Fast Romantics with Danielle Duval and The Kents at the Mod Club

Photographs by Roger Cullman

Fast Romantics played a triumphant hometown gig in celebration of their excellent new album American Love.

Even the weather seemed to co-operate as it was the first time Toronto had experienced any summer-like weather.

The evening got off to a great start thanks to Danielle Duval. She and her ace backing band played a short but fun that blended indie rock with a couple of danceable tunes. The Kents continued in a similar vein, leading the audience in a clap-along during one song and playing a number of radio-friendly alt-rock songs.

But there was no doubt who everyone was there to see. The venue was packed by the time Fast Romantics took to the stage to ‘Everybody’s Trying to Steal Your Heart’, displaying impeccable vocal harmonies. The band made a timely reference to embattled American president Donald Trump before launching into ‘American Love’, leading the audience in a sing-along.

They played the new album virtually in its entirety, going back to their debut Afterlife Blues for several songs. Kirty from the band is a successful solo artist in her own right and she performed one of her own songs as well as ‘Radio Waves’.

Just before they left the stage for the first time, they played a extended version of their joyous track ‘Julia’ before launching into the exultant ‘Why We Fight’.

They returned to the stage for a far too short encore that included ‘Get Loved’ and paid tribute to the province they’re originally from with ‘Alberta’, that saw the band leading the audience in another sing-along and singer Matthew Angus coming right down into the audience.