Punk Rock royalty Pennywise launches surprise pop-up show at Union Hall in Edmonton.
What’s a band to do when the tour headliner cancels last minute due to Covid?
POP-UP SHOW!
And that’s exactly what tour support Pennywise and Stick To Your Guns did Sunday April 16th in Edmonton. Fans were notified at approximately noon that there had been a positive case of Covid in the Rise Against camp, and that the evening’s show at the Shaw had been cancelled.
By 2pm, F7 Entertainment Group had a new event posted and started circulating that the original show’s openers would be playing a last minute show at Union Hall. These kinds of shows usually go one of two ways – they spread like wildfire and a ton of people show up, or only few handfuls catch the news. It was certainly the former.. Roughly 5-600 fans showed up ready to to rock! The work put in by F7 to make sure the show went on is greatly appreciated by everyone, I have no doubt.
Sumerian Records artist Stick To Your Guns kicked off the show around 8:30pm with a 10-song set primarily from their 4 most recent albums. The hardcore punk quartet unleashed an incredibly energetic stage show, and a fantastic blend of styles that appealed to everyone; judging by the mosh pit..
Catchy choruses, heavy riffs, and the occasional breakdown kept my head bobbing and my feet tapping well after I was done shooting their first 3 songs. With lyrical content that focuses heavily on non-conformity and being true to yourself, these guys have a great message, and were fun as hell to watch. I’ll definitely be keeping my eyes on these guys from here on out!
Highlights: “Nobody“, “Nothing You Can Do To Me“, “Against Them All”
Pennywise came on around 9:45 and wasted no time getting right into it. Opening with “Fight ‘Till You Die” they immediately whipped the crowd into a moshing frenzy. They kept the energy high through their set, and proudly displayed why these guys are kings of their craft.
Blazing through cuts spanning their entire discography, singer Jim Lundberg quipped to the crowd: “We’re old and fat – here’s a song from our first album” before launching into “Rules”. The set was filled with classic Pennywise tracks, and littered with a few surprise covers.. Most notably; “Do What You Want” by Bad Religion, and “Fight For Your Right” by the Beastie Boys and the Edmonton crowd didn’t have to fight, the party was in full swing by then.
After giving a quick nod to the recently departed Foo Fighters drummer – “This is for Taylor Hawkins, keeping the beer cold until we get there” the band launched into “Territorial Pissings”, a classic Nirvana cut that is a regular in Pennywise’s live cover rotation.
There was an intensity in the air that is only present in an old-fashioned punk rock show. Seeing a band like Pennywise in a smaller venue is always a huge treat. The upstairs balcony area was blocked off for patrons, so fortunately the photographers were able to shoot from up there, unrestricted. Shooting from the crowd in this type of show is always risky, because the crowd moves hard and fast.
Fletcher Dragge is a powerhouse as the band’s sole guitarist. Making his way back and forth across the stage interacting with the other members and the crowd, he has a furious, yet playful vibe on stage – clearly demonstrating how much he loves what he does.
Rounding out the rhythm section of the band are bassist Randy Bradbury and drummer Byron McMackin who lock in a tight groove for Fletcher’s frenetic riffing. They closed out the night with the timeless “Bro Hymn”, and the crowd went absolutely bonkers.
Considering the series of events the day took, the turnout was fantastic, and fans got a special treat. This band kicks ass, no two ways about it. Ever since their debut album was released in 1991 they’ve been going strong. It had been 4 years since their last gig here, and I have no doubt they’ll be back soon. Edmonton, you f***ing brought it.
Highlights: “Fight’Till You Die“, “Do What You Want“, “Watch Me As I Fall“
