NOTE: All photos are copyright of Howard Shiau Photography 2025
It’s been ten years since British rock band The Struts released their debut studio album Everybody Wants on July 28, 2015. Since then, the band has collected a dedicated following across the globe with their 70s glam style rock and energetic, almost theatrical, live shows. In April, they announced that they would be embarking on an extensive North American tour to celebrate the release of that first record so, on the final day of July, the Struts kicked off their tour at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto, fittingly so because their albums and singles have amazingly charted the highest in Canada. The long line outside the venue also spoke to the band’s popularity as fans lined up well before doors opened.
As the crowd gathered inside, a fan had a medical episode and an ambulance had to be summoned. As he was being wheeled out, he did have a neck brace on (possibly from falling) but he was alert and had a smile on his face. I don’t know exactly what happened but, for all concert go’ers, especially those who line up hours ahead of time, please make sure you stay well hydrated (alcohol is not a method of hydration). You don’t want to be so excited to see your favorite band that you forget and end up passing out and have to miss that very show.
The unexpected pre-show excitement did delay the start for about fifteen minutes but it would be well worth the wait. The opener King Falcon, a NYC rock band that formed during the pandemic, fronted by guitarist/vocalist Michael Rubin and with Joe Conserva on bass, Sergio Ripa (Kelly Ripa’s nephew) on guitar, and Dipayan “Dip” Chakraborty on drums. They released their self-titled debut album in 2023 but have been working on new music, releasing their latest single “Plastic Crown” in June. Their lively old school rock vibe did a lot to get the crowd amped before the Struts took the stage.
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The venue was absolutely packed by the time the Struts came on. They kicked things off with “Roll Up”, the first track off the aforementioned Everybody Wants. As frontman Luke Spiller soon announced, they would be playing their classic debut album front to back. Spiller was in fine form, with a big smile on his face as he exhorted the crowd to raise their arms and get into it. It was amazing to see so many in the audience singing along to all the songs, knowing that they had probably been big fans since the bands’ inception. The songs seem as fresh now as when they were released a decade ago; rock and roll just doesn’t age. Guitarist Adam Slack and bassist Jed Elliott didn’t move around the stage that much but that could be because Spiller was everywhere! A Struts concert just never disappoints! After they played their full album, they began their encore with an inspired cover of Queen’s “We Will Rock You”, driving the crowd forward with that pounding anthem! The closed the show with “One Night Only” from 2018’s Young and Dangerous, leaving the crowd to file out of the Danforth with grins almost as big as the one on Spiller’s face!
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