I wound up at Bar le Ritz last Saturday night to catch a showcase of five mostly local bands, ranging from power-pop and jazz-punk to emo and noise. Throughout the course of the night, I found friends, familiar faces, and most importantly, some new favorite bands. Here are the highlights.
Photos by Amir Bakarov
Fresh Wax
The standout act of the evening was Fresh Wax, a bass guitar-and-drum duo who showed up with sick sunglasses and a blasting energy that shook the paint off those primary-coloured planks on the Le Ritz walls. They ripped the wildest riffs in left-field time signatures and took turns on vocals, shouting punchy lines that I didn’t understand and honestly, didn’t need to. The chops of both of these guys were up there with professional jazz musician levels of technique and fervour. I‘ve heard their shows get even wilder at smaller venues, so I will 100% be seeing them again.
Gondola
Gondola was a pleasure as always, as I must confess I’ve seen them at least five other times this year. This four-piece indie-pop group delivered a full range of dynamics and complementary solo moments, maintaining a tight cohesion balanced by moments of unrestrained jamming. Lyle on lead vocals was really sending it on this particular evening. His booming baritone carried melancholic lyrics with full force, evoking the bitterness of heartbreak with an edge of defiance. My favourite of the night was a newer song inspired by the reality show MILF Manor, entitled “Moment I’d Like to Forget.” I have yet to analyze these lyrics from a Freudian perspective, but boy, is it a catchy melody!
Wakelee
I was pleasantly surprised to find that I really vibed with Wakelee’s set. Generally, I’m skeptical of Brooklyn-made emo music in the year 2024 (if they were from a cultural hotbed like Central Pennsylvania or Ohio, perhaps I’d be less prejudiced…), but this set was tight, well-balanced, and totally won me over. I particularly loved how the backup vocals from the bass guitarist weaved into the main melody. These two-part vocals and the singer’s unmistakable emo affectation reminded me of the classic Blink-182 ballad “I Miss You.” I have since re-listened to their single “mildlyinteresting,” which succinctly captures the pathos of asking for advice on Reddit, confessing in its catchy refrain that “every question I have, I post on the Internet.”
Room
I wish I had caught more of the opening band, Room, which had all the powerhouse belting and radiant bubblegum rock energy of groups like Beach Bunny and Remember Sports. I caught two of their songs, probably the happiest music in an otherwise doomer-toned lineup.
Lastly, I’ve gotta give some credit to the headliner Evergreen. Noise-punk is not my specialty, and my ears couldn’t quite pick up on chords, melodies, or lyrics to comment on. I did, however, see moshers at the front having a great time, and that’s what counts.
