Made Them Lions – The Supermarket, Toronto – March 5th, 2015

Review & Photography By: Matthew Bamber

The crowd was electrified by an amazing performance by Montreal’s very own Made Them Lions on March 5^th. The show was held at The Supermarket which is a marvel in itself as the venue is split into two parts; a fully operational restaurant with booth seating and a full bar, and then as the show gets closer to starting, the rear walls of the restaurant are taken away to reveal the stage and dance floor beyond. I met up with members of Strut Entertainment before the show and they gave me a little bit of background on the band and showed me a good time while I was there. Before the show started I had the pleasure of being introduced to a couple of members of Made Them Lions, who were really cool, calm and collected guys. That is until the stage lights dimmed…

Made Them Lions

Made Them Lions has an amazing sound that I guess some would call pop, but the way they infuse so many different genres such as reggae and rock, blends well to create their unique style. Lead singer Mike Valetta has such distinct vocals and range that the band’s sound can be taken in many different directions, allowing Made Them Lions to present their music in various fashions. For example, their newest single, “Forgotten How to Dream” presents an ominous ballad that evolves into a motivational song.

Made Them Lions

During the course of the show they played two covers of chart topping hits – the first “I’m Not the Only One” by Sam Smith, which was played beautifully and displayed the soft ballad abilities of the band. It also further displayed Valetta’s range as all the notes were hit as if Sam himself was crooning the song. The second was “Ho Hey” by The Lumineers, which was a crowd pleaser for sure as the band started a sing-along that had the crowd belting out the lyrics.

Mike Valetta

One of the best qualities that Made Them Lions possesses is their stage presence. They walked out and owned the room. They stampeded up and down the stage, jumping and raging to their more upbeat style songs, and played it cool and solemnly when it was time for their ballads. They were professionals in the way the show flowed, making sure to include the crowd in sing-along portions of the performance that effectively got people moving. Other than music, Made Them Lions are very active members of the community, with the members taking part in various projects and youth initiatives that inspire talent on the streets while keeping kids out of trouble. These are qualities that make the band that much more respectable.

Jono Thorpe

I can envision Made Them Lions escalating their career in the near future. There is just so much talent here that needs to be heard by a more large scale audience. So if you’re reading this, show some support and go check out their music because I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. You never know, you might just find your next favourite band. They have definitely made a fan out of me and I cannot wait for their next appearance in Toronto.

http://mtlband.ca/

Mike Valetta on Drums