SPILL FESTIVAL REVIEW: PREPARE THE GROUND - KONTRAVOID & KEN MODE @ THE GARRISON, TORONTO

PREPARE THE GROUND – KONTRAVOID & KEN MODE

@ THE GARRISON, TORONTO

MAY 31 & JUNE 2, 2024

Prepare the Ground took Place in Toronto over the weekend with an absolutely stellar and varied line up of bands taking place at numerous venues around the city. Our coverage began on Friday evening at The Garrison and what a way to kick off the festival.

Ada Rook got things started off followed by Concavity, a darkwave/post-punk duo from Hamilton. The two shared vocal duties giving a refreshing contrast to the genre that made for a captivating performance.

Toronto’s own Völur took the stage next and turned the room upside down with a progressive mix of trance-inducing doom. Vocalist and violinist Laura Bates performed solos that were unlike anything you’ve ever heard while belting screams that made the audience feel like they were apart of some kind of folk ritual. They were a nice palate cleanser for what was to come next.

Before even taking the stage, dance sensation Raws Schlesinger caught the eyes of audience members with his leather heavy outfit and herculean confidence. That energy was amplified when Plack Blague took the stage and brought the room to another level. His dancing and intensity turned the venue into a night club and everyone was moving. He made the audience feel free and the more comfortable he got on stage, the more the audience joined him.

Somehow Odonis Odonis was not only able to follow that set but topped it. The Toronto duo really turned the volume up and it felt like the stage was shaking when they started. You could feel the infectious beats in your toes. One of the highlights being “Nasty Boy.” A truly infectious piece of electronic music that would hypnotise you but also make you want to dance.

The only way to top the evening off was with the one and only Kontravoid. Gracing the stage in all black with black gloves and his white porcelain mask he commanded your attention like no one else had up to this point. The music did all the talking and made you feel like you were in a basement in Berlin watching an artist at work. The room became his dark and mesmerizing world of gothic synths.

On Sunday the vibe had shifted from the pounding of electronics to D-beats which was started by New York punk veterans This is hell.

Since the band’s inception, This Is Hell returned to Toronto for the first time in over a decade. They set the tone for the day with their crossover blend of hardcore punk and even inspired a circle pit to form.

Shortly after their set the room filled quickly wall to wall as Winnipeg’s KEN Mode was set to take the stage next. You could tell there was anticipation in the air as there always is with KEN Mode because you know you’re about to be entertained by their psychotic brand of metal.

They began their set with “A Love Letter.” The vicious opening track on the album NULL which was the perfect introduction. Vocalist Jesse Matthewson doing his signature wide-eyed graphic facial expressions with each scream he lets out. He makes each audience member feel like he’s personally confronting them with his vocal delivery which makes for an intimate and disturbing viewing experience but it’s exactly why their live shows are a must-see event. Bassist Scott Hamilton matches his intensity with an equally ferocious performance, at times looking like a borderline drug addict looking for his next fix. He sometimes stumbles around the stage looking lost and sick but it’s all intentional and part of the show. They really lose themselves when they are playing and it’s infectious to watch.

They wrapped up their set and were arguably one of the peaks of the weekend. If next year’s line up is half as good then we’re in for a treat.

(Photography by Jacob Vandergeer)