THE DIRTY NIL
W/ Single Mothers & Dear God
November 20, 2019 | London Music Hall
The Dirty Nil is one of the newer stars of the Canadian music scene. Hailing from Dundas, Ont, the band mixes classic rock n’ roll attitude with a garage-rock sound. The Dirty Nil released their second full-length album, Master Volume, in 2018. The band has been on a victory tour since, and this was very much the feeling of their show in London.
This concert was very much a celebration of the local music scene as London-natives Single Mothers co-headlined the event. Single Mothers took the stage and commanded the audience’s attention as soon as they arrived. The band’s energetic set was marked by crowd sing-alongs, guitar solos, and general revelry. While the band no longer lives in London, lead-singer Andrew Thomson spoke on stage about what it meant playing back home.
“It’s so good to be back. Our career started here and even though we don’t spend as much time here anymore, we’ll always play here as much as possible. There’s something special about playing in London, especially when it’s your hometown”
The crowd seemed to appreciate the band as much as they did the opportunity to play a local show. But this was just an appetizer to the real main event. The Dirty Nil.
The crowd erupted as the Dirty Nil took the stage, a sign of their growing and dedicated fan base. The band played a diverse set that showcased their versatile styles. Towards the end of the show, they revealed their harder sound, playing a Metallica cover. Then right after, going back to their rock n’ roll bread-and-butter with a triumphant rendition of We Are the Champions by Queen to end the night.
Overall, the show was a solid night that showcased two of the brightest entries in Canada’s burgeoning punk scene.
PUP
W/ Charly Bliss & Nobro
October 18, 2019 | London Music Hall
A raucous crowd of about 1600 people packed the London Music Hall Friday Night.
The sold-out crowd awaited the arrival of PUP, a Toronto-based punk rock band.
The show was the band’s first performance in London since the release of their new album, “Morbid Stuff”, a record that reached number 15 on the Canadian Albums chart in April of this year. Past its popularity, the album also received critical acclaim as Billboard called it a “must-hear punk album”.
The buzz created by the album has brought in many new fans for the band. One of these new fans is Lucas Thompson, a 22-year-old from Thunder Bay Ontario who traveled to London just to see the show.
“I started listening to PUP when the new album came out. I had heard of them before, but never really gave them a try. This is my first time seeing them and it definitely didn’t disappoint” Thompson said.
The band’s energetic music whipped the crowd into a frenzy, turning the music-hall floor into a chaotic mosh pit. Though mosh pits may seem violent or unnecessary, fans of the band believe it’s an activity that brings people together.
Stephen Roberts, a concert-goer from Guelph said about the mosh pits, “Tonight, we were one. I’ve been to so many shows where people just watch through their phone screens. But not tonight. We all participated and became part of the show.”
Unity was a common theme of the evening, as the band took time during their set to preach the importance of things such as taking care of people in need, voting, and participating in the community.
This was taken a step further when the band announced that all the money generated by sales of a special poster would be donated to RAVEN (Respecting Aboriginal Values and Environmental Needs), a “non-profit charitable organization that provides financial resources to assist Aboriginal Nations within Canada in lawfully forcing industrial development to be reconciled with their traditional ways of life”.
The band has become a mainstay in the London music scene, with this being their sixteenth stop through the Forest City. Towards the end of the set Stephen Babcock, the band’s lead singer, took a moment to talk about the groups’ connection to London.
“As a band, we’ve played here, so much. As an individual, I’ve played here at least 45 times. And this is the most fun I’ve ever had. London is always a great town to play in, and we love playing so close to home.”
Long-time fan of the band Evan Jacobs echoed that sentiment after the show, saying
“This is the fifth time I’ve seen PUP, and it was the best show yet. It’s just such a fun atmosphere. They’re my favourite band and that’s mostly because of how great they are live”.
Though they have played London many times, this was PUP’s first appearance in the London Music Hall, a sign of their growing popularity.
Previous to this sold-out show, the band regularly played at Call the Office, a significantly smaller venue. Only time will tell if the band can continue their current rise in popularity.
All reviews by Robert Brent
London (ON) Punk Rock 