Photo by Daniela Tantalo
After a hot and sticky week in Toronto, the heat finally let up a little bit on Friday evening. It was a cool and windy evening, but inside The Silver Dollar Room it was hotter and stickier than any weather outside all week. Brooklyn’s Beach Fossils brought their summery dream pop/shoegaze sound to fans who packed into the tiny venue for an evening of surf rock vibes.
Toronto band Sahara kicked off the evening as the venue started to fill up. The band warmed the crowd up with their loose, groovy shoegaze sound. Patrons in the venue were bobbing their heads and swaying along to the rhythm of the songs. Fans of Beach Fossils will enjoy their spacey, atmospheric sound, and can check out their self-titled EP on their bandcamp page.
Following Sahara’s set local post-punk/dream pop band Elsa took the stage to offer some more warm vibes to the growing crowd moving closer and closer together. Featuring the singer from Sahara playing guitar, the band played about forty-five minutes showcasing their catalogue. The crowd was loosening up and showing some love as the time for the main act was growing closer and closer. Both opening bands showcased a style that was very well suited to fans in the venue. Audience enthusiasm was high for both acts as fans grooved along and cheered loudly between songs. The venue was growing hotter and hotter approaching Beach Fossil’s set, the air was so thick you could cut it with a dull knife. It was exactly the atmosphere you’d expect seeing a band like them in a tiny, sold-out venue.
Beach Fossils took the stage around 11:45pm and there was hardly a space to be found in the tightly packed crowd. Oxygen seemed to be on limited supply as the air was similar to when you open the dryer with your hot, still wet clothes inside; but that didn’t stop fans of the band from singing along, dancing and cheering aloud between songs. The band hasn’t been doing any extensive touring this year, a few one off shows in cities between festival gigs has been the case so far on the touring schedule. Playing at small local festivals such as North Ontario’s River and Sky Festival this past Saturday (following the gig Friday in Toronto) and some of the biggest festival’s in the world such as Tennessee’s Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival back in June. There isn’t much else on the schedule this year so far, a free gig in New York in Central Park with The Feelies July 18th; and a spot on the stellar psychedelic lineup for the Desert Daze festival in October in California, featuring bands like The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Temples, Pond and Deerhunter.
The Brooklyn band showcased many songs from their two full length albums and their EP. Songs spanning from the three recordings such as Clash the Truth, Daydream, What a Pleasure, Birthday, Sometimes and Twelve Roses were all included in the set list for Friday evening. They also played a tune called Nookie, which they primed by asking if there were any Limp Bizkit fans in the room. No it was not a cover of the Limp Bizkit song, which I humorously entertained the idea of briefly before the song actually kicked in. There’s no trace of the tune anywhere online, it’s likely that it’s a new, unreleased track from the Brooklyn band. Which should come as exciting news to fans of the band. The last material released by them was in 2013. With a brief touring schedule playing small venues and festivals, and the time since the last album’s release, it’s likely that the band is working on new material which could be rolled out later this year and followed by a more extensive tour. It’s mere speculation but generally bands will get out and play a few gigs to stay fresh and to mix things up during the writing and recording process. For example, it’s well documented that Arcade Fire are planning a new album for next year and are playing festival gigs and a few one off shows before hunkering down in the studio to finish the record. It’s entirely possible that Beach Fossils are up to something similar. Keep an eye out for tour dates and new music from the band towards the end of this year or early 2017.
