Baroness (with Royal Thunder) @ Virgin Mobile Mod Club (Toronto, ON) on August 9, 2013 [Show Review]

‎As the Toronto crowd slowly trickled into the Virgin Mobile Mod Club there was a weirdly quick influx of people and the venue shot from 20 patrons to a hundred in a matter of 2 Royal Thunder songs. With a couple beers and a shot of Jameson lying dead on the bar counter, I realized that what was a dreadfully empty venue had become quite rammed. Sure, most people might be here to see Baroness triumph over evil with their luscious tunes, but God damn they were treated to some fucking good Royal Thunder. The trio were in top form and easily outdid their last Toronto performance (they hit the Horseshoe Tavern back in October of 2012).

With an atmosphere ripe for smokin’ and drinkin’, the night’s vibe was already at a steaming, sexy pace only midway through RT’s set – it couldn’t have been better. A few songs later and the crowd was buzzing from the band’s stoner-induced fuzzy riffs and rolling beats and Royal walked off the stage with their heads high (pun intended). To say the least, Toronto was impressed, warmed and fucking ready for Baroness.

A sweet t-shirt purchase later and the crowd was increasingly anxious for the night’s headliners. Unfortunately we had to wait far far too long before Baroness would send the first wave of sweet chords outwards over the audience. ‎That said, once the excruciating wait was over, the big B kicked right into “Take My Bones Away” and instantly the night’s nearly-lost magic was resuscitated in a goose pump-inducing wave of “let’s fucking party!” From that point onward the night was purely flawless and after a hour and fifteen long set (not to mention the 3-song encore) there wasn’t a single person around who didn’t go home absolutely content. Bravo bands, bravo!

Check out the song “Take My Bones Away”