The Dirty Nil

Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto ON, May 8

Photo: Jennifer Hyc

BY Ian GormelyPublished May 10, 2018

8
Shimmying on stage to the sweet pulse of Usher's "Yeah," the Dirty Nil wasted no time letting the crowd know the kind of set they were in for. Leaping in unison, guitarist Luke Bentham and bass player Ross Miller hit the ground running (and playing), knocking out a 45-minute set of punk-tinged hard rock tunes.
 
Decked out in a metal-studded button-up, Bentham threw plenty of rock star shapes and poses. Unlike most bands though, they have the songs to back the (tongue-mostly-in-cheek) attitude. The Dundas, ON trio worked through songs from across their career, throwing in early anthem "Fucking Up Young," and the more recent "Wrestle Yu to Hüsker Dü," during which a throng of moshing fans screamed along.
 
Tossing in a ripping cover of Metallica's "Hit the Lights" before finishing with "Little Metal Baby Fist," Bentham promised a new record "soon." It can't come soon enough.
 
 

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