Speedy Ortiz with Alex G, Pale Hound, Tonka Puma at the Horseshoe Tavern

Photographs by Neil Van.

“The 90’s are over”, a drunk heckler yelled during the fun and loving set of Speedy Ortiz at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto. This resulted in a ton of boos and shocked reactions, but only a perplexed look and a shrug from the band.  They kept playing despite this rudeness. It’s a good thing that they did, as their set was a lovely throwback to an era where female alternative rock was on the uprise. We had the golden days of Sleater Kinney and Hole, the one-offs that passed the baton like Bif Naked and Holly McNarland and even the alt queens like PJ Harvey’s grittier albums. Within a time where the fight for equality and for musical artistry to both be alive, Speedy Ortiz could not have come at a better time. Opening the night was Alex G, Pale Hound, and Tonka Puma. 

They are fans of the 90’s but a progression to what that sound could be. Sadie Dupuis’ off kilter playing alone is a sight to behold, never mind the rest of the band that has kept up with her flittering and aspirational visions. Notice that there hasn’t been a mention of that heckler again until now. It’s because Speedy Ortiz were above that, music consisting of quality cannot be limited and that the attention-seeking shouting got lost within the night of rocking out. The 90’s will never be over for some of us, okay?

Dupuis had a lot of fun talking back and forth with the audience members that were civil. She felt like some of the members were “psychic” because they predicted parts of her set. She was asked to prove that she loved performing in Toronto and that she was not “bullshitting” by naming her favorite place to shop here. All she had to show was how vibrant her album work was live. Both Major Arcana and Foil Deer are strong albums full of poetic lyrical gymnastics and punky guitar chugs. Live, these punches are strong and vicious. Every vocal curl of Dupuis’ was carried with a smile, and every guitar chug was razor sharp. It was a fun show at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern, and the spirit of the 90’s was very alive.