Health at the Horseshoe Tavern, NXNE 2015

Here’s a funny story. Years ago, I discovered Health and heard some of their easier material (Die Slow may have a heavy beat, but this certainly still rings like a dance song does). With the news that Alice Glass was to open for Health during this year’s NXNE festival, I signed up to this set expecting a cool electronic night out. Alice Glass vanished from the roster, but I still stayed signed on to at least see what a Health show would have been all about. I didn’t know much about them, but sometimes, you should go into something with as little knowledge as possible. With the foggy memories of edgy-but-fun techno in the back of my brain, I was expecting a groovy time at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern.

That’s the key here: The Horseshoe Tavern is famous. What is this venue famous for? For people losing their damn minds. Why on earth did I forget this?

I arrive in time for Health to begin, and the place is packed. It is dark, crammed and uncomfortable. I rummaged through my camera bag to find the right lens to use, but I was barely able to move my arms around and I could barely see. All I could find was my 75-300 mm piece, and that isn’t the wisest lens to use at the very front of a crowd. It was all I could find, and I figured I left my more suitable gear at home. Next thing you know, war drums are placed on stage. I began to panic even more: Was I at the wrong show? I know I know little about Health, but I was already on edge with the position I was stuck in. The band comes out, and we are slain from the very first second. We got screaming, pummeled drumming and complete and utter chaos. I shot as best as I could, and I’m no wiz kid, either. It was a frantic moment, and one that felt like a defeat.

I moved back to try and get shots that were better for this lens. The whole of Toronto was in my way, and this was the very moment the entire populace decided to be taller than my 6’3 self. I was doomed. This was my Fear and Loathing without the excuses of narcotics and tomfoolery. That’s when the music changed. The psychedelic, digital glory I remembered spilled in. It spilled all over the shaking venue just to drown me in embarrassment. What a terrific set this was. It was like Iceage got forced into a tent with an LSD tab on your tongue and they played right beside you as your brain melted away. It was gracefully catastrophic. No wonder why the venue was so jam packed.

Alice Glass’s absence did not diminish the punch of the evening. Health have changed up the Crystal Castles tune Crimewave, but they carried on this set like that never even happened. They were their own bosses, and the world came crashing down as we all danced. I felt like a fool that should have figured out a way to take better shots, that went in expecting something entirely different and like the least professional I’ve ever felt. It was okay, though, because Health kicked my ass. They did so lovingly, as every hit was also one that resulted in the movement of the body. It was a fun time that I didn’t want to end for two reasons: It was a great show and I’d love to see them again, and I didn’t want to do such a disservice to such a phenomenal live band. 

I guess, like the Health set I expected, I was waiting on my work to be easy going and simple. Instead, it’s jarring and you may have to succumb to it with defeat. Health are worth checking out. They are catchy, the energy is machine powered and the whole venue lights up. You will dance and you will fight. You will feel overwhelmed while you feel excited. This was a great mixing of the senses; Believe that. Hopefully you take into account my writing and you view my photographs as a rock n’ roll hiccup that can capture the atmosphere of the crowd more than it can frame the magic of the band. As a passionate writer and a photographer that is still learning the ropes, it is never safe to go unprepared and I know this. I never go fully unprepared. However, I have learned that you must be fully prepared for the barrage that is a Health show, and now I know.