This year has been a rough one for concerts whenever I return to my home base in Toronto. Somehow, I always seem to miss the big names—the tours everyone’s actually talking about. Instead, I end up catching shows at places like Massey Hall, The Phoenix, and History that feel more like label showcases or radio station promo nights than real, can’t-miss events.
It’s not that these venues aren’t great—they absolutely are. But the lineups lately have been filled with artists I’ve never heard of, and more often than not, they don’t leave much of an impression. There’s no real buzz leading up to these shows, no anticipation, and honestly, not much payoff once you’re there either.
Because of that, my usual routine has been pretty inconsistent. I’ll show up late, or leave early if nothing is grabbing me. I haven’t recorded full sets like I normally would—just a few songs here and there, more out of habit than excitement. It’s a far cry from the kind of nights where you’re locked in from the first note to the encore.
I’ll still post the videos from the latest batch of shows I’ve caught since the start of the year, but there won’t be any write-ups to go along with them. There’s just no real story to tell this time around—and that might be the most disappointing part of all.