Last month, Chris Levoir, singer and guitarist for local garage rockers The Mark Inside, died unexpectedly of unknown causes. His death came one month shy of the scheduled release of the band’s third album, Dark Hearts Can Radiate White Light.
Last night, family, friends and fans packed The Great Hall (where Levoir worked as a sound engineer) for a celebration of his life and music, and to hear the record played loud, front to back over the sound system. It was emotional and surreal. As the tracks played, videos of the band’s live performances were projected over the empty stage, while remaining members Gus Harris, Geoff Bennett and Reade Ollivier looked on.
It was odd to hear TMI’s songs in a venue without the band’s legendary live presence, but the large crowd stood dutifully facing the stage as they would for any live performance, and offered sustained applause after each of the eight tracks.
The celebration also included the premiere of the music video for Don’t Wake Daniel, shot by David Waldman weeks before Levoir’s death. Plus, a who’s who of Toronto’s rock scene performed covers of some of Levoir’s favourite tunes, including a moving rendition of Sam Cooke’s A Change Is Gonna Come by the Great Hall’s resident cover band Loving In The Name Of, and Joy Division’s Transmission by members of The Disraelis and Action Makes.
Before the night was over, bassist Geoff Bennett shared a piece of good news: the recording sessions for Dark Hearts produced ten songs not included on the album, which the band will release down the road.
While Levoir is gone and sorely missed, we haven’t heard the last of The Mark Inside.
