In a way, it feels like this Ratboys show started 24 hours earlier, at the Bell Centre. Right as Noah Dobson slams in the opener for the Habs against the Islanders and the place goes nuts, a latecomer walks up and sits right beside me, wearing a Ratboys hoodie. Not a Habs jersey, a Ratboys hoodie. What are the odds?! I feel like only a handful of people in this whole arena would know who they are, and he ends up right beside me! Turns out he drove up from Buffalo that day, for the show the next night, and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to catch a game too, who can blame him?! Anyway, shout out Nick from Buffalo!
It’s a testament to the devotion of Ratboys fans that they would travel so far to see them; indeed, midway through tonight’s set, frontwoman Julia Steiner acknowledges as much, shouting out visitors from Ottawa, Burlington, and even Halifax, Nova Scotia! The show is totally sold out, like most of the tour, and the venue is packed to the rafters, just like it was last time they came with Ducks Ltd., so you really feel like this is the last time you’ll be seeing them in a venue this small.
It’s already heaving by the time Philadelphia’s Florry open the show. Their melodic Neutral Milk Hotel folk vibe, with added violins, goes down well, though I’ll be honest, I spend most of their set outside trying to sell an extra ticket I had. Next time!
Job done, ticket sold, and I squirm through the bodies to my favourite niche at front floor left, which always feels less squished and more chilled at a busy show like this. The five-piece arrive to loud applause and start the set with Open Up, which also “opens up” their magnificent new sixth record Singin’ to an Empty Chair and accounts for 10 of the 17 songs tonight. Julia’s angelic vocal translates so well in the live setting, so crisp and clear, and doesn’t fade in the slightest throughout the night. Bassist Sean Neumann is a huge part of the sound, sprinkling some magical harmonies on the wonderful Morning Zoo before stepping back from his mic altogether to yell the vocal harmony on Burn It Down. I’m obsessed with that bassline on Light Night Mountains All That, too, a staggered, delayed delivery at probably one note per second, but still somehow so dominant. A pedal steel guitar brings a bluegrass feel to songs like Penny in the Lake, Elvis Is in the Freezer, and Just Want You to Know the Truth, nu-country is everywhere, guys!
So much of the sound is absolute pop-punk perfection. The bass-driven Anywhere, the aforementioned Light Night Mountains All That, the stellar What’s Right? and its bona fide Everlong riffs, I swear it’s impossible to dislike. “This is what they call in the business, a ‘low banger,’” says Julia by way of introducing Know You Then, hard to argue with that! The World, So Madly is an equally perfect melody. Black Earth, WI and a monstrous extended solo from guitarist David Sagan close out the triumphant 90-minute show.
A fantastic set from a fantastic band; the stages will only get bigger from here.
Setlist
Open Up
Anywhere
Penny in the Lake
Know You Then
Morning Zoo
It’s Alive!
Strange Love
Light Night Mountains All That
Elvis Is in the Freezer
The World, So Madly
The Window
I Go Out at Night
Just Want You to Know the Truth
What’s Right?
Burn It Down
Encore
Go Outside
Black Earth, WI
Review (and Florry pic) – Simon Williams
Photos – Steve Gerrard
