TEENAGE FANCLUB
@ THE PHOENIX CONCERT THEATRE, TORONTO
MARCH 8, 2019
Like the welcome warmth of a spring wind, Teenage Fanclub blew through Toronto on this early March nightβand fans were eager for their return. This current North American tour is significant, as it marks the bandβs first tour since the departure of co-founder, bassist and songwriter Gerard Love, in November of 2018.Β However Love-less, Teenage Fanclub soldiers on.
Since their inaugural release, A Catholic Education in 1990, Teenage Fanclub has been sharing their distinct brand of alt/jangle/power pop consistently throughout the years, with their most recent album being 2016βs Here. Their release this year of the new single βEverything Is Falling Apartβ, shows a way forward, despite the absence of Loveβs sweet voice in harmony with co-founders Norman Blake and Raymond McGinley.
All that being said, Teenage Fanclub had something to prove when they took the stage. Kicking their set off with βAbout You,β the band led the audience on a time trip, touching on songs from their pre-millennial catalogue, such as βStart Againβ, and βThe Cabbageβ. From early on in their performance, this band was set to show that they were still a rocking unit, with Blake and McGinley on guitars and vocals, coupled with the solid, tasteful and deliberate drumming of Francis MacDonald. For this tour, regular keyboardist Dave McGowan has switched to playing bass, and Euros Child has filled McGowanβs spot, on keys and backing vocals.
There were plenty of high points in the show, despite the absence of a key voice. The rocking hooky-ness of βCatholic Educationβ, the haunting piano figure ofΒ βOnly With Youβ, and the amazing harmonies and dynamic build of βThe Conceptβ were all standout musical moments.
The band came back for an encore which included a Neil Young and Crazy Horse cover, βDonβt Cry No Tearsβ, as well as βThe Fallβ from their album Shadows. For the final song of the night, Blake invited Brendan Canning of Broken Social Scene to the stage, for help on a rollicking version ofΒ βEverything Flowsβ, with heavy audience sing-along support on the chorus.
As one audience member remarked before the show, βIn the early β90s, they combined heavy guitars with sweet melodies and harmonies and catchy hooks. They did it better than anyone else, before anyone else was doing it.βΒ It was from this position that Teenage Fanclub built their fan base. Almost thirty years on, the sound may be tempered, and members may move on, but the band is still evolving. Given their performance in Toronto, this is a group that clearly respects their past, but are keen to move forward.
Set List
About You
Start Again
The Cabbage
Everything Is Falling Apart
Only With You
Catholic Education
Alcoholiday
The Darkest Part of the Night
Your Love Is the Place Where I Come From
Planets
Verisimilitude
I Don’t Want Control Of You
Itβs A Bad World
I’m In Love
My Uptight Life
The Concept
Encore:
Donβt Cry No Tears (Neil Young/Crazy Horse cover)
The Fall
Everything Flows
ArtistΒ Links
Photo Credits: Donald Milne
SPILL NEW MUSIC: TEENAGE FANCLUB SHARE NEW SINGLE & VIDEO βEVERYTHING IS FALLING APARTβ AHEAD OF NORTH AMERICAN TOUR
