I will admit up front that going into this show I was not overly familiar with the music of Architects. Mostly, I was just amused by the idea of a metalcore gig happening in an Etobicoke casino. And as I entered the venue, it was definitely a bit amusing to see throngs of black t-shirt clad Architects fans mingling with the casino regulars. (On a side note – who exactly are the people who head out for an evening of gambling on a Thursday night?) It was also somewhat surreal to wander through the sterile, carpeted environs immediately outside the theatre, which looked nice, sure, but felt less like the lead-up to a rock show and more like a hotel convention centre.
Still, once inside the theatre proper, it was more or less like any other club show. And, to be fair, there are some advantages to seeing a show at a casino – including, yes, the opportunity to hit the slots before or after the set. It was also decidedly heartwarming to see some parents bringing their kids to the concert for a little metal family outing, something that’s just not an option at your average bar or club show. Thankfully, most of those kids seemed to be wearing some kind of hearing protection too. Good job, parents. And, of course I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the soft opening of the Lobster Legend Noodle Bar on the premises – second floor, western entrance, to be precise. See you there!
As for Architects, as I said, I was only slightly familiar with the band, but I had the general idea and having given their latest, The Sky, the Earth & All Between, a few perfunctory listens beforehand, I felt sufficiently prepared for the show.
Following a solid opening salvo of “Elegy” off the new album, frontman Sam Carter addressed the crowd, commanding them to “get on your fucking knees right now!” during “Whiplash.” Most complied, getting down low, then jumping up and going wild at the appropriate moment – admittedly, it did look pretty cool. I, however, did not comply. Once you get past a certain age, it’s just not that easy to get back up. It’ll happen to you too, kids …
Later in the set, Carter showed off his sense of humour, shouting, “Toronto!” to pump up the crowd before cheekily adding, “Or should I say 25 or 45, maybe 80 minutes outside of Toronto?”
Quibbles about whether this could be truly billed as a Toronto show aside, Architects put on a bracing, high energy performance that clearly resonated with their fans. Carter noted early on that he could already tell this was going to be one of the best shows of the tour but added that that didn’t give the crowd an excuse to slack off.
He later reminisced about their first time playing Toronto back in the day, recalling how it felt like “home” after weeks of performing to listless U.S. crowds: “It felt like we were playing at home, and it was fucking amazing. And every time we’ve come back it’s felt more and more like home”
And the Toronto crowd seemed more than happy to welcome them back to their home away from home, with one fan even holding up a banner they had made of an image of the band overlaid on a Canadian flag during the encore. A bit odd perhaps, but Carter appreciated the effort, exclaiming, “That fucking rules” before proceeding to wear it over his shoulder for a moment and then placing it over a mic stand for their final number of the evening, “Animals.”
All in all, a solid evening. I came for the novelty of metalcore in a casino and walked away suitably impressed by Architects’ live show. Sadly though, I never did get the chance to check out Lobster Legend Noodle Bar. Maybe next time.
