Till Lindemann Visits Toronto on First North American Solo Tour [Photos]
Till Lindemann rolled through Toronto, arriving at the Theatre at Great Canadian Casino along with Aesthetic Perfection and Twin Temple.
A dark-humoured German poet rolled into town this past Thursday as part of his first-ever North American solo tour. Till Lindemann, singer of the juggernaut theatrical metal band Rammstein, brought his collection of misfit toys to the brand spanking new Theatre at Great Canadian Casino. While Rammstein usually fills stadiums and festivals with 100,000 pairs of ears eagerly taking in the onslaught, this venue was decidedly more intimate at 5,000 souls. The stage show was scaled back from the 5-alarm fire we normally see at a Rammstein show. But the intensity of the music and imagery was the same punishingly beautiful spectacle the fans have come to expect from a show helmed by Lindemann.
Dressed in a shockingly tight bright red number, adorned with all the zippers, metal rings and face paint, Lindemann started the show with the title track from his 2023 album Zunge. Marching around the stage, interacting with the fans in front, no microphone or mic stand was safe from his wrath. Lindemann must have a record of some sort for the largest number of mic drops in a single show. The set was a delicious mix of about half of the tunes on the newest album, along with the choice pieces of his previous band Lindemann albums, Skills in Pills and F & M.
Lindemann’s vocal prowess was on full display, effortlessly transitioning from haunting melodies to guttural growls, captivating the audience at every turn. The band was locked in for the full show as well. Bassist Danny Lohner, well known from his days in Nine Inch Nails, held his own with the equally heavy industrial material he’s known for. Guitarists Jes Paige and Emily Ruvidich held court on each side of the stage in tight leather garb with energizer bunny-level intensity. Keyboardist Constance Antoinette worked her keyboard rigs, complete with spring-loaded swinging stands throughout, tossing her giant ponytail at a frenzied pace. All while nailing the haunting orchestral parts of the show. And sometimes taking a break to work the stripper pole on stage beside her, as did Lindemann.
Drummer Joe Letz’s clown costume was next level, with a surgical mouth clamp mask keeping a creepy permanent maniacal grin going, along with a fully exposed female breast prosthetic and leather corset completing the look. The whole band brought the goods.
Dark imagery, disturbing scenes, questionable subject matter, X-rated lyrics and some pungent props implied that this wasn’t a run-of-the-mill rock show. “Fat” and “Golden Shower,” along with “Skills in Pills,” held nothing back lyrically or visually on the giant video wall as the fans took it all in, dancing and cheering. “Blut” saw water jets misting the fans halfway back on the floors, with Lindemann stage-diving into the crowd at the end of the song.
During “Platz Eins,” Lindemann showed up in the crowd, being carried in a sedan chair, Egyptian pharaoh style, by four burly dudes. He exited the chair at the back of the floor and continued back to the stage on foot, singing and interacting with the lucky fans.
During “Fish On,” Lindemann’s minions brought out a pan of raw fish for him to toss at the closer GA floor fans. Probably thinking they were out of the woods, fans further back found that they were now “in range” when Lindemann was brought an air-powered “fish gun” to blast the smelly cargo much farther into the crowd.
A Till Lindemann show is never dull! Standouts were “Du hast kein Herz,” “Sport frei,” and encore tracks “Knebel” and “Ich hasse Kinder.” All were serious ragers!
Opening the show was American/Austrian hard electronic band Aesthetic Perfection. Daniel Graves, the driving force behind Aesthetic Perfection, took to the stage with an undeniable charisma. Opening with “Gods and Gold,” the audience was immediately drawn into his world—a mix of dark themes and infectious hooks that define the band’s sound. The seven-song set gave any newcomer a great taste of the band’s vibe. Touring bandmates, guitarist/keyboardist NOIZITH and drummer Brooke Colucci absolutely owned the material and backed up Graves’ goth gravel vocals with the crush of a freight train.
Next up was American duo Twin Temple. An apt description might include accolades like Satan’s rock-a-billy house band, or sultry sexy pagan ’50s orgy rock. The inverted crosses, pentagrams, skulls, and swords on stage might have fooled the uninitiated into thinking maybe it was going to be a metal set. Nope, a full-on doo-wap vibe with a Fender Telecaster and saxophone out of the gate. Husband and wife crooners Zachary (guitar) and Alexandra (vocals) James wore the genre well. With their signature vintage attire, evoking a nostalgic vibe that felt both modern and timeless. Both were dressed in shiny patent leather with flames, crosses and glitter everywhere.
Twin Temple captivated the audience with their theatrical flair. Alexandra’s sultry voice effortlessly floated over the instrumentals while her charisma drew everyone in. The duo’s chemistry was palpable as they seamlessly traded playful banter and locked eyes, creating an intimate atmosphere amidst the lively crowd. Zachary’s style incorporated elements of classic rock, surf rock, and vintage pop, reflecting the band’s retro aesthetic. Influences from iconic guitarists like Dick Dale, Link Wray, and Brian Setzer came shining through.
Check out Till Lindemann’s North American tour, continuing through mid-October.
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