Music/Live Reviews

Friday nights in Toronto are slowly coming back to life, and we have the city’s historic venues to thank. For three nights in a row, Queen West institution the Bovine Sex Club celebrated its impressive 30th anniversary with Calgary punk band Chixdiggit!, and I find myself right in the centre of the action.

With three decades to its name, the Bovine holds a lot of stories within its graffitied and junk-covered walls. The space has welcomed Against Me!, Billy Talent, Thee Oh Sees and countless others over the years — even Rihanna — and some New York Dolls have dropped by to hang. Excited to be a small part of the Bovine’s history, I’m buzzing with anticipation upon arrival, quietly thrilled to see a small crowd gathered outside the venue doors. It’s a sight we’re not quite used to, unless you count lining up outside a grocery store for the past year and a half.

Inside is an immediate fight to the bar. The place is packed, wall to wall with guests in various black, band T-shirts. Drink in hand, I place myself right in front of the low stage, determined to see everything up close. Although seeing “everything” at the Bovine likely requires several visits — the DIY decor of band stickers, car parts and doll heads is a lot to take in at once.

Friday’s opening act is Toronto punk trio School Damage, who launch into a series of wailing tracks that immediately ignite the crowd. It’s fast and cathartic and over far too soon.

As the night progresses, the beer-soaked floor becomes stickier and the crowd continues to grow. When Chixdiggit! finally take the stage at midnight, we’re ready to party. A first-time Chixdiggit! viewer, I quickly learn they don’t follow a standard stage production. No setlist in sight, the band starts a call and response with fans and asks which songs they want to hear. Also celebrating 30 years, Chixdiggit! pull from decades worth of material. Tracks like Miso Ramen and I Hate Basketball are easy to pick up lyrically and join in. Other songs haven’t been played in years, and there is a lot of experimentation on stage, which is refreshing.

Sonically, there are a lot of heavy guitars and crashing drums, further fuelling the audience’s energy. At one point, I almost end up on the stage as the rowdy mosh pit pitches me forward. One or two people might need a refresher on mosh pit etiquette, but overall, everyone is clearly in high spirits and glad to be sharing a wild musical moment like this together again.

Congrats to Bovine visionary Darryl Fine and the amazing BSC Team — here’s to 30 more kick-ass years!