Edmonton’s own post-hardcore band Midnight Peg opened up the night with no shortage of energy. I was seriously impressed by Raquel Mann’s engagement of the crowd and overall showmanship. Despite being the first set of the evening, the crowd was already quite full and clearly captivated by the set, with plenty of phones out capturing what we were all privileged to witness.
Next up were local legends Choke. Despite the band being around since 1994, and me living in Edmonton for the bulk of my life, I have somehow never seen a Choke set in its entirety. It was clear why these guys are considered favorites of the city. A tight set, great sound, and a packed crowd. What a perfect choice to precede The Flatliners and Propagandhi for a full night of Canadian Punk.
Next up, from Toronto – The Flatliners. Despite not being local, The Flatliners always seem to be an Edmonton favorite, like a sibling who lives abroad – always making the effort to visit and feeling like no time has passed at all. The sun was setting on this beautiful August evening when they took the stage. Opening up their set with Stolen Valour from their newest release Cold World, the tone was set for the night. The band was on point, from Chris’ vocals and frequent screams, to the rest of the members all sounding perfectly cohesive and well rehearsed. Eulogy was played and dedicated to the late Ben Sir, which I’m confident made for a cathartic experience for many in attendance.
The headliners of the evening – from Winnipeg, the one and only Propagandhi. As soon as they took the stage, you could tell the crowd had been waiting for this moment. A sold out show filled with Canadian punk bands, and now Propagandhi have arrived to close it out. The set was just as you’d expect it to be from this band – loud, fast, and fitting in as many songs as possible. Opening with Failed Imagineer and ending with Victory Lap, there was countless crowd surfers in between and a constant mosh pit. I moved my way further back during Dear Coach’s Corner, where I could barely hear the vocals over how loud the crowd was singing along. Propagandhi delivered a great performance, leaving the audience wanting more – the crowd had a hard time believing the show was over and continued chanting for more up until gear was being disassembled on stage.