After the paltry turnout at the Finom show last night, my faith in Montrealers’ taste in alternative music is restored when I arrive at Bar Le Ritz to find it absolutely packed to the rafters—even before the last support band has started. That’s more like it, people!
Toronto’s Ducks Ltd. have been taking over alternative radio airwaves lately with the three-minute guitar pop perfection of their new single, “Train Full of Gasoline,” which may go some way to explaining the huge crowd in place for their set. That song arrives three songs in, and, for such a banger, the crowd is remarkably subdued—zero moshing whatsoever! Still, the cheers that greet the song’s conclusion are evidence that it was well-loved.
Frontman Evan Lewis is a bundle of energy throughout, bouncing around with his guitar any minute he’s not on the mic, and making every word sound like a call to arms when he is; the chorus to “Harms Way” is deafening! The highlight of the set is the monstrous “The Main Thing,” which starts off much more mellow and acoustic than on record, but then erupts with drums that hit so hard they sound like artillery fire. “18 Cigarettes” closes a thunderous 40 minutes in spectacular fashion.
The room is still heaving by the time Chicago’s Ratboys take to the stage. Armed with a Flying V, Julia Steiner and Co. launch into a furious “Making Noise for the Ones You Love,” opener on their stellar new record The Window, before the notably poppier “Morning Zoo” and “It’s Alive!” follow. Normal ferocity is resumed by the time the crushing outro on “No Way” shakes the walls.
While Julia is undoubtedly the focal point on stage, the rest of the band are certainly not anonymous. Bassist Sean Neumann provides harmonies at various points in the set, such as on “The Window” and “I Go Out at Night.” On “Light Night” (“a song we never played for an audience before!” according to Julia), lead guitarist Dave Sagan roams the stage during his solo. His solo on set closer “Black Earth, WI” is a thing to behold too!
The band speak glowingly of their affinity for Montreal throughout the show and tonight’s venue specifically. Julia explains how this was where they first met Chris Walla, who produced their new record (and will be overseeing another recording session next February, hurrah!) and has even been keeping a tally: “This is our third time playing here, first time since 2018; it’s cleaner now!”
The triumphant set ends after an hour, as Julia notes, “We gotta finish by 10 for a Chappell Roan dance party!” Seems pretty fitting to me; on the strength of tonight’s set, Ratboys are truly HOT TO GO!
Ratboys Setlist
- 1. Making Noise for the Ones You Love
- 2. Morning Zoo
- 3. It’s Alive!
- 4. Strange Love
- 5. Space Blows
- 6. No Way
- 7. The Window
- 8. I Go Out at Night
- 9. Light Night
- 10. World So Madly
- 11. Molly
- 12. Elvis Is in the Freezer
- 13. Go Outside
- 14. Black Earth, WI
Review – Simon Williams
Photos – Michael Anestopoulos
