SPILL LIVE REVIEW: THUNDERCAT @ MASSEY HALL, TORONTO

THUNDERCAT

@ MASSEY HALL, TORONTO

NOVEMBER 1, 2025

As the city was wrapped up in game seven of the World Series, Toronto’s Massey Hall was full for the lone Canadian date of Thundercat’s fall North American tour. His stop at Massey Hall comes near the conclusion of the tour, which follows “I Wish I Didn’t Waste Your Time” and “Children Of The Baked Potato,” a pair of singles released in September, marking the first new solo release from the jazz fusion innovator in five years.

Thundercat and his trio, consisting of Justin Brown on drums and Dennis Hamm on keys, took the stage backed by a massive inflatable replica of the Cat’s Lair from the 1980’s Thundercats animated series. Occupying both the width and height of the stage, this truly was a site to behold as Brown and Hamm took to their respective risers, perched upon the structure’s legs, leaving Thundercat to take centre stage. The band opened their set with his newest single – a bold choice in any context, “Children Of The Baked Potato.” The relentless energy of the song, a jazz musician’s take on punk, if you will, proved to be a strong opener that led into “Candlelight” and “I Love Louis Cole.”

It goes without saying that the musicianship on stage was nothing short of virtuosic; between Thundercat shredding on his glittery, six-string bass, to Hamm jumping between various keyboards, proving dissonance and relief through harmonic colourings, and Brown’s near constant use of rhythmic displacement and explosive fills, each part of this trio is a master at their craft. The chemistry is tangible and there was a high degree of trust between the band that can be seen as each member traded roles in leading the others through seemingly improvised passages and extended solos. This speaks even further to their musicality; as incredible as each solo was, perhaps the most exceptional element of their performance was how, no matter how challenging of a part was played, the band always landed on their feet, never faltering as they heading into the next section. Highlights included “ADD Through The Roof,” “A Fan’s Mail (Tron Song Suite II),” “Dragonball Durag”, and the three-part encore of “Show You The Way,” “Friend Zone,” and “It Is What It Is.” The climax of the show, however, came through an unexpected cover of D’Angelo’s “Lady”, which seamlessly shifted into the quintessential “Them Changes”.

About halfway through the set, Thundercat exclaimed “The album’s done!” Amid the spectacle of his stellar performance, this was exciting news that a new album, the first since 2020’s It Is What It Is, will likely drop in 2026. Through this, his current North American tour, and his upcoming European dates, feel like a sample of what is to come as he and his band continue to blur all stylistic lines between pop, R&B, soul, hip-hop, and rock, all through an incredibly experimental jazz lens both on stage and in the studio. Like always, Thundercat’s performance was a display of musical brilliance, and exceptional technique, and unadulterated greatness; ultimately making for a post-genre masterclass, demonstrating Thundercat to be as vital as ever for not only jazz, but popular music as a whole.

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Photo Credits: Eddie Alcazar