PRIMAL SCREAM at the Danforth Music Hall, Friday, May 15. Rating: NNNN
Primal Scream are a band that have defied rock ‘n’ roll norms by bringing druggy dance music into the sound, and a band that have willingly crossed the classic rock threshold into bluesy Southern garage.
Both sides merged seamlessly at the Scottish five-piece’s first Toronto show since the 2013 release of More Light – their 10th and best album since 2000’s menacing masterpiece XTRMNTR. They still sound vital and, although the set list covered several of their stylistic iterations, the heavy, taut, rhythmic energy coming from guitarist Andrew Innes and bassist Simone Butler provided a firm – and loud – anchor.
They opened with More Light’s roaring political psych epic 2013 and tore through Jailbird, Accelerator and the industrial funk of Kill All Hippies before cooling the pace with the spacey Shoot Speed/Kill Light and reflective Damaged.
Sporting his signature fringe and a leopard-print blazer, once-volatile frontman Bobby Gillespie had an unassuming, effortless stage presence that gathered more determination as the band crescendoed into Screamadelica-era hits and Swastika Eyes.
The audience, which skewed heavily dude, finally awakened and was rewarded with a four-song encore that ended with Stonesy stomper Rocks.
kevinr@nowtoronto.com | @kevinritchie
