Young Widows, Post Teens, Lost Tribe
Tuesday, April 24 at Strange Matter
It had been almost a year since post-hardcore rockers Young Widows last graced us with a show at Strange Matter, and just like last time, they were far from a disappointment. The show featured local death-rockers Lost Tribe and FL’s Post Teens, and was going to include Toronto’s Metz. Due to a blinker fluid issue, Metz couldn’t make the show, which was disappointing, because they rock. This, however, meant a later start and a longer set from Young Widows, so I wasn’t complaining.
Young Widows, Post Teens, Lost Tribe
Tuesday, April 24 at Strange Matter
It had been almost a year since post-hardcore rockers Young Widows last graced us with a show at Strange Matter, and just like last time, they were far from a disappointment. The show featured local death-rockers Lost Tribe and FL’s Post Teens, and was going to include Toronto’s Metz. Due to a blinker fluid issue, Metz couldn’t make the show, which was disappointing, because they rock. This, however, meant a later start and a longer set from Young Widows, so I wasn’t complaining.
photo by Tony Lynch
Lost Tribe – whose name does justice to their appearance – started the show by running their fog machine for a solid five minutes. When the place was nice and full of that weird smelling “fog,” they went straight into their energetic but melodically tasteful set. It was the first time I had seen Lost Tribe, and I was not let down. The inclusion of two synthesizers in what would otherwise seem like straightforward punk music gave a more dance-punk vibe, reminiscent of 80’s goth (something I have a soft spot for).
photo by Tantrum Imagery
After the fog cleared the venue and I managed to hastily munch down some Chinese food, Post Teens took the stage to perform a short but sweet 20-minute set. Despite the shortness of their set, they managed to squeeze in a solid dozen-or-so songs, due their brevity. Every time I got hyped on a part of their song, it came to an abrupt end, which was slightly disappointing, but I think that’s what they were going for. The vocals were more sung, as opposed to yelling, which set them apart from other punk/hardcore bands I’ve heard. The set was nonetheless fun, and they ended with a cover – which I unfortunately didn’t recognize – that got the crowd going, and showed that they could indeed play a song over 2 minutes.
30 more minutes passed before Young Widows took the stage. Everything was dark except for their signature symmetrical cabs, which were rigged with three bright yellow lights each. They started off with a song I didn’t recognize, and I immediately got excited, for I had hoped they would have new material. The new songs were a change from their previous release, In And Out Of Youth And Lightness, which had slower and darker undertones. The new tracks were more in the vein of 2008’s Old Wounds. They played a solid hour-long set, playing hits from all three albums, but what stood out most was the energy of their newest songs, which definitely excited the crowd.
I stuck around after the show to see if I could get a word from the Young Widows guys, and ended up talking with Evan Patterson, their guitarist and singer. That interview will be forthcoming in a separate post that will appear here at rvamag.com on Monday. Stay tuned!
Words and Young Widows live photo by Will Hooper
Other live photos as credited
