I’ve seen TPOH many many times over the years but never since I’ve been photographing bands or running this site. I was super excited for this night since the band is one of my favourites and has so many awesome tunes along with the bonus of celebrating the Horseshoe Tavern’s birthday.
After The James Clark Institute's opening set and TPOH's set-up, it was time to flash back to the glory days of Toronto indie power pop with a greatest hits set from the one, the only, The Pursuit of Happiness. The band sounded amazing and played with incredible energy. I loved shouting along to the tunes in unison with the band and the sold-out crowd. It was so great to hear these classic tunes blaring from The Horseshoe stage, and they even recorded the show, so hopefully we get to relive it again and again. Here's to hoping that it won't be too long before we get to experience the live magic of TPOH again.
Their setlist spanned their catalog, with emphasis on their debut, Love Junk, and second album, One Sided Story. There are too many favourites for me to summarize, so here's the setlist:
"Hard to Laugh"
"Ten Fingers"
"Man's Best Friend"
"Beautiful White"
"Walking in the Woods"
"Shave Your Legs"
"Consciousness Raising as a Social Tool"
"Food"
"I Like You"
"When the Sky Comes Falling Down"
"Pressing Lips"
"Kalendar"
"She's So Young"
"Two Girls in One"
"Looking for Girls"
"Cigarette Dangles"
"I'm An Adult Now" with a bit of The Tragically Hip's "Gift Shop" in the middle
First encore:
"Downward Road"
"Killed by Love"
Second encore:
"Down on Him"
Third encore:
"Gretzky Rocks"
"Terrified"
Listen to some fantastic tunes from The Pursuit of Happiness:
"Hard to Laugh"
"Consciousness Raising as a Social Tool", which, if pressed, I might proclaim as my favourite TPOH tune
"When the Sky Comes Falling Down"
"Pressing Lips"
"She's So Young"
"Two Girls in One"
"Cigarette Dangles"
"I'm An Adult Now"
"Killed by Love"
"Gretzky Rocks"