Porno For Pyros Started One Last Fire at History in Toronto [Photos]

February gave us a couple of special things this year. An extra day, and on that extra day, we had the privilege to experience a Porno For Pyros show in Toronto for the first time since 1996. A 28-year hiatus from visiting town that most thought would be permanent. But Perry Farrell had other plans. He got the band back together and fired up the machine again for one last tour. The “Horns, Thorns en Halos Farewell Tour” rolled into Toronto’s premiere venue, History.

Original members Peter DiStefano on guitar, drummer Stephen Perkins and almost original legendary bassist Mike Watt took the stage bathed in blue light. Watt used a cane to get to his perch on a chair set up at the front of the stage for the show due to decades of knee issues. Farrell strolled out wearing his signature black-brimmed hat, saluted the crowd with a bottle of wine, took a swig and slid into the slow burn of “Porpoise Head.”

Porno for Pyros has only produced two full studio albums, and they were both in the ’90s. But that didn’t seem to sway the faithful fans who swayed and sang along to the vintage tunes as if they came out yesterday.

The band genuinely looked and sounded like they had to get those decades of pent-up notes out of their systems. The sound mix was stellar, with DiStefano’s sometimes searing and sometimes funky guitar cutting through perfectly. And he worked it like the master he is. Watt’s performance was everything. He wasn’t standing, but he was still bringing all the solid grooves. Perkins, also the drummer for Janes Addiction, worked his old-school transparent kit with all the power and charisma he’s been known for forever.

Farrell took control of the show from the start, and his raspy signature delivery is still as compelling today as it was initially. And Farrell is no stranger to glorious extended stream-of-consciousness monologues out to the crowd. Tonight, he story-told nearly all of the songs in the set. Hearing tales woven from such an iconic songwriter throughout the whole evening was one of the highlights. Sometimes rambling abstract, sometimes laser-focused, Farrell is the consummate showman. And he looked like he was having a blast up there.

Toronto native Robin Hatch on keyboards brought out all of the nuances the Pyros songs are known for wonderfully. And backing vocalist Etty Lau Farrell (Farrell’s wife) added her flair and fun to the show as well.

The visuals were on point, with funky, psychedelic, and tribal images swirling on the giant video wall with mostly indirect lighting on the band.  Making it more about being enveloped in the experience as opposed to searing spotlights on the band members.

The 17-song set touched on all the fan favourites, and they also added their new single, “Little Me,” which was released on February 2, 2024. It was bittersweet knowing that we probably wouldn’t see them perform live here again, but at the same time, we were happy we got them one last time.

UK rockers Tigercub opened the show with a snarling punk and fuzzy guitar powerhouse set, which was well received by the crowd.

Porno For Pyros (w/ Tigercub) @ History (Toronto, ON) on February 29, 2024

57 photos