Last Friday night, Canadian rock favourites Big Wreck made the first stop on their Ontario tour at the Bronson Centre Music Theatre. The sold-out show was another instalment of the Rebel 101.7 Rebel Rock Concert Series, and the tour coincides with the band’s release of a remastered version of their album …but for the sun. The remastered album was released on Feb. 16, with the fresh double vinyl available for immediate purchase to fans.
The Bronson Centre was packed for the all-ages show, and it was nice to see quite a few young fans at the show with their parents about to have their minds blown. Those who know, know.
The show was opened by Waterloo’s Sierra Pilot, who did great work firing up the early crowd. Their set was energetic, and they definitely won some new fans with songs like “Adrenaline” and “Keys to The City.”
Fans know that every Big Wreck show is a spectacle of incredible musicianship on all fronts, led by founder/guitarist/vocalist Ian Thornley along with drummer Sekou Lumumba, bassist Dave McMillan, and with a striking addition to the mix last night: former member Paulo Neta, who was filling in for guitarist Chris Caddell. It’s always pleasant to see Paulo back onstage with the band, and Ian noted that Paulo will always be a part of the Big Wreck family.
With a catalogue of music going back to the release of their debut in 1997, Big Wreck has a lot of material to choose from. Last night, they pulled songs from seven of the band’s albums, plus one from a Thornley solo album. Aside from the aforementioned remastered release, the band has followed an atypical route for releasing new music in light of how people consume music nowadays. Their most recent new material has been doled out in five-song EPs: 7.1, 7.2, and the final 7.3 rumoured to be released in the next few months.
The set kicked off in near-darkness as Sekou made his way to his kit, leading the band to hit hard early with “Bombs Away” before heading into fan favourite and radio mainstay “That Song.” For anyone in the crowd who hadn’t seen Big Wreck before, this set was surely a great introduction to the band, as it covered many of their biggest hits and singles. It was short on banter and long on what mattered—music—with extended intros and expansive guitar solos that left many jaws on the floor and fists in the air, especially during the absolutely smouldering “Control” and the bass groove and tasty SRV-inspired solos in “Ghosts.” Newer material included “Beano” and their most recent single, “Fear and Cowardice,” whose chugging slide guitar riffs and soaring chorus with layers of guitars and vocals make for a beautiful contrast.
Wrapping up the main set with “Blown Wide Open” and “Come Again,” the band soon returned to the stage for a must-have encore of any Big Wreck show—”The Oaf,” from their 1997 debut. This was the song that put Big Wreck on the map for me so many years ago. The band was clearly having a lot of fun, and Thornley, with his classic Mouradian flapjack guitar, even playfully reworked a few of the lines in the lyrics to work in the name of bassist Dave McMillan: “Who’d you leave along the way, Daaaave?…DAVE, DAVE, DAVE!” which is a bit of an inside joke to the initiated fan. Another DAVEtastic Big Wreck show in the nation’s capital.
Big Wreck’s tour will continue with various dates throughout Ontario in March and April. The newly remastered …but for the sun is available in limited quantities at upcoming shows. For more info, please visit bigwreckmusic.com.
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