CIVIC took to the stage at The Baby G on Monday night with a burst of energy and punk rock attitude, delivering the kind of tight, vibrant set that made you forget it was a Monday. It was the band’s first time in Toronto, and they played like they were trying to make up for lost time.
Touring behind their latest release Chrome Dipped, the Melbourne-based four piece were a long way from home, but they somehow made a connection between their hometown and Toronto, specifically the stretch of Dundas West just outside of The Baby G.
“That street looks like fuckin’ Melbourne out there” noted frontman Jim McCullough at one point and though I’ve never been to Melbourne, I guess I’ll take his word for it. I did try to fact-check this with a friend who has been there and his response was that he remembers tramlines and a lot of tall dudes walking around. I … guess that checks out? More or less, anyway.
Following their first song, McCullough greeted the crowd with a simple yet straightforward “What the fuck is up?” followed quickly by a bit of advice for everyone that they’d “better move the fuck up here” as he motioned for the crowd to move a little closer. And of course, they did – with the presence of a Black Flag-era Henry Rollins who’s cultivated a strong sense of the absurd, this is a man you listen to. McCullough further broke down barriers between band and audience when he pushed a monitor aside early on in the set – for more ease of movement, sure, but the gesture also helped to send a clear message about the kind of show this was going to be.
One of the highlights of the evening came partway through their set, when the band launched into “Starting All The Dogs Off” from the new album. “It’s a bit of a slow build, but stay with us. Do you trust us?” McCullough asked the crowd. And that’s when the bowling pin made an appearance.
I’m not even sure how it happened, or why. All I know is I looked down for one second and when I looked up, there was a bowling pin. Yes, a bowling pin. McCullough was not just holding this bowling pin, but fully cradling it as he sang – he even appeared to be serenading the pin directly at a couple of points. What was going on exactly? Was the pin meant to symbolize something? Was it a souvenir taken from the alley one night after bowling a particularly good game? No idea, but hey, sometimes you’ve just got to go with the flow and accept that, on rare occasion, bowling pins can show up at the punk rock show. To quote that kid from Magnolia, this is something that happens.
Also something that happened? CIVIC put on a fantastic, high energy show. Not bad for a Monday night.
