The Devil Wears Prada, Dead Throne tour, Toronto

The Kool Haus in Toronto was the place to be last Friday for metalcore.  The Devil Wears Prada came through town playing one their last dates of the Dead Throne tour. The tour had a scheduled 37 dates across North America before taking a 6 week break before heading off to the UK for an additional 12 shows.

Supporting bands for the North America tour are For Today, Enter Shikari, and Whitechapel.  Obviously, coming from a Christian music perspective, my interest in attending was to see For Today and The Devil Wears Prada.

For Today

Opener for the night was Iowa band, For Today. For Today is no wannabee when it comes to metalcore.  The band formed in 2005 and has been on the road since, doing over a thousand shows on 4 continents and performing in 19 countries.  Mattie Montgomery, lead singer For Today, is a powerful vocalist offering his raw death growls that carry up to shrieks.  For Today's purpose as a band is
solely to proclaim the word of Christ.  Speaking with Montgomery prior to the show he said that "if I wasn't performing music with a committed Christian message, I would be preaching".  Of course, preach he does with more conviction that I've seen portrayed any other band.  Lyrically all of the band's songs portray the message of Christ.  Between songs, Mattie passionately told of his commitment to Christ and encouraged the audience to seek Him.

During their set Mattie put out a challenge to the crowd to come and touch his hand.  The audience took up the challenge.  Crowd-surfers stretched out above the crowd, then passed over the barrier mounted in front of the stage. Security staff in front of the stage had a busy time catching bodies as they dropped over the barrier.

Now on their third album Breaker - 2010.  For Today's two previous releases, Ekklesia in 2008 and Portraits in 2009, had songs featured in their set.

The band finished their set with the incredible "Devestator" from their current CD, Breaker.

Tracklist -  For Today:
Saul of Tarsus (The Messenger)
The Advocate
Isaiah (The Willing)
Seraphim
Ezekiel (The Visionary)
White Flag
Arm The Masses
The Breaker's Origin
Devastator

Audience was participation was extreme from the capacity crowd.  I can relate this from a personal level as I was crushed between the barrier in from of the stage and the surging crowd behind, while taking a few photos.  My bruises tell the story very well.  At least I didn't get stuck in the circle pit behind me!  The only reason that I was pleased to see the end of For Today's set was to be released by the crowd to search out a place to sit down.



Following For Today, Enter Shikari then Whitechapel took the stage, but as I mentioned earlier, I'm just covering the two Christian bands on this tour.



The Devil Wears Prada

Mike Hranica, lead vocalist for TDWP explained the reason for the band's name in his Myspace blog:

"It's the same concept as our lyrics "emeralds hold no hope" and many many others. What we believe it to mean is that possessions don't matter at all and someday everyone will realize that this is true. When standing before God, He won't care about your sweet Prada scarf or Gucci shoes or whatever. It's a Christian reasoning for the name, we didn't name it to attempt at being fashionable or whatever." 

The Devil Wears Prada takes commands on the stage. The crushing crowd again surges up towards the stage.  I decided to play it safe and hang out on the outskirts of the audience.  TDWP went straight to the tile track of their new CD, Dead Throne. The band progressed through a huge set and the concert-goers were over the top to see the headliners for the night.

I loved the multi-level stage setup of the band and the Dead Throne illuminated backdrop that changed intensity and colour.

Friday was a special day for TDWP vocalist Mike Hranica's, namely his 23rd birthday. The crowd had some fun by serenading him with the birthday song.

The band seems to have no lack of energy to spare.  After a blistering 12 song set, I thought the night was over, but no.  TDWP came back for a three song encore.  Chicago, which is my personal favourite from the new CD, was the first encore.  While the song is out of character from the rest of the album, this post-rock  track is a stand out song. Constance, also from Dead Throne followed. The Devil Wears Prada finished up the night with Danger: Wildman from With Roots Above and Branches Below.

Tracklist - The Devil Wears Prada
Dead Throne
Untidaled
Escape
Sassafras
Born To Lose
Mammoth
Kansas
Hey John, What's Your Name Again?
HTML Rulez D00d
Outnumbered
Assistant to the Regional Manager
Dez Moines
Dogs Can Grow Beards All Over
Encore:
Chicago
Constance
Danger: Wildman

An epic night that was well worth the trouble of being crushed in the crowd, after all this is hardcore. 

Concert photos

Peter Furler and band

Building 429

Me In Motion

Peter Furler concert review

It doesn't get any better than this. How do you describe a performer of Peter Furler's calibre? The former front man of newboys and now a solo artist, came to Peterborough on Monday night to give it all to the crowd.

Besides Peter Furler, there was a great band line-up. Opening band Me In Motion had a very short, three song set to start things off. This pop/rock band from Ohio began in '06, but their release of their self-titled full length CD brought them a lot of attention. Too bad this band wasn't allowed more time on stage. I guess it's always tough when you are the newest kid on the block, the new band always gets short-changed. I'm sure I wasn't the only one in the audience looking for more.

Levi McGrath of Australia was next up. He offered a number of acoustic driven folk/pop tracks. He has a great voice, but the songs failed to draw my attention.

Building 429 has become a mainstay in Canada over the past few of years, playing numerous Canadian dates. They've developed a huge and devoted following for their rock sound. Building 429 lead vocalist and guitarist, Jason Roy has fronted the band since 2000. Building 429 has drive and talent which was certainly evident on the tour with Peter Furler. This band has a remained a youth event favourite over the past ten years, which is where I have seen them perform on several occasions.

For those who are curious the band name comes from Ephesians 4:29 which states: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

The big man, Peter Furler finished up the night accompanied by former newsboys bass player, Phil Joel. It was a real treat having two former newsboys on stage together. Joel was a key player in newsboys when he left the band back in '06. The comaraderie Peter and Phil share was evident throughout the show. The back up band also featured a dynamic guitarist and excellent drummer to round out the sound.

The only possible negative of the concert was Furler's mike cutting out for three songs at the start of the set. He bounded over to Phil Joel and the two ended up sharing a mike even after Furler's was repaired. Not only did the capacity crowd enjoy tracks from Furler's solo release "On Fire", but he and Joel also performed a multitude of newsboys tracks including, "Shine", "Breakfast", "Entertaining Angels", "Something Beautiful" and my personal favourite "He Reigns". The audience vocals were louder than even Peter Furler's through most of the songs.

Peter Furler didn't neglect play some tracks from his new solo CD. It was great to hear "Reach" and "I'm Alive" performed live.

It seemed to be forgotten by all of the performers at Selwyn Outreach Centre that this was a "Christmas" tour. Even though no Christmas tunes were played, it was enough of a present to enjoy great music by some extraordinary bands.

Flatfoot 56 concert review

Celtic punk is the name of the game for Flatfoot 56.  The biggest band in Christian music returned to play Sneaky Dee's in Toronto once again.  Biggest in the sense of physical size.  The Bawinkle brothers, Tobin (lead vocals, guitar), Kyle (bass) and Justin (drums), range in height from 6' 5" to 6' 10".  The band is rounded out by Eric McMahon (bagpipes/guitar) and Brandon Good (mandolin/guitar).  All of the band members also share background vocals.  Rollicking vocals, guitars, mandolin, bagpipes and drums, all at full volume, all at a blistering punk song  pace.  Life can't get any better than hearing this.

This is the fourth time I've had the opportunity to see this band perform and once again they didn't disappoint.  Flatfoot 56 has been rated as one of the top bands to see live.  The insanity this band creates spills from the stage to the rear of the audience.  Only the fit and well padded will dare to venture into the mosh pit.  The band encourage circle pits and the result is a mosh pit of death that few can escape unscathed.  With a large crowd in attendance, I didn't dare to work my way through the mosh pit up to the stage.  I knew I would be pummeled.

Flatfoot 56 is one of the few bands I know who hits the stage without a prepared set list.  Immediately prior to going on, the band members were discussing what they should play and who would take which duties.  Rather than creating chaos, it gives the band a spontanity and vibrancy that so many bands and musicians lack.

Songs covered all of the favourites from their last two albums, Jungle of the Midwest Sea and 2010's  Black Thorn.  The band returns to the studio early in the new year to their next CD.  I would have liked for them to have played more of their old tracks from Knuckles Up, and Waves of War, but how many songs can you play in a 40 minute set?

The band does have a few constants.  Encouraging audience participation in activities they dream up, socializing before and after concerts with fans, and playing "Amazing Grace" as their finale. Preceding "Amazing Grace", Flatfoot 56 also offered up another old time hymn favourite, "I'll Fly Away".  I'm hoping that this track will be included in their upcoming CD, but you don't have to wait, it's avaliable as a free download by clicking here.

Don't forget to check this band out live.  Flatfoot 56 returns to Toronto early next spring.  Keep track of their tour dates on the website by clicking here.

Click for a listen to the interview I had with Flatfoot 56 prior to the show.