BIG WRECK w/ TEXAS KING
@ HISTORY, TORONTO
DECEMBER 22, 2023
After a massive year in which they released not one, but two EP’s – March’s 7.3 and November’s Pages – Big Wreck have spent their fall touring across North America. To close out nearly two months on the road, the band, led by lead singer and guitarist Ian Thornley, headlined Toronto’s History, along with local openers, Texas King, and a special and intimate performance from Daniel Greaves of The Watchmen.
Texas King took the stage to a room that was, very quickly, filling up. Having supported Big Wreck across North America since November, their set at History was celebratory with an air of homecoming and, given how much of a crowd had arrived early, the band has very much earned their place as Toronto’s next up and coming artist to watch. Their sound was incredibly modern; alternative rock built upon a singer-songwriter foundation likening it to indie rock. Front man and lead singer Jordan MacDonald was absolutely incredible. His voice sounded like that of an older soul; however, his presence was that of youthful abandon as he pranced around the stage, truly having the time of his life. Songs like “Not Myself”, “Home”, “Capsize” and “Chandelier”, along with a cover of Post Malone’s “Chemical”, made for a strong performance from Texas King.
TEXAS KING
Big Wreck opened their show in a way few others could. As the band walked on, the percussive synths of “In Fair Light” began to play through the speakers. With such a lengthy intro, the band stood there, creating a feeling of anticipation, which was only heightened by the smooth lead lines from lead vocalist and guitarist Ian Thornley. As the lines cut through the backing track, the band continued to wait until finally coming in together to tackle the challenging, progressive shifts of the song some two minutes later. The band, despite suffering through a flu as Thornley would admit near the end of the set, was in top form. From the explosive drums of Sekou Lumumba, to the rock-solid rhythm guitar of Chris Caddell, and the bass runs and subtle vocal harmonies of Dave McMillan, the band was tight. At the center of it all was Thornley, a figure who is criminally underrated for his equally exceptional work as both a vocalist and guitarist. In addition to their performance and cohesion as a band, Big Wreck was further aided by an incredibly balanced sound, something that demonstrates an extra level of care for their craft and the audience experience that can often fall to the wayside.
Their performance was nothing short of jaw dropping. From mid-tempo rockers that teeter towards balladry, such as “That Song” and “Albatross”, to relentless hard rock tracks inspired by grunge and metal – “Bombs Away” and “Bail Out” – Big Wreck demonstrates an impressive level of conviction at both dynamics without one clearly superseding the other. Furthermore, the musicianship on stage exceeds that of most rock bands. Thornley in particular, with vocals reminiscent of that of Chris Cornell, and a guitar soloing style that seamlessly navigates the blues rock influence of Jimmy Page, the shred heavy style of Eddie Van Halen, and the technical virtuosity of Steve Vai, is a sight to behold all on his own. Additional highlights included performance of “Locomotive”, “Ghosts” – which featured an extended guitar solo from Thornley that went into a verse of The Doobie Brothers’ “Long Train Runnin’, sung by Caddell before returning to the original song – “Ladylike”, “Blown Wide Open”, and the show closer, “The Oaf”, featuring Greaves on vocals.
With a no frills, bare bones rock show that allowed for the musicality and songwriting to stand on its own, Big Wreck continues to establish themselves as titans of modern rock worthy of significantly more recognition. Given the recent release of Pages, the first of three EPs from the band, it is exciting to imagine that they will likely return to the road in the new year, making this a thrilling time to be a fan of Big Wreck.
SPILL FEATURE: PAGES – A CONVERSATION WITH BIG WRECK’S IAN THORNLEY
Big Wreck Links
Texas King Links
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BIG WRECK – PAGES
