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Music

CMW 2015 Reviews: Saturday, May 2

METZ at Lee’s Palace, Saturday, May 2. Rating: NNNN 


The best shows are the ones where the band is genuinely stoked to be playing, and the crowd thrilled to be witnessing it. Hometown heroes METZ were more than warmed up on the second night of their sold-out two-show run at Lee’s Palace celebrating the release of new album II. 

They delivered a seriously explosive set of noisy sludge-punk from the get-go. Thanks to the brevity of their songs, they were able to squeeze most of their two-album discography into an hour onstage. Dramatic, flashing lights illuminated their frenzied freak-out moves and the crowd’s elated cheering. CARLA GILLIS @carlagillis


GOLDLINK at Tattoo, Saturday, May 2. Rating: NNNN 


DMV rapper Goldlink has dubbed his dance-y brand of hip-hop ‘Future Bounce,’ but his debut headlining set in Toronto – part of a line-up hosted by local indie showcase The Known Unknown – tapped into the tried-and-true tradition of ‘crying on the dancefloor’-style pop.

He revved-up the crowd with hip-hop party anthems, and had them singing along to songs based around TLC and Missy Elliott samples, as well as his catchy Kaytranda-produced summer single Sober Thoughts. The heady vibe buoyed the sometimes painful subject matter in agile flows and dense rhymes that he delivered with relaxed confidence. KEVIN RITCHIE @kevinritchie


RON SEXSMITH at Massey Hall, Saturday, May 2. Rating: NNNN


Several times during his Massey Hall show, Ron Sexsmith apologized to the crowd for making mistakes, but that seemed more a reflection of his shy, self-deprecating humour than a sign that anything was actually awry musically.

Sexsmith and his band don’t put on a particularly high energy show, but that’s not a problem. He’s able to win over the crowd simply on the strength of his impressively rich catalogue of songs and beautifully understated singing. BENJAMIN BOLES @benjaminboles

FIDLAR at the Horseshoe Tavern, Saturday, May 2. Rating: NNNNN


There is a moment for many young people where they take a step back and think, “It’s time I get my life together.” That moment doesn’t seem to exist for FIDLAR.

Armed with nothing but their insanely relentless anthems, the LA band destroyed their entire allotted hour at the ‘Shoe by inspiring a bonkers mosh pit and so much crowd surfing that friendly security was stage-side the entire set. If you got out with nothing but a beer shower, you’re one of the lucky ones. MATT WILLIAMS @MattGeeWilliams


ZOOBOMBS at The Silver Dollar, Saturday, May 2. Rating: NNNN 


Zoobombs’ set lived up to the hype as one of the must-see acts of CMW. At a packed and very sweaty Silver Dollar, the Tokyo band brought an onslaught of noise with their feedback-driven rock and roll balanced by hidden pop melodies that emerge when you least expect it.

Half of the time, you couldn’t understand if lead vocalist/guitarist Don Matsuo was singing in Japanese or English – but it didn’t matter. Zoobombs’ unbridled, chaotic and mesmerizing energy overpower any language barriers. SAMANTHA EDWARDS @SamEdwardsTO

music@nowtoronto.com | @nowtoronto


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