Fucked Up, Vag Halen at The Horseshoe Tavern

Photographs by Maya Setton. 

It can be agreed a hardcore band with a name like Fucked Up would likely be relegated to playing smaller rooms, but the reality is this Toronto group’s recorded output has been so internationally acclaimed they graduated from those rooms some time ago.

Fans were offered a real treat as the band was booked for two shows at the Horseshoe Tavern.  Their last headlining gig in the city was a packed Phoenix, and the late Friday night gig kicked off the two shows – a packed house mustered in a steaming club, and that was before the band even started!

Right off the bat, Damian “Pink Eyes” Abraham has lost a ton of weight, something he would later address and attribute to replacing anti-anxiety drugs with weed.  But Pink Eyes has always been the focal point of Fucked Up shows, hurling himself into or onto his gathered fans, so it was nice that he didn’t lose his enthusiasm along with the weight.  It didn’t take him long to lose his shirt – towards the end of opener “Galloping”, the ball cap and t-shirt were disposed of to the delight of the crowd.

For 75 minutes, Fucked Up shoved the week’s blahs into oblivion with their rushing guitars, a tight rhythm section and Abraham’s guttural growl.  While the set was heavy on the most recent Glass Boys album, they managed to delve into all of their albums.

The band sounded great and looked to be having as much fun as the crowd.  Abraham didn’t surf the crowd but many others did, an impressive feat given the low Horseshoe ceiling.  Abraham was his usual endearing self, whether talking about his weight, dedicating songs to those with body issues “I Hate Summer” or persecuted minority groups “Police”, or calling out Toronto mayoral candidates at forgetting a high profile debate he was to moderate.

Politics aside, the night was a blast for all, and while it might not happen again in the near future, 350 people managed to have a sweaty high-energy Friday night with the hometown hardcore heroes.