AFI brought their “Holy Visions” tour to Toronto for the only Canadian date of this leg. A sold-out show in the lovely Danforth Music Hall on a warm, late fall evening; a perfect setting for AFI and opening act Choir Boy. Fans lined up down the street in their very best all-black outfits, ready to watch the band they have loved and evolved with over the last 30+ years.
Continuing their run with AFI on this tour (having initially first opened for them at the 20th anniversary show for Sing the Sorrow in Los Angeles), Choir Boy has developed quite the following at these shows. The crowd was packed and mesmerized from the very first song. I’m admittedly not familiar with their catalogue and it isn’t the typical genre of music that I gravitate towards, but I can’t deny the talent that was on the stage, specifically the vocals of Adam Klopp. Dreamy, yet dark, Choir Boy’s set complimented AFI’s latest release Silver Bleeds The Black Sun incredibly well.
AFI took the stage opening with “Strength Through Wounding” from 1999’s Black Sails in the Sunset, a real treat for all of the longtime fans in attendance that evening. It is difficult to describe the energy in the air during this introductory song. Warm, yet dark lighting with the members coming out, leading the crowd into a heavy chant of “Through our bleeding, we are one!”. A truly special feeling that most of us don’t get to experience all too often. The show included an impressive variety of songs spanning AFI’s career. Special highlights included “On The Arrow”, a bonus song from Decemberunderground, as well as “Perfect Fit” which was introduced with a nod to an earlier AFI show in Toronto circa 1996 at The Opera House. Singer Davey Havok proved that all these years later not only is his voice as strong as ever, his ability to perform and captivate a crowd is remarkable and extraordinary. The band as a whole delivered a perfect performance. For some musicians it could be difficult to not be overshadowed by a frontman like Davey, but Hunter, Jade, and Adam all shine through beautifully, proving the band as a whole has immaculate chemistry. If you ever get the chance to attend an AFI show, especially on this tour, I urge you to go experience the band’s talent as well as the overall sense of connection and fan dedication.
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