Two for One: Pack A.D. and Young Rival Heat Things Up
September 25, 2010 — The first cool breath of autumn fell on Toronto, but it didn’t stop a hot show filled erratic dance moves, fantastic guitar riffs and an injection of BC rock. Pack A.D., along with band Rattail, warmed up the small crowd before headliners Young Rival took the stage at the Garrison for the east coast leg of their tour.
Pack A.D. duo Maya Miller (drummer/songwriter) and Becky Black (singer/songwriter/guitar) hail from Vancouver, and opened with a rock-heavy set from album, We Kill Computers. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the stage, as their sound seemed too loud to be coming from just two people. I’m also from their home province so have a slight bias, but song “B.C. Is on Fire” was their best piece, and lit up the crowd as Black rocked out on stage, jumping onto the drum set and personifying a modern Joan Jett.
“We’re going to play something that will make you feel romantic – like you want to adopt a kitten or small child,” Miller said to the crowd before launching into songs, “Cobra Matte”, “Catch” and “Crazy”. Pack A.D.’s set was literally crazy, as Miller punctured one of her drums playing, and Black switched between broken-string guitars. These chicks rock, and should definitely be on your playlist for the fall.
Young Rival took the stage around midnight to a growing crowd, pulling out a tattered sign of the band’s name and dangling it in front to the drums. The Hamilton band made up of Aron D’Alesio (guitar/vocals), Noah Fralick (drums/vocals), and John Smith (bass/vocals) are the modern Beach Boys, but with a rock edge (similar sound to fellow Canadian band, The Acorn). D’Alesio immediately got the audience clapping along during their set, which grew and continued through an heavy rotation of their album LP, including songs “The Ocean,” “T-Shirt and Shorts,” and “Authentic.”
My favourite moment of the evening was when Young Rival covered Iggy and the Stooges’, “Search and Destroy,” it felt as though people who didn’t recognize the headliners well had something to connect to, as it combined classic and new rock and roll.
Remaining audience members wearing flannel and denim shirts rushed to the stage at the end, banging empty bottles on the stage, part as applause and a demand for more. Young Rival didn’t disappoint with their encore, playing song “Hey Sugar” and leaving our ears ringing.
When you’re making a playlist for your next social gathering, make sure to include Young Rival and definitely Pack A.D. People will stop, ask who it is, and listen – guaranteed.
