It was a brutally cold and snowy night, but the frigid temperatures did not stop long-awaiting fans from cramming the Wrong Bar to witness Sunderland, UK punk legends Leatherface on their first Canadian tour in their 20 year legacy.
Summer of 92 warmed up the chilly crowd with their brand of whiskey-drowned rebel songs, which poured out of the band as effortlessly as the beer that flowed down their gullets. With a gritty sound that follows somewhere along the lines of the Pogues and Against Me!, Summer of 92 were a fitting opener for a show of this calibre.
Toronto's own Sinkin' Ships blasted through their set with vigour despite being in hiding as of late. The Hogtown quintet still seemed to be struck with awe as vocalist Naomi Allan squealed "Holy Shit! We're playing with Leatherface." The crowd got interactive by shaking tambourines and singing along while the Ships fed off the energy of their audience and played each song with ferocity.
Stepping on stage nearly a half hour after their slotted time, Yesterday's Ring set a sombre tone with their "tear in my beer" country-fried punk. Vocalist Hugo Mudie gripped the microphone stand and crooned gruffly over twangy guitars and plucking banjo as the band of folk-punks swayed through a handful of tunes before ending the shortest set of the night.
After a short but abrupt sound check Leatherface front-man Frankie Stubbs leaned over to the microphone and quipped, "Let's just get this shit started." With that the crowd cheered and Leatherface broke into "Isn't Life Just Sweet" off their newest effort The Stormy Petrel, and ripped through songs spanning their entire discography without skipping a beat. During "Not Superstitious" the crowd stormed the stage and chanted along, ecstatic to finally see their punk rock heroes, as well as being a part of the experience itself.
Summer of 92 warmed up the chilly crowd with their brand of whiskey-drowned rebel songs, which poured out of the band as effortlessly as the beer that flowed down their gullets. With a gritty sound that follows somewhere along the lines of the Pogues and Against Me!, Summer of 92 were a fitting opener for a show of this calibre.
Toronto's own Sinkin' Ships blasted through their set with vigour despite being in hiding as of late. The Hogtown quintet still seemed to be struck with awe as vocalist Naomi Allan squealed "Holy Shit! We're playing with Leatherface." The crowd got interactive by shaking tambourines and singing along while the Ships fed off the energy of their audience and played each song with ferocity.
Stepping on stage nearly a half hour after their slotted time, Yesterday's Ring set a sombre tone with their "tear in my beer" country-fried punk. Vocalist Hugo Mudie gripped the microphone stand and crooned gruffly over twangy guitars and plucking banjo as the band of folk-punks swayed through a handful of tunes before ending the shortest set of the night.
After a short but abrupt sound check Leatherface front-man Frankie Stubbs leaned over to the microphone and quipped, "Let's just get this shit started." With that the crowd cheered and Leatherface broke into "Isn't Life Just Sweet" off their newest effort The Stormy Petrel, and ripped through songs spanning their entire discography without skipping a beat. During "Not Superstitious" the crowd stormed the stage and chanted along, ecstatic to finally see their punk rock heroes, as well as being a part of the experience itself.
