Show Review: Attack In Black @ Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto, ON, February 13, 2010

The snow had just began falling and my Chucks had a few new rips in the sides; they should really be in the trash but that’s not going to happen, I really don’t find it that cold outside so it’s fine. I’ve met up with my friend Emily and we walk into the legendary Horseshoe Tavern in Downtown Toronto for the last date of Attack In Black’s cross-Canada tour. I’m happy about the reception I get from the bouncers as they didn’t card me, this has never happened since I started coming to the Horseshoe.

It’s really warm inside and there’s no place to sit, there’s barely any standing room but enough to get by. The first band comes on, the band goes by Daniel Romano, the name of the frontman – if the name rings a bell it’s because he is also the frontman for the headlining act, Attack in Black. This is Daniel’s family band it seems, he explained this when he was introducing the band – his aunt on bass, his brother on drums and his dad on harmonica (for the first song) and guitar, there was also a girl doing some backup vocals, but she was not introduced as part of the family.

This family band had a country-folk sound with your typical acoustic guitar, harmonica, bass guitar and drums as the line up, along with a girl singing backup vocals. The father of Daniel Romano played his harmonica for the first song and then switched it up for a gorgeous classic f-hole electric for the second song right through until the end of the set; at this point Daniel donned a “hands-free” harmonica for that sound which everyone knows so well. Musically they were a talented group; however, I’m not a huge fan of this style of music. It was interesting to hear Daniel’s other project and see the diversity of his work.

Next up, was The Baird Brothers. This band, fronted by Jay Baird, was just drums and guitar with Jay singing. They had a pretty cool sound and I recommend checking them out. Since I am not too familiar with this style of music I really don’t know who to compare them to but they had some folk and country mixed into there. Jay had some hilarious things to say and introductions to his songs; though I’m sure I was the only one laughing. For example, he stated that one of his songs was about “log cabins and infidelities,” not hilarious in itself but the way he put it gave me a good case of the chuckles.

Finally, the main event, Attack In Black. The band came on to the whole crowd cheering, and this crowd was a lot larger than it was for the other bands; the packed and warm room became like a can of anchovies in a sauna. Everyone cheered after every song, and with good reason, this was indie rock – or whatever you prefer to call this style of music – at its finest. Musical talent and catchy riffs filled the hour long set. Daniel Romano sported a beat-up guitar (I couldn’t make out the brand) with one of the two pickups taken out, and the other guitarist – who resembled Ryan Gosling from certain angles – also only use a single pickup. For me, a single pickup on a guitar is a rare site, however it was definitely a good choice.

Around the 5th song in Attack In Black’s set, the bassist and drummer switched up for a few songs. Before they returned to the instruments they were initially playing, Jay Baird of the Baird Brothers, came on stage to play sax for one of the songs, this definitely gave the song some extra kick and I would love to hear more Attack In Black with some brass added into the mix.

With one song left in the set, some idiot tossed an empty beer bottle backwards into the crowd and it hit the girl standing in front of me right on the head. Thankfully, everyone pointed him out and he was taken out the back door of the venue, she had to leave and I hope she’s alright; I’m sure it will just bruise. After that odd incident, Attack In Black finished their song and left the stage. As with any decent concert the crowd chanted for an encore. In response to the cries of the crowd, Attack In Black returned to the stage and offered to play another song, but only if someone would sing it, the song they played was titled “Cut and Run.” The crowd ate it up, though the volunteer to sing it felt too out of place, not that I was expecting instant chemistry.

With the night over I hopped on the subway and came home to enjoy the space and decent temperature within the living room of my apartment. It was a good night and I have definitely become a fan of Attack In Black. I was glad to see members of Cancer Bats, The Diverse Attraction, Uplift and Pissed To The Eye in attendance as well as Mitch Brown from 102.1 The Edge. Check out Attack In Black live, and pick up a copy of their latest release Years (By One Thousand Fingertips) available on CD or Vinyl.  [ END ]

Check out the song: “Marriage”