The Standstills, Diemonds, Danko Jones at Danforth Music Hall

Danko Jones played the Danforth Music Hall back on March 14th with Diemonds and The Standstills.

The Standstills

Opening for Danko Jones were two local bands that T-Mak World is very familiar with. Up first was The Standstills, a duo consisting of Jonny Fox on vocals and guitars and Renee Couture on drums.

The Standstills always put on a great show in the more cozy confines of the many smaller venues they play in and around Toronto. T-Mak World was interested to see how they would acclimate to the larger confines of Danforth Music Hall. 

The Standstills showed they have the energy and presence that, when combined with the soundscape this duo projects, to rock out with the best of them. Warming up the incoming crowd from the leadoff position is never an easy task and The Standstills showed they were up to the task even in the bigger venue. T-Mak World cannot get enough of local artists that amaze every time we experience their show. The Oshawa-based Standstills are no exception and again prove Toronto has one of the most diverse rock scenes in the country if not the world, even if they’re not technically Torontonians. One highlight of the show was their unique take on Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song that totally blended in with the sound of their original material. 

Diemonds

Next up was Diemonds, further evidence to the great diversity of Toronto Rock. Front-woman Priya Panda and her follow band mates, C.C. Diemond and Daniel Dekay on guitars, Tommy Carvalho on bass and Aiden Tranquada on drums, are a high energy heavy metal band that were able to continue to rev up the crowd in an epic crescendo for the headliner. 

Like The Standstills, we were eager to see Diemonds in the larger venue. Their balls-to-the-walls show kicks into high gear as the band has more room for their trisync’d headbanging where CC, Dekay and Carvalho all drive the crowd into a frenzy like the great classic rockers. Throw in a little or a lot of Priya who is part Marilyn Monroe and part Ozzy, on top of that and you are left wondering if there will be any energy left in the crowd for the headliner.

Diemonds is the ideal band to see when you are in a partying mood. Hell even if you’re depressed this is the band to see. If this band cannot get you into a party mood, then you must be one of the ghosts haunting the Danforth Music Hall and the other many fine historic venues around Toronto.

It had already been a great show before the headliner had hit the stage.  For most, it was time to grab some libations and get ready for round 3.

Danko Jones

Local legend Jones has been playing this city for 18 years but his shows lately had been rare, but fortunately that may be changing. Jones played Adelaide Hall just 4 months ago, a show coming about a year after a show at the Mod Club that was reviewed here. Judging from the adoring audience, we can probably expect shows on a more regular cadence.

The shows was pretty much the same as the Mod Club show in November 2012. Danko Jones is a master showman taking lengthy breaks between each song to converse with the crowd. Jones realizes that it’s all about entertainment and delivers big time. The songs themselves are delivered with all out energy. Like another local legend, Ian Blurton, Jones keeps things simple playing the entire set with a Gibson SG with a single bridge humbucker pickup. Nothing fancy, just straight ahead rock n roll.

This show caught the attention of many of Toronto’s rock musicians. Spotted at the show were A Primitive Evoltion’s frontman, guitarist/vocalist Brett Carruthers, Paint frontman and mayoralty candidate Robb Johannes, Last Bullet lead guitarist Brenden  Armstrong and TimeGiant’s frontman guitarist/vocalist Tyrone Buccione and drummer Charlie McKittrick.

Danko Jones Setlist

Standstill/Diemonds by Michael Litt

Photos and Danko Jones by Steve Mallinson

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Author: Steve Mallinson