t having it, and in their refusal for the show to end, immediately started chanting “G Flip” at the top of their lungs. Everyone’s voices travelled through the room swiftly and loudly. Of course, G Flip could not leave all these people hanging, and they rushed onto stage with the rest of their band to play their cover of Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer,” which had quickly gained popularity upon its release.
Before moving on to their last song of the night, G Flip explained that this was the time they liked to give a member of the crowd a signed t-shirt as a reward for being the most energetic dancer throughout the show. Their band fooled around a bit and jammed during the exchange. Afterwards, G Flip brought out their tour manager named Ted because he was celebrating his birthday that night. They explained that he is not only the tour manager but also the bus driver and a stage tech. After sharing with the crowd how much they love and appreciate Ted, they got the audience to sing him “Happy Birthday.”
Finally, it was time for their last song of the night, “Worst Person Alive,” which is my personal favourite. They really gave this last one their all, showing off their vocal capabilities and repeating the chorus a couple more times to keep the party going. Once it was over, G Flip called Florrie and her band back on stage, and after taking a quick bow in front of the audience, the performers and other tour workers (including Ted) danced around on stage as “We Found Love” by Rihanna blasted through the speakers. The party went on for a bit before they all waved goodbye to the audience and officially ended the show.
After one hell of a performance, the crowd left Studio TD amped up and certainly excited for G Flip’s return to Montreal in the future. I’d certainly recommend catching it.
Review – Jamie Siddall
Photos – Maelle Ramsay
