Longtime punk rock band Silverstein played their final show back in their hometown in Canada at HISTORY in Toronto. It was the last stop in their US/Canada tour in support of their latest album, Misery Made Me. The band last played at this new venue for their 20th-anniversary tour with limited capacity last December. So it was no surprise the crowd was packed to rock on to a night full of hard rock music.
UNITYTX was the first opener and delivered a compelling performance. It was a wonderful sight to see how this band made hip hop, rap, and metalcore music together to make their own sound. The band got the crowd moving and forming circle pits through their short 30-minute set. It is safe to say UNITYTX has found new fans to enjoy their music.
Lineup:
Shaolin G – Lead vocalist
Pharo Ken – Guitarist
Ricky Cova – Guitarist
Jonathan Flores – Drummer
Setlist:
1. RUCKUS
2. CROSS ME
3. Agony
4. WORLD OF MALICE
5. HAIL MARY
6. BANG SH!T
7. BURNOUT
8. Walk with Me
UK rock band Holding Absence was the 2nd opener of the night. They delivered an electrifying set by showcasing their alternative rock tunes. Lead singer Lucas Woodland was impressive with his powerful vocals throughout the set, which had the crowd shouting to every word. The audience rocked from start to finish, bringing delight the band. This show was Holding Absence’s biggest show to date in Canada, so the sky is the limit for the band to perform in bigger venues soon.
Lineup:
Lucas Woodland – Lead vocalist
Scott Carey – Lead guitarist
Benjamin Elliott – Bass
Ashley Green – Drummer
Setlist:
1. Aching Longing
2. Curse Me With Your Kiss
3. Like a Shadow
4. Gravity
5. Afterlife
6. Wilt
Australian metalcore band The Amity Affliction was the 3rd opener of the night. The band entertained the full-sized audience with a 15-song set list of endless metalcore tunes. Lead vocalist Joel Birch delivered impressive growls and screams while guitarist Ahren Stringer provided great cleans from beginning to end. Their never-ending spirits got the crowd moving their heads, singing and surfing throughout the band’s set. It was the energy the audience wanted and anticipated for Silverstein coming up next.
Lineup:
Ahren Stringer – Co-lead vocalist, bass
Joel Birch – Lead vocalist
Dan Brown – Rhythm guitarist
Joe Longobardi – Drummer
Setlist:
1. Coffin
2. All My Friends Are Dead
3. Don’t Lean On Me
4. Ivy
5. Like Love
6. Drag The Lake
7. Chasing Ghosts
8. I Bring The Weather With Me
9. All Fucked Up
10. Pittsburgh
11. DIE
12. Feels Like I’m Dying
13. Shine On
14. Death’s Hand
15. Soak Me In Bleach
The lights dimmed to black, and the crowd cheered loudly for Silverstein to approach onstage. Shane Told, Josh Bradford, Paul Koehler, Billy Hamilton, and Paul Marc Rousseau came out to a loud audience as the main party got started. “Infinite” and “It’s Over” opened the set, and the crowd immediately shouted their lungs out while Shane Told effortlessly sang and screamed through his vocals. The band seamlessly wiped through the setlist filled with classics and new songs.
The show’s real highlight was Silverstein pulling out the Wheel of Songs, where other members from the tour spun through a wheel for Silverstein to perform three songs from their 20-year career. “The Artist,” “Your Sword Versus My Dagger,” and “Still Dreaming” were the songs that they played, and the band performed all the songs with ease. The band’s guitar work and Shane’s vocals were perfect from beginning to end. It is a sight to see when a band playing for over 20 years can sound even better than in their early years.
“You deserve it!” The crowd shouted as Shane drank a can of beer after the Wheel of Songs. Silverstein then played “Altar/Mary,” a fan favourite from Misery Made Me. The band left the stage before returning for an encore of their well-known song, “My Heroine,” as members of UNITYTX, Holding Absence, and The Amity Affliction pranked the band by running around the stage. The night ended with “The Afterglow” before the members thanked the roaring audience for a fantastic night begging for more songs.
Lineup:
Shane Told – Lead vocalist
Josh Bradford – Rhythm guitarist
Billy Hamilton – Bass, backing vocals
Paul Marc Rousseau – Lead guitarist, backing vocals
Paul Koehler – Drummer
Setlist:
1. Infinite
2. It’s Over
3. Smile
4. Smashed
5. Bad Habits
6. Vices
7. Whiplash
8. Die Alone
9. Ultraviolet
10. The Artist
11. Your Sword Versus My Dagger
12. Still Dreaming
13. The Altar/Mary
Encore:
14. My Heroine
15. The Afterglow
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Andrew Wu is a music photographer based in Toronto, Canada. His work focuses on capturing and documenting special moments of performers during concerts and various events. His photos have been featured such as music publications in Spill Magazine, Imprint Entertainment, and Patchchord News. In 2020, he completed his BFA in photography at OCAD University.
Andrew is a massive fan of music, as he enjoys a variety of genres such as pop, alternative, rock, hardcore, and metal.
