AWmusic

This night started off like any other night, head to the venue, watch and listen, take everything in, but this wasn’t any other night. I was sent to the wrong venue and stood outside the wrong address for a good two hours up until the right venue was presented to me to which I was able to make it to just in the nick of time to catch the headlining act, The Airborne Toxic Event.

For this Los Angeles based band, this was their first time in Toronto, and never having heard much of their stuff before this night, I had a hard time knowing what to expect. All I came into was expectations that they had a sound similar to that of Arcade Fire, so I thought if I liked Arcade Fire, then I would surely love The Airborne Toxic Event.

Listening to a couple of their songs I had previously listened to I was kind of iffy on their whole live performance but as soon as the lights hit the stage, signaling the long awaiting appearance of the band, the crowd burst into excitement and crowded near the front to get a better view. The Airborne Toxic Event took stage and right away started into something very upbeat that just threw the sold out show into a thrall of movement and excitement. I have to admit, I really loved what I heard and saw, I became overcome from everything that was going on up on stage and sort of just lost myself in the moment. It was both beautiful to listen to and behold.

I can for sure say now that although their album was amazing, their live performance beats out their album a good tenfold. The live version of “Gasoline” just sounds so much more intense and upbeat, and Mikel Jollet sings it with such passion and devotion that it just sounds so much more exuberant. The intensity that Mikel and the rest of the band promotes on stage just knocks out most other live performances. I can say without a doubt now that this will be one show that I will remember for quite some time, and even though I may not like their album material quite as much, any time they come down to Toronto to put on another show, you can be sure that I’ll be first in line.

Overall The Airborne Toxic Event put on a spectacular show for their first time in Toronto, and although I didn’t get to be there for any of the opening bands, I’m kind of glad that I got to see just them and didn’t have to wait through all the other bands to hear them. I seriously recommend to anybody looking for an upbeat and exciting performance, or any fan of Arcade Fire, to check out The Airborne Toxic Event next time they play a show in Toronto. They will definitely blow your mind and any preconceived notions that you may have of them.

Does This Mean You’re Moving On by The Airborne Toxic Event
Gasoline by The Airborne Toxic Event
Sometime Around Midnight by The Airborne Toxic Event

Tags: concert