One of the best post-rock shows I have had the pleasure to see in Toronto. Lee's is a fantastic venue for this kind of show. Well organized and polite staff but still a relaxed atmosphere. The venue is the perfect size to be comfortable and have good sightlines to the stage for everyone.
Windhand was a great opener with a shortish set. Very to the point but overall a well executed doom metal performance. Drummer busted a stick during the closer but got right back into it like nothing happened. Windhand went on about 8:30, very prompt but hey it was a Sunday show and they have the rest of NA to get to. Russian Circles hit the stage about 9:45.
I cannot overstate the quality of the atmosphere that Russian Circles cultivated. The lighting was sparse and dramatic. The stage antics were reduced to headbanging and power stancing. No microphones, no stage banter, no "hey how you doing Toronto?" Not even a thank you. No encore. They were there to fucking rock and that is the full extent of what they did. From the minute they hit the stage the non stop drive of the drums led the entire show. They nearly never stopped. One boneshaker of a track to another. The reverb would ring, guitars would be quickly exchanged and then they were flowing into the next tune mercilessly.
Mike Sullivan is a discrete mad scientist, guitar up high on his chest as he clicked back and forth on a laboratory worth of effects and pedals. Having never seen them live I half expected them to play tour with a rhythm guitar. With just three pieces they managed to sound gigantic and ruthless. The beautiful interplay of guitars is all done live and all by Mike.
Brian Cook, with slightly less on/off switches to worry about was the most dynamic stage presence. Backlit and haloed by fog machine he laid down a mighty chugging beat for the duration looking like a giant viking bass god.
Dave Turncrantz meanwhile and throughout led the show. With hero hair fans gently lifting his beautiful locks quite often it was the drums seamlessly leading you down a garden path at the end of one song and into the deep dark of the next banger. With a lot less buttons and knobs (but not none) he handily kept the beat driving as Mike and Brian would set up for the next riffing masterpiece.
What an astonishing show. I can't wait for another tour. If you get the chance, see this tour.
Bring earplugs though.
Weezer
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