This past March, during SXSW, I saw Maruja twice. Well, sort of. On each occasion, I walked in just at the tail end of their set, only catching a few minutes the first time around and maybe a couple of songs at the second show. But even with just a brief glimpse of the band, the power and intensity of their performance shone through. In concert, Maruja are a formidable force.
Now, months later, with the band back on tour in North America again (and in a significantly larger venue this time around after selling out The Garrison the last time they played Toronto) I was determined to finally get the full Maruja experience, taking in their Saturday night set at the Phoenix Concert Theatre alongside Kingdom of Birds. They did not disappoint.
Drawing from a wide range of influences, Maruja offers up a heady sonic brew with a sound that brings together the attitude and intensity of Idles, the fury of Rage Against The Machine and heavy jazz/psych vibes of The Comet is Coming. Touring behind their debut full-length Pain to Power, the Manchester four-piece put on a passionate performance that saw them running through heavy numbers like “Break the Tension” and “Look Down on Us” alongside mellower, more contemplative fare such as “Saoirse,” with its refrain of “It’s our differences that make us beautiful” helping to drive home the band’s core message.
“We may seem aggressive, but our message is one of peace and solidarity,” said singer/guitarist Harry Wilkinson towards the end of their set before asking the audience to join him and the band “in raising a fist for solidarity. And for love!”
The crowd, of course, complied and as we all stood there in silence, fists raised, I reflected back on another show just over a year before this one, when Idles played for a packed house at Coca Cola Coliseum. In my review of that show, I commented on the band’s “aggressive yet joyful and positive energy.” It’s an energy that’s also present in Maruja and one that made for a memorable and cathartic performance.
