The Interrupters, Skinny Lister, and Sharp Shock Get Rowdy at Toronto’s Rebel [Photos & Show Review]

Things got ska-licious at Rebel Nightclub in Toronto when The Interrupters, along with Skinny Lister, and Sharp Shock, rolled through town. It really was an all-ages show, with families of all types (and ages) in attendance. It was quite awesome to observe older generation punk fans, and the next generation along, with their very young children, all together at one show. Many of the children seemed to be wearing industrial-strength earplugs, and were certainly having as much fun as their parents. What a great way to introduce the youngest generation to music.

The first band of the evening was Sharp Shock, a three-piece from California via the U.K. and New Zealand. The power-punk trio belted out an energizing set of nine songs, that got fans warmed up. Sharp Shock’s first three songs were “Bees And Honey,” “I Don’t Wanna Be A Millionaire,” and “Sub Society.”

A quick swap of equipment on stage and an elderly gentleman makes his way onto the stage. I’m not quite sure of everything he’s saying, but then he suddenly shouts, “please give a warm welcome to Skinny-Fucking-Lister!” This London based six-piece “folk punk ska goodtime fun” band were just that… fun! All I had to do was look at the smiles on people’s faces to know what a blast everyone was having. And the members were too—from Max Thomas on melodeon and mandolin, Scott Milsom flipping his double bass in the air as though it hardly weighed anything, Sam Mule on guitar and concertina, Thom Mills on drums, Dan Heptinstall on guitar and vocals, and Lorna Thomas on vocals, everyone was all smiles.

Just released a few weeks ago, watch the music video for “The Second Amendment” from Skinny Lister’s new album, The Story Is:

These guys were all over the stage and off it as well, having what looked like as good a time as everyone in the audience. At one point singer Lorna wandered off-stage and went for a little stroll then stopped to dance with a “Mini-Skinny” fan so cool, you could see the absolute glee in this mini-fans face, and you can believe that’s going to leave a lasting “good music” impression on her for a long time. One great thing that Rebel did that truly deserves a “well-done pat on the back” is reserve the two lower V.I.P. sections for the littlest fans. This way they too got a perfect view of the excitement on stage. Skinny Lister’s first three songs were “38 Minutes,” “Tragedy In A Minor,” and “Devil In Me.”

I can’t say much more about the night’s headliner than what my colleague Dana Zuk in Edmonton wrote about The Interrupters show there at the end of October, other than that they’re friggin awesome! They’re so much fun to see live and in my case, be able to photograph in concert that I have to see them any opportunity I get. The L.A. based punk-ska group are so full of life and positive energy that it’s as if a wave of happiness washes over everyone as soon as they come on stage. Now if you could only bottle and market that you’d have a winner!

Right as the very first song they play a huge crowd favourite (as well as mine), “A Friend Like Me.” Singer Aimee Allan wastes no time and climbs down from the stage into the pit area to shake fans’ hands. Once again the smiles and looks in the eyes of the fans whose hands she shook said it all. It was such a cool set of great tunes and atmosphere that you were just helpless against heads bobbing, feet stomping, hands clapping, legs moving, holy shit, I think that’s called dancing! Such a great night, I can’t wait till they come back to Toronto!

Check out the music video for “Gave You Everything” from The Interrupters’ most rcent record, Fight The Good Fight:

The Interrupters Toronto Set List:

01. “A Friend Like Me”
02. “By My Side”
03. “Take Back The Power”
04. “Title Holder”
05. “Be Gone”
06. “The Prosecutor”
07. “Liberty”
08. “Bad Guy”
09. “Broken World”
10. “Easy On You”
11. “Got Each Other”
12. “Good Things”
13. “Jenny Drinks”
14. “On A Turntable”
15. “Room With A View”
16. “The Valley”
17. “Not Personal”
18. “She Got Arrested”
19. “Gave You Everything”

The Interrupters’ third record, Fight The Good Fight, was released June 29th, 2018, via Epitaph/Hellcat Records:

Upcoming Tour Dates:

01/27 – Tramshed – Cardiff, UK
01/28 – 02 Institute – Birmingham, UK
01/29 – 02 Academy – Liverpool, UK
01/31 – SWG3 – Glasgow, UK
02/01 – 02 Academy – Leeds, UK
02/02 – 02 Ritz – Manchester, UK
02/04 – 02 Academy – Bristol, UK
02/05 – Rock City – Nottingham, UK
02/07 – 02 Forum Kentish Town – London, UK
07/17 – T-Mobile Park – Seattle, WA
07/21 – Oracle Park – San Francisco, CA
07/24 – PETCO Park – San Diego, CA
07/25 – Dodger Stadium – Los Angeles, CA
07/28 – Dick’s Sporting Goods Park – Denver, CO
07/31 – Globe Life Field – Dallas, TX
08/01 – Minute Maid Park – Houston, TX
08/05 – Hard Rock Stadium – Miami, FL
08/06 – TIAA Bank Field – Atlanta, GA
08/08 – SunTrust Park – Atlanta, GA
08/11 – Target Field – Minneapolis, MN
08/13 – Wrigley Field – Chicago, IL
08/15 – PNC Park – Pittsburgh, PA
08/16 – Hersheypark Stadium – Hershey, PA
08/19 – Comerica Park – Detroit, MI
08/21 – Nationals Park – Washington, DC
08/22 – Citi Field – New York, NY
08/24 – Rogers Centre – Toronto, ON
08/27 – Fenway Park – Boston, MA
08/29 – Citizens Bank Park – Philadelphia, PA