It was a packed house last Wednesday night at Calgary’s Palace Theatre, filled with people waiting for The Bouncing Souls, The Suicide Machines, Death by Stereo, and The Drowns. With a stellar roster, plenty of album anniversaries and a new record to celebrate, the place was stirring with anticipation.
The evening kicked off with The Drowns, and they absolutely nailed it as the opening act. Their energetic style and classic street-punk sound- raw, melodic and catchy- was a perfect way to start the night. Vocalist Rev Peters’ raspy vocals filled the theatre, drawing the crowd towards the stage. Their set was a riot from start to finish; they played all the fan favourites, including “Relentless” and “Them Rats,” and finished strong with an epic cover of Sweet’s “Ballroom Blitz”. The Drowns definitely won over anyone in the crowd who wasn’t already a fan.
Then came Death by Stereo, and the moment they hit the stage, both the band and the crowd went wild. Efrem Schulz didn’t slack on his signature high-octane style; jumping on anything in sight and captivating the audience with his stage presence. He had the crowd forming circle pits in no time – a true frontman through and through. Their loud, fast and chaotic set was a whirlwind of hits, and the crowd loved it. Boasting about their recent time in Canada, teasing a new album in the works and another tour on the horizon, they left the audience buzzing with excitement.
Next up, The Suicide Machines, playing their debut album Destruction by Definition, which just celebrated its 30th anniversary in May. Playing DxD from start to finish, they naturally kicked it all off with “New Girl,” which ignited the crowd instantly. Throughout their entire set, lead vocalist Jay Navarro danced around the stage, while the audience sang along to every word. It was amazing hearing all these songs live again, a true throwback to the early 90s ska-punk days; even Jay admitted he loved revisiting these classics. The audience was treated to a special surprise when Eric Fazzini (Skazzini), saxophonist for the Voodoo Glow Skulls, joined them on stage for “Hey” – which threw the crowd into a frenzy; while the “Vans Song” had everyone tossing up their feet and showing off their kicks. For their final song, “I Don’t Wanna Hear It,” a favourite Minor Threat cover, Efrem of Death by Stereo hopped back on stage to join them, closing out their set with a bang.
Finally, the legendary Bouncing Souls took the stage, and as the lights dimmed, the excitement was palpable. For this tour, not only were they showcasing their brand-new album, Born to Be (the name of the tour as well), but The Souls were also celebrating anniversaries for three of their albums: The Gold Album, which turns 20; How I Spent My Summer Vacation is 25; and Maniacal Laughter turns 30. Focusing on these albums ensured the audience would get to hear some songs that might not usually be played on tour; tracks like “Lamar Vannoy” and “Freaks, Nerds and Romantics” were a welcome change. Mixing these songs with tracks from their newest release, Born to Be, ensured the night had a fresh touch. The Souls didn’t hold back the entire evening, with hit after hit lighting up the stage. Combining so many stellar songs from such a lengthy career created a perfectly varied set. It was another great night with the Bouncing Souls – but then again, it always is.
This show was definitely a night to remember, with such an impressive lineup and an abundance of amazing music. This tour was a favourite for sure and will be hard to surpass. Check out more photos from the show here…
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