Words by: Curtis Sindrey | Photos by: Stephen McGill –
Greg Graffin of Bad Religion in Toronto. (Photo: Stephen McGill/Aesthetic Magazine Toronto)
Punk rock legends Bad Religion performed an intimate 24-song set in front of a crowd of mostly 102.1 The Edge contest winners on Sunday night at Toronto’s Horseshoe Tavern.
The band, who recently released their 16th studio album True North on January 22nd and is currently prepping for a 43-date tour in support of the album, which will reach Toronto on March 31, were in high spirits, often joking and playfully asking for requests from the audience.
The gig also proved to be the Canadian debut for “The North,” the title song from their new album.
Before they performed “Supersonic” from 2002’s The Process of Belief, lead singer Greg Graffin asked the audience whether anyone remembered or attended their 1987 gig at the nearby Rivoli, while, as Graffin claims, The Rolling Stones rocked away on the same stage that he graced now. Graffin than burst into a Mick Jagger-like dance routine which further elated the crowd just as the band rocketed into the blistering drums and blaring guitar of “Supersonic.”
While Bad Religion’s discography brims with high velocity punk songs, Graffin claimed that the song “Vanity,” from 2013’s True North, was “the fastest song that Bad Religion has ever played.”
By the time Graffin and company reached the twilight songs of their set, including “Epiphany,” from 2002’s The Process of Belief, “Punk Rock Song,” from 1996’s The Gray Race and the fan favourite and their second-ever single “American Jesus,” from 1993’s Recipe for Hate, he had the crowd in the palm of his clenched hand as he roared vocals about politics, religion and social injustice.
Bad Religion hasn’t grown soft with age. Their outspoken political views, which shine brightly through many of their songs, are still displayed prominently on True North and they show no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Bad Religion Set-List
1. Suffer
2. Past Is Dead
3. Only Gonna Die
4. New Dark Ages
5. True North (Canadian Debut)
6. Robin Hood In Reverse
7. Fuck You
8. Supersonic
9. Los Angeles Is Burning
10. Wrong Way Kids
11. Vanity
12. Forgotten Man
13. Nothing To Dismay
14. Anesthesia
15. You
16. I Want To Conquer The World
17. Modern Man
18. Epiphany
19. Dearly Beloved
20. Heroes And Martyrs
21. Sorrow
22. American Jesus
23. Punk Rock Song
24. Digital Boy
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