NOTE: All photos are copyright of Howard Shiau Photography 2025
Seventeen years ago, Silversun Pickups released “Lazy Eye”, the first single off their first full studio album “Carnavas”. The success of the single and video, plays on a number of TV shows/movies, and inclusion in the hot Rock Band and Guitar Hero:World Tour video games brought the band immediate success. I’ve seen them perform ten times over those years, which is pretty much once a year outside of the pandemic times. As they played at History in Toronto on March 5th, 2024, I was looking forward to making it eleven!!
Opening for SSPU was a New York City-based three piece rock band Hello Mary, whom I saw open for Blondshell last July at the Garrison. The stage setup was a bit different this time with drummer Stella Wave in the center, guitarist Helena Straight stage left, and substitute bassist Ines (didn’t get a last name) stage right. I understand the band’s regular bassist Mikaela Oppenheimer had school (yes, she’s still in college) and was missing a few shows but the band didn’t miss a beat and Ines’ headbanging fit well with the heavier riffs of some of the songs. Wave was excellent as usual singing harmonies and the occasional lead. Oddly enough, even though the stage at History is much bigger than the one at the Garrison, Straight didn’t seem to move around as much but her playing and vocals were on point! Hello Mary played mostly songs from their 2023 self-titled record but a couple of the newer songs sounded amazing! However, the older Silversun Pickups audience probably didn’t give them as big a welcome as they deserved. I’m looking forward to their releasing a new record, hopefully, this year.
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Silversun Pickups opened their set with “Growing Old is Getting Old”, a phrase that I very much relate to, from their 2009 LP “Swoon”. It also happens to be one of bassist Nikki Monninger’s favorite tracks to perform live with its hypnotic bassline intro. As with many of their songs, the beginning bass track distinguishes itself immediately to huge cheers from the fans. The bass and kick drum intro lead right into guitarist Brian Aubert’s distinctive vocals.
Silversun Pickups always puts on a lively show, with Aubert making his way to every part of the stage, Monninger jumping up and down, and drummer Christopher Guanlao headbanging and leveraging the highest crash cymbal you’re ever likely to see. Keyboardist Joe Lester seems to be the only one that’s just chilling on one side of the stage. None of the band members spoke too much in between songs. The exceptions were Aubert reminiscing about playing “Kissing Families” at their first Toronto show at Lee’s Palace in 2006. He also exhorted the fans into snapping their fingers before “Don’t Know Yet”, and making sure they do it properly lest Monninger, who never gets mad, does get mad! Funny guy. No, Nikki Monninger NEVER gets mad. He did thank Hello Mary as well as the “first opener” Sex Bob-omb!! Did I mention Brian was a funny guy?
The setlist itself was not too different from their 2023 tour with just five songs switched out. The ever popular “Royal We” was moved from the regular setlist to the VIP meet and greet and several songs from their last record, 2022’s “Physical Thrills”, were replaced by songs from the other albums. This made sense since it’s now two years since it was released and it gave the band the opportunity to put more of their other hits into the set. Of course they were not able to include some of my favorites like “The Pit” and “Catch & Release” but we can’t have everything. Right before the last song of the encore, Aubert played a brief acoustic song which did not sound familiar. I’d love to know what that was…perhaps new music? Silversun Pickups then brought the house down with, what else, “Lazy Eye”. With the extended instrumentals, it was almost seven minutes long!! Many of us would have been happy if they jammed out for ten minutes and left us reeling! As it was, “Lazy Eye” is the perfect ending for any concert, leaving everyone with a smile on their faces.
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