As if Montreal knew a Finnish rock band was about to strike down Studio TD, it gave us the weather to match. We’re no strangers to gloomy weather, of course—but as I walked down Saint Catherine on a cold, drizzly afternoon, with The Rasmus preparing to play their first show in the city in over 20 years (as part of their WEIRDO tour), it sure felt like Helsinki out here. The Finnish band would feel right at home—in more ways than one.
Usually, by this time of year, I’m swearing off this kind of weather. And, in fact, I was—just hours before the show. But when I walked out the door, reluctantly grabbed a jacket, and put on my headphones to head out, nostalgia for the band I was about to see truly hit me.
A bit of history between me and The Rasmus: back in 2003, when they released their most popular album in North America, Dead Letters, I was 13 years old. I vividly remember playing RISK with friends on a scorching November night in Mexico, when my brother walked in and said, “Happy birthday, man,” handing me a CD with four goth-looking guys on the cover, standing in a dark forest. I was immediately drawn to the band—especially because I already knew their single “In the Shadows” by heart from seeing it regularly on MTV’s Top 10. But I hadn’t heard any of their other songs yet.
I ran upstairs to grab my four-socket CD player and listened to Dead Letters front to back—something I would go on to do dozens of times over the next few years, just lying in my room and fantasizing about living somewhere with cold weather. That album became a core memory—it was one of the very first I ever owned. “I hope I get to see them live one day,” I remember thinking. It only took 21 years… but on Monday, I finally did.
I arrived at the venue early, around 7:30, since I’d seen that a local punk band was opening.
With a giant THE RASMUS banner as a backdrop, Montreal trio Kamakazi hit the stage at around 8:05 to an already packed Studio TD.
Ever wondered what Blink-182 would sound like in French? Search up their 2012 album Tirer le Meilleur du Pire. Throughout the album, you can feel the influence of early 2000s pop punk. The basslines from Gab Prévost are very reminiscent of Mark Hoppus, while Nick Gagnon delivers standout vocals. I especially recommend checking out the track “Isa.” With similarly familiar influences, drummer Ryan Stevenson’s complex yet slick playing reminded me of prime Travis Barker during the untitled Blink era. The trio looked like they were having an absolute blast on stage, and the crowd was loving it—a solid warm-up for a rock show on Victoria Day.
At 9:10 p.m., the house lights dimmed, the PA music cut out—and for the first time in 21 years, The Rasmus took the stage. First came Emppu (guitar) and Aki (drums), followed by Eero on bass—all three grinning and waving to the crowd. Then, the band’s iconic frontman Lauri Ylönen appeared, all in black except for his white kicks, wearing a sleeveless hoodie, ripped jeans, and a beanie. “Montreal, how the hell are you?!” he shouted with a smile. The crowd roared—and just like that, we were off.
They kicked off with “The First Day of My Life,” the opening track from Dead Letters. The crowd went wild. It was the perfect way to begin—a fast-paced, riff-heavy reintroduction to fans who had waited decades. They followed it up with “No Fear,” the heavy, atmospheric single from their 2005 album Hide From the Sun.
The set raged on with a strong mix of old and new tracks. Lauri was constantly reaching out to the crowd, shaking hands, throwing fist pumps, and belting his signature vocal theatrics—often singing up to the balcony section.
And then… they played “Guilty.” That’s when the crowd truly erupted. Every single person screamed the lyrics along with Lauri, and when the chorus hit, the entire floor shook. I honestly never thought I’d hear that song live—it was a moment. So special, in fact, that after it ended, Eero paused the show to address the crowd.
“Seeing your faces, seeing you singing these songs together… it’s just like—”
His voice cracked. You could see he was struggling to hold back tears. “We’re back at home… We couldn’t be doing this without you.”
Sure, bands say things like this all the time—but this felt real. It was the first time I’ve ever seen a crowd move a grown man to tears mid-show. It must have felt incredibly special for Eero—especially after what I later learned was a smaller turnout the night before in Ottawa.
Before the night ended, they returned to the stage to go out with a bang. First up: “In My Life,” a fan favourite that’s considered one of their most iconic singles. Then, to close out the evening, the song that started it all—the track that brought them international fame and became an anthem for goth and emo teens in the early 2000s: “In the Shadows.”
The crowd sang every word. We jumped, screamed, and headbanged together as the final chorus rang out.
For many of us, it was a night 21 years in the making.
And even though my taste in music has evolved over the years—genres, bands, and playlists coming and going—I will always have a place in my heart for those artists who were with me during the confusing years of growing up. Trying to find your place in the world. Struggling to fit in.
The Rasmus is definitely one of those bands.
Review & photos – Andres Amaya
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