Pennywise @ Metropolis

When I was in grade nine, Pennywise was the quintessential punk band. Not only did they give me instant cool cred when everyone else was listening to Nickelback, but their music soothed over the rough moments of early high school. When I heard that they were coming to Montreal, and I had the chance of reviewing the show, I jumped at the opportunity. Also, they were playing with pop punk legends Authority Zero and Riverboat Gamblers, as well as local band Fifty Stars Anger. It was the promise of a majorly great show.

First, I have to mention the venue, the Metropolis, a spacious space that once served as a theatre, located in the nitty gritty portion of St. Catherines street. There's a generous floor right in front of the stage, large enough to fit hundreds of people and screaming out for mosh antics. Behind that, nearer to where the entrance is, there's seating for those with either drinks or too much dignity to join in the sweaty floor scene. Looking out onto the floor, on the second level, is a sweeping balcony with enough of the original old theatre seats to fit at least another few hundred. Altogether, we're talking about a space with the potential to hold 2,300 people, bars scattered throughout, and what was obviously a sold- out show. We're talking a lot of great energy here.

The first band to come on was Montreal-based Fifty Stars Anger. I had never heard of this group until this show, but they did not disappoint. Although their stage antics could have used a little work, they delivered fast, driving songs that were perfect for a first set. They delivered their short songs back to back with almost no break, and by the third song the floor crowd was already starting to get worked up. However, the set was sadly very short, the band playing for only about 30 minutes before it was all over.

Next came Authority Zero, whose credit as a force on the punk scene became readily apparent as soon as their show started. Pulling from many other genres, including at times a healthy dose of ska rhythm, their music is infinitely catchy. They delivered high-energy anthems that had the crowd in a frenzy almost immediately. They played a lot of stuff from their new album, as well as old classics such as “No Hope” thrown in to compliment the mix. When they made their way off the stage, people were still screaming for an encore long after they were gone. Alas, we did not get one.

Riverboat Gamblers came on with their more pop-leaning punk songs, but because the crowd was still pining for Authority Zero, the first half of the set was met with a slightly dampened atmosphere. But the second half more than made up for the initial response. Once they started playing their hits, such as “Bad Reactor” and “Hey Hey Hey”, the energy picked right up. The best things about the Riverboat Gamblers is that, although they are a punk act, they are pop enough that the songs are easily danceable and have refrains that one can sing along to.

Then came Pennywise. I need to say here that I went into the concert totally unaware that Pennywise had a new lead singer. When someone told me of this fact, I was pretty upset. I was all ready to hear the original songs from my teen heroes, and felt affronted that there was someone else singing in the place of Jim Lindberg. The anticipation between sets as people waited for Pennywise was phenomenal, however, and within about fifteen minutes of picking up the vibe, I went from disappointed to excited at the prospect of a new lead singer. The lapse between sets was punctuated with screaming, shouting and spontaneous chants of ‘Olé!’. When Pennywise took the stage and launched into “Every Single Day”, the entire audience rose into a roar. While the other three bands before them really delivered, Pennywise dominated the stage. After over twenty years of music together, they knew just what to say and how to say it. Each song was accompanied by a small comment or story that really added to the melody, and their stage antics were fantastic.

As a band, they were completely in sync with each other and played a tight, comprehensive set. They mixed both old and new material, the newer definitely more pop than the old , but still most certainly Pennywise. When they played older songs such as “Same Old Story” and “Fuck Authority”, the crowd went crazy and sang along, word for word. The set ran for about an hour and a half. When the last note was played, we all filed out, some very happy people indeed. And, yeah, I have to admit Zoli Teglas, as the new lead singer, was great.

Overall, the concert was one of the best ones I've been to in a long time. The combo of these particular artists, each one worthy of a show alone, was awesome. Add to that the mix, the venue, and the crowd, and the result was a phenomenal show.

(Photos by MNJIVR. For the full gallery from the show, click here!)