I discovered Joyce Manor last year on a punk rock playlist inspired by the likes of similar artists I would constantly listen to, like the Menzingers and Title Fight. I became a fan right upon my first listen to their hit ‘Constant Headache’ on Spotify and they made it onto my regular playlist within days (something that doesn’t happen very often for me). I was pumped when I found out that they were going to be touring again this year with The Gaslight Anthem, despite not having a date for Montreal, there was no doubt in my mind I was going to make the five-and-a-half hour drive to cover that show.
I had never been to the History music venue in Toronto, it was quite bigger than the venues that I’m used to attending. After acquiring my media pass and going through the rules with the staff (who were exceptionally nice), I made my way eagerly to the front of the stage and waited patiently. A large ‘Joyce Manor’ banner was sprawled on the wall, showcasing an almost crudely drawn little girl with a lamb. I watched the hall fill up gradually before the first band came up on stage.
Pinkshift is a rock band from Baltimore that’s relatively new to the scene and their music unfortunately reflects this. While not untalented by any means, their sound lacked polish as they struggled finding a voice of their own. But what they lack in originality they did make up for in passion. Lead vocalist Ashrita Kumar was oozing with charisma, bursting with energy as she screamed into the microphone and traipsed onstage, hopping, twirling and crawling about. Their set wasn’t anything to write home about, but it was entertaining for what it was. I found myself bopping my head to some of their songs as I snapped some first photos.
After their set, there was a thirty-minute break and the crowd got even bigger in the interim. The lights grew dim, and there was a roar as Joyce Manor‘s Barry Johnson walked up on stage, waving his hand elegantly with a smug smile on his face. The band took their positions, grabbed their instruments and dove straight into ‘Heart Tattoo.’ I had heard from the band themselves that a lot of their songs are difficult to translate into live performances, but it made for an amazingly novel listening experience. It made me wish I had known them in their DIY years. What it must have been like to hear them play their first gigs in a small, dirty dingy bar (or wherever indie rock bands started their careers back in 2012).
It was still nice hearing them at the peak of their performing ability, though, tearing through a good chunk of their discography and transitioning seamlessly from one song to the next. Their set included a list of old and new material, and it was exhilarating to partake in some of the good old-fashioned moshing that inevitably comes with their live performances.
It was getting late, and I was getting tired (the moshing didn’t help), but the night wasn’t over yet. After another break and some fresh air, I came back ten minutes before The Gaslight Anthem came on. When the tour was first announced, I had a hard time understanding why both these bands were touring together. Sure, they’re musically both on the same wavelength, but Joyce Manor and Gaslight Anthem songs have such different energy that it seemed odd to pair them together. But I will say that after such a messy and energetic performance from Joyce, it was nice to finish with something a little (and I do mean a little) softer.
Brian Fallon might not have the easygoing and casual on-stage persona that Barry has (one is from New Jersey while the latter is from California, two very different worlds), but his singing and his songwriting have no less of an impact. He exchanges catchy riffs and a laid-back performance with introspective lyrics and music that screams Midwest Americana. The crowd at this point was even bigger than it had been at any point in the evening, and it became clear to me why this group was the headliner. From classics like ‘Great Expectations’ and ‘The 59 Sound’ to material from their recently released ‘History Books’ EP, the band sounded as great as they ever did. It was amazing to experience the musical growth these two bands had made since their humble beginnings. A metamorphosis into a more streamlined, polished version of themselves.
These two bands’ musical journeys are proof that growing up is inevitable, even in the world of punk rock. Ironic, since so much of the lyrical prose is about yearning for the old days. That’s the thing though, you can’t stay young forever but you can age gracefully.
Review & photos – Alex Distaulo
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