Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls at History - Concert Photos

Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls are out on a co-headlining tour with The Interrupters. They were in Toronto last night at History to perform for a sold out crowd. The always prolific artist and his band are out on tour promoting their latest album FTHC. Check out "Non Serviam below. It rocks.

I'm a big Frank Turner fan and I've covered many shows. Click through for my photos from 2019, 2018, late 2016 and early 2016, and all the way back in 2013.

After being without concerts for most of the past three years, I feel especially grateful to the artists, venue team, fans and everyone else in the industry when I'm back out taking in live music. It's my spiritual, communal, tribal thing and Frank Turner brings that positive, optimistic and honest human perspective that I personally vibe with. 

"Punches" from FTHC kicked things off with a bang. The song "Get Better" from Positive Songs for Negative People became a bit of a personal anthem over the hell that the past six years have been for me personally, so when it showed up as song number three, while I was taking pics of the band, I was thrilled. I hope no one noticed me singing along and dancing a little in the pit. Following that up with "Recovery" was great; another song that really hits home. The entire set was brilliant, so I'll just pick a couple of highlights of a set packed with highlights; classics "If I Ever Stray", "The Ballad of Me and My Friends" and "Photosynthesis". Damn right; I still won't grow up.

Now I'm going to spend some more time with FTHC...

Please take a peek at my pics from The Interrupters' co-headlining set and Chuck Ragan's powerful opening set.

And now some Frank Turner music...

"Non Serviam" from FTHC.

"Get Better"

The Interrupters at History - Concert Photos

I'm a pretty big fan of The Interrupters. I've been to a couple of their shows and I know how much fun they can be. And I'm a sucker for ska revival tunes. The Interrupters just get my heart and soul in gear for moving. The Interrupters' vibe is pure positivity, fun and love.

The band is out on a co-headlining tour with Frank Turner and were performing a sold out show at Toronto's History last night. What an insanely high energy and fun tour with two amazing and life-affirming artists! My pics from Frank's set are here and my pics of Chuck Ragan's opening set are here.

The Interrupters' set featured tunes from their latest album In the Wild, like the title track, and personal favourites like "Take the Power Back", "Title Holder", "She Got Arrested", "Gave You Everything" and "She's Kerosene". The energy level was through the roof and this band connects with their fans, especially their young fans, as few bands can. It's very cool to witness.

I've covered The Interrupters for their past couple of stops in Toronto. There was the show at Rebel in late 2019 and at The Danforth Music Hall earlier in 2019.

Here's an Interrupters track from their latest album In the Wild.

"Sorrow"

Chuck Ragan at History - Concert Photos

Chuck Ragan opened up a night of incredible energy and positive vibes at a sold out History in Toronto last night. Chuck was followed by co-headliners The Interrupters and Frank Turner. Follow those links to those pics.

Chuck instantly got the audience's attention with his powerful songs delivered with a well-worn and passionate growl, all with driving rhythms and melodic pedal steel.

Check out a tune:

"Wish on the Moon"

Skinny Puppy at History - Concert Photos

 

I was at home in a sea of black clothes last night at Toronto music venue History. It was the site of industrial music legends and groundbreakers Skinny Puppy's final Toronto appearance and celebration of the 40th anniversary of the band. Even though I never witnessed a Skinny Puppy show back in the day, the vibe was like a larger version of some of the long-lost Toronto clubs that played this kind of music, without as much room to dance. Good times; good memories.

Seeing Skinny Puppy on their Final Tour was a rare treat; a band from back in the day who sound as fresh and vital as ever. And their fans were there for it 100%. Many, many fans showed up in their finery, looking fantastic decked out in black of various materials and overall striking looks. The venue was full of enthusiastic fans soaking up Skinny Puppy's vibe, no doubt wishing this wasn't their last Toronto show.

The show featured masks, costumes, theatrics, various props and creative use of shadows to excite our visual senses as our aural senses were being filled with that familiar Skinny Puppy industrial sound. That sound was so unique when I first heard it back in the mid-80s and has been taken as inspiration by so many artists since then. But there's something about Skinny Puppy songs that still stand out, and sound powerful and relevant to this day.

During the show, I thought back to when a friend played me "Assimilate" and "Dig It" back in high school. It was as sound unlike anything I had heard before. It was aggressive, distorted, angst-filled, desperate, agonized, passionate and visceral. While some other bands' music can sound dated and cliche when looking back 40 years, Skinny Puppy's music sounds just as vital and urgent as ever.

Whether you’ve seen Skinny Puppy many times or this is your first, this is a tour well with catching. This is not a group cashing in or going through the motions one last time. They sound energetic and elemental, and put on a show that’s a feast for the eyes, ears and soul. Everything ends, and this Final Tour is one thing that Skinny Puppy fans will be sad to see end, but happy that it happened. 

My personal favourite tunes came towards the end of the set, with "Dig It" to end the main set, followed by "Assimilate", "Smothered Hope", "Testure" and a second encore of "Candle". The full setlist is here.

Lead into Gold opened up the night. Check out my photos and thoughts on their set here.

Lead into Gold at History - Concert Photos

Lead into Gold is a side project of Paul Barker, American industrial musician best known as the former bassist for Ministry, and Hermes Pan of the Luxa/Pan production team.

I caught their show opening up for Skinny Puppy at Toronto's History for their Final Tour. The duo filled the room with strong industrial beats and intensity. The duo was flanked by video screens adding ambiance to match their sound. They were a great fit to warm up the crowd and fit the vibe of the evening perfectly.

Their latest album is The Eternal Present. Check out the title track below.

And head over here to check out my shots of Skinny Puppy's headlining set.