It was a warm March afternoon when the doors opened at Modern Love, last Saturday in Calgary, Alberta. California’s Ignite were in town on their Western Canada tour; bringing with them fellow Californians, Death by Stereo. For local support, Edmonton’s Vargouille and Calgary’s Citizen Rage were on-hand. And because this was an early show, the first band took the stage just before six.
Citizen Rage was an ideal opener for this show. They are legends in the local music scene, having delivered hardcore to Albertans for over a decade. So they understood how to get the crowd riled up and ready for the evening. With a swarm of supporters waiting for them to take the stage, they did not disappoint (as always). Although the set looked short, it delivered the punch everyone needed for the rest of the night.
Edmonton’s Vargouille was next. Recently famed for their anti-fascist actions, the crowd embraced them with open arms. Vargouille returned the favour with an unmatched campaign; winning over the audience with their music and not merely acts. Oh, and did I mention they also took us into space? Their unique style was just what the crowd needed.
The audience surged as Death By Stereo took the stage. Diving right into it with “No Shirts, No Shoes, No Salvation”, the band didn’t slow down throughout the entire set. The crowd was in a frenzy the whole time as they played tracks spanning their career. Finishing with songs, “Wasted Words” and “Looking Out for #1”. It was loud, chaotic, and just what you expected from a Death by Stereo show.
By the time our headliners, Ignite, took the stage, it was hard to believe it wasn’t a sold-out show. Modern Love was a packed house. This was the fourth stop on tour, but the first in Alberta. Opening with a classic track, “Ash Return”, Ignite’s set featured a mix of old and new; including “Veteran” and “Bleeding”, as well as a few songs from 2022’s self-titled album. They ripped through this powerful set, only dialling it back for their cover of “Sunday Bloody Sunday”, which converted the entire bar into a sing-a-long. Our only regret is that the show had to finish so quickly; but we cannot wait for them to come back.
For more pictures from the show, check the link below.