Sum 41 at the Kool Haus (more...) photo by Clint Gilders - staff photographer |
by clint gilders - clubkingsnake staff
The Kool Haus.
Toronto, Ontario. March 27, 2008
When I arrived at the Kool Haus I was surprised by how thin the crowd seemed. Yeah, it was early but with this being Sum 41 I expected more early birds. Only a few months before the Sums had been scheduled to play the cavernous Air Canada Centre. This was before Deryck suffered a herniated disc and they had to cancel their co-headlining tour with Finger Eleven. So I expected the packed like sardines turn out so often seen at the Kool Haus.
Die Mannequin at the Kool Haus (more...) photo by Clint Gilders - staff photographer |
I arrived shortly before Die Mannequin were to take the stage. This a band I have wanted to see live for ages, but somehow seemed to always miss. My first taste of lead singer Care Failure was on the soundtrack of "Trailer Park Boys: The Movie" where she performed with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson of Rush among others. Who was this beautiful brunette with the frighteningly powerful voice? Care F@$kin' Failure! Die Mannequin are a trio (Care on Guitar and Vocals, Anthony Bleed on Bass, and Ghostwolf on Drums) that play heavy, dirty, sexy rock. Care obviously uses her good looks to her advantage but not to the point where she becomes a mockery. Die Mannequin are pure Rock and Roll: rolling on the stage, jumping into audience, throwing mics, trashing drum kits, mic cables wrapped around everything. D-D-D Do it or die!!!
Around 10:00 pm Sum 41 took the stage. Nope, the club had not filled up. Even with about a 1/3 of the area closed off by a large curtain I'd say that we were at about half capacity. Hell, it was more crowded in the photo pit than in the mosh pit. Since the departure of lead guitarist Dave "Brownsound" Baksh in 2006 the band is a officially a three piece, but on the road they are joined by Tom Thacker of Vancouver punk band Gob. Having seen Gob previously I know how gregarious and charismatic Thacker can be. To see him standing sheepishly in the background with only the occasional foray to the front of the stage was surprising. Maybe five songs into the set, and after a dissappointing audience participation section, singer Whibley donned a fat Elvis costume and proceed to butcher "That's Alright". This was my cue to make my escape.
I heard later that Dave Baksh did make an appearance during "Pain for Pleasure" and that may have been worth sticking around for, but as it was I'd seen enough.
Set list: