Anyone making their way to Budweiser Stage via public transit on Thursday night was forced through the sights, sounds and smells of the fading days of a Toronto summer. It’s the chaos of bewildered people on the TTC, heaving throngs of CNE revelers stuffing their faces with strange culinary fare and packs of gung-ho Argos’ fans peppering the landscape amid the blinking lights, flashy carnival barkers and screeching gears of the National Fair at full tilt. It’s glorious.
The lineup at the venue on Thursday evening featured three local bands, making the night take on the feel of a giant back yard party in the neighbourhood. First up was Dizzy, the Oshawa indie-pop darlings who enthusiastically played to the early comers. Weirdly, they had to play beneath a giant sign that said “Valley”, forcing lead singer, Katie Munshaw, to explain laughingly “We are Dizzy, not Valley!”. She charmed Dizzy fans with memories of GO Trains, GTA suburbs and she even paused for a moment to see if she could locate her mom. While it’s never easy to be the first band to hit the stage, it’s extra hard at this time of year when many concert-goers are lured into the excitement of a CNE corn dog or the Sky Ride at no extra cost. Still, Dizzy was genuinely appreciative for those who made the effort, and they did an admirable job with their eight-song set that hit radio favourites and included new tunes as well. Munshaw’s unique vocal style translates beautifully to their live show.
Valley, had a bigger following and a longer set. Again, the audience was treated to solid, pop-rock tunes. As they made their way through their repertoire, they alluded to both their younger days in the Six, and the rough year they’d just had – possibly referencing the departure of a band member. With new music imminent, they sounded tight and looked like they were having a ball. At one point they all switched instruments, a flex that left no doubt about their skill and talent. The camera repeatedly panned across the faces of die-hard devotees singing along to every word – even the brand new tunes. A testament to the band and its relationship with its hometown fans.
As the sun dipped low in the sky, the party shifted into high gear. The Beaches hit the ground running with Cigarette. True to its alt-pop-punk roots, the quartet performed with unbridled energy. From afar, each member has a distinct look on stage, but musically they meld perfectly. Frontwomen, Jordan Miller, struts and poses with confidence while the rest of the band jumps, flails and wails around her. It was fun to watch them bask in the adulation of a packed Budweiser Stage. They talked about their journey from practically empty gigs in Kensington Market to this epic night with 16,000 people in attendance. They were not taking the moment for granted. The night was punctuated with break-up confessions and random crowd surfing. The Beaches worked its fans into a communal frenzy with the main set closer, Blame Brett. (Who can resist a good break up song?) For the two-tune encore, the band went back to the start with T-shirt and then invited Valley back to the stage to join them for a bang-up rendition of what they called “the song of the summer” – Chappell Roan’s Good Luck, Babe!. A fine ending for fabulous night in the hood.
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Be sure to check out Live Nation Ontario to see all of the other great acts that they will be bringing to Toronto this year.
