Faith Balshin and Matthew Render, Contributors
Featured image courtesy of Houston Whatever Fest
Students of York, you’ll have to take those earphones out for a second and listen up.
Yes, we know you love that Justin Bieber song playing while “studying” in Scott Library, and we know how catchy that new Rihanna tune is, but there is something we need to show you, and it will blow your ears away.
York’s students are highly integrated into the music and social media world. Try to count how many students walk through Vari Hall with earphones. I know I lost count around 30, all under a minute. York students value their music, however we wonder if you all have taken a second to further explore the music industry and the many different genres of music out there, other than top 40.
That would take a long time, because according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics in the United States for 2014, there were over 90,000 bands and musicians performing and putting out songs. That’s a lot of digging to find the right music for you, and with that calculus midterm coming up, of course we do not expect you to start looking for that catchy tune.
In fact, we began the search for you, starting here in good ol’ Toronto by attending our first concert of 2016: The Queers. Yes, The Queers are as strange as their name and we decided to take a walk on the wild side and attend their February 22 show at The Horseshoe Tavern.
We patiently waited for their arrival to the stage through the omniscient background music when at last, three average-looking men came onto the stage. Without further hesitation, the middle-aged, seemingly gentle lead singer did not skip a beat and began with his loud and ever so talented guitar solo. The younger bassist and drummer followed and we found ourselves in the middle of one intimate rock concert that would last for around an hour and a half.
Each song had its own unique vibe, as if the players constructed the song for the different feelings a person could feel. The lead singer’s stamina was admirable, and not one member took a break for the entire set. Catchy, brilliant, and upbeat rock and roll; it was enjoyable to watch. The crowd was even better. Most of the crowd knew the words to the songs, and almost all were dedicated to the show and mesmerized by the lead’s guitar talents.
You would think after playing such an intense and strenuous show that the band would want their own space and time, but you couldn’t be more wrong. Not only did the members come to speak with the audience right after they finished, but we happened to snag a picture with the lead singer and a few nice words from him, like how he “noticed we were rockin’ out for the entire show.”
The Queers formed in 1981 by lead singer and our new friend Joe King, and play Ramones-inspired punk rock, mixed with The Beach Boys. They have 11 studio albums and have been on countless tours around the world. Current members, King, Chris Fields, Dangerous Dave, and Lurch Nobody are on their North American tour, playing shows almost everyday in high spirits.
So fellow Yorkies, we want you all to open yourselves up to a new band we think you may like. Something out of the ordinary, different than Beyoncé or another known name, because you never know what you might get…or hear.
The Melvins, Savages, and Ty Segall are just a few lesser-known rock bands to check out that are coming to Toronto within the next few months.
Sending good sound vibes all over.
Like us on Facebook, @excalweb
