Live Review: The Riverdales with The Creeps and The Varsity Weirdos

The Riverdales
W/ The Creeps and The Varsity Weirdos
May 15, 2010
The Mod Club, Toronto

“What is it, early or somethin'? You guys are quiet out there" Creeps singer/guitarist Skottie asked of the Mod Club crowd Saturday evening. The Ottawa band opened the early show with their punky powerpop, preparing for ultimate Ramones-revivers, Screeching Weasel spin-offs The Riverdales, who headlined the event. Maybe it was the sunlight dampering the Mod Club crowd, because these adamant fist pumping Creeps fans didn't have a dancing bone in them. It wasn't the Creeps's fault; they provided a quick-tempo, twenty-five minute set that should have triggered at least a couple moshers. Skottie was having fun right from the get-go, rocking his navy-blue Johnny Ramone Mosrite guitar and knee bopping along with the four-on-the-floor beat of "On And On." Ian, sporting a Visitors tee, held his stage-right position on the bass confidently, providing backup vocals when needed. Sticking his tongue out to the adoring front row during "Hang Around," he too tried to snap people out of their daze. The band sped through more fan favourites "All The Way Home" and the quick "A-Bomb" that begged for a pit breakout, but no such thing happened. "Goo!" Skottie screamed off-mic between The Creeps's two final songs, giving Jordy behind the drums a run for his money. He gave a split-second "Are you crazy?!" kinda look as if they missed a break, before a quick drumstick four-count and settling into their last quick paced punk joint.

Moncton's The Varsity Weirdos walked out to a more packed crowd now taking up most of the Mod Club territory. Surprisingly, though, nobody moshed for these guys either, and I think it pissed them off. Guitarist Corey, who was rocking a white Mosrite (do you smell a theme?), paced around in between songs, looking frustrated with the non-energy of the crowd. The band cracked out the title track of their latest record "Can't Go Home" which got people's attention, a few fans started pogoing. If The Creeps wouldn't incite a circle pit, then The Varsity Weirdos should have to get people amped up, but it didn't happen. "Wanted By The FBI," another tune off Can't Go Home, soared out with its catchy background vocals, and "Disconnected" saw singer/bassist Eric head-tizzying along with the chorus. They rounded out their eleven song, twenty-five minute set with a rendition of "Look At The Stars" which got more than a few arms raised and some front row fans singing along. Before leaving Eric inadvertently addressed the zombyish pit: "The Riverdales are gonna come up here," he said, "and they're gonna show us how it's done." Something to look forward to.

The floor packed in tightly pre-Riverdales and I finally got the feeling that there were some diehards kicking around: Old Ramones and Screeching Weasel tees, leather jackets, a couple spiky streetpunks and scally caps, and older guys and gals noticeable by their khaki attire and polk-a-dot mod dresses. We all waited a long forty minutes until about twenty-five after eight, and then The Riverdales blew the Mod Club crowd away. The first of three Riverdales sets, belted out in true Ramones fashion with songs spliced only by "1-2-3-4" yells, finally got some fans moshing. This set was comprised of tunes "Make Way," "Mental Retard," "Homesick," "Out Of My Heart," "Back To You" complete with surfy bridge picked out by Ben Weasel, "King Dinosaur," and a new song off their upcoming disc Tarantula, entitled "12 To The Moon." After 13 minutes of pure power chord mayhem, the Riverdales took a break.

"It's a long time since we've been in Toronto, 15 years now. Last time we played the Maple Leaf Gardens" Weasel said while the other guys toweled themselves down and Weasel's green Mosrite got a tune-up. New Riverdales guitarist Simon Lamb was rocking a Mosrite too - a red sunburst model - continuing the night's humble homage to the late great Johnny Ramone. Weasel also used the break to plug the new album, reiterating the June 8th release date a couple times, before their second pummel of eight more tunes. First was the Riverdales classic, "Atomic Brain," sung by bassist Dan Vapid of Methadones and Queers fame. Weasel sang along off-mic to the whole song. "The Prince Of Space, 1-2-3-4!" Weasel screamed and they, like every song, tightly belted out the tune, complete with pinhead bridge-rant. The rest of the set included "Red Zone Cuba," "Rocketship X-M" with minor amp-level troubles for Lamb that no one else even flinched about, and new songs "Bad Seed Baby" and "Diabolik."

The visibly sweaty Riverdales braked again quickly before their final blastout, starting with a four-count yelp from Vapid setting up "Countdown" which forced Weasel into a frown-mouthed downstroke blast for the intro. "Outta Sight," "Wanna Be Alright," and "Teenage Strangler" led to the band leaving stage for a minute or two before an encore. "We got three more" Weasel confirmed when they reappeared, met with house rattling cheers. "Don't Wanna Go To The Party" triggered body surfing and the first full-floor moshpit of the evening. Now, in the encore, people were excited. "Last Stop Tokyo" was the second last song to which everyone in the Mod Club helped out with the chorus. One final Tarantula plug from Weasel before the classic "Riverdale Stomp" that drummed up another huge pit and group of body surfers. One of those streetpunks managed to get on stage, thrash his fist around to his favourite tune, and then dive back into the mayhem. The Riverdales were impressively tight for the live Ramones-esque speed, drummer Adam Cargin never missed a beat. Let's hope to see them in town again soon.

Published by Tangible Sounds Music Magazine