Photos: Return to Dust, Tigercub, and Chevelle at History in Toronto
Opening the show at History in Toronto on August 27 was Return to Dust. Right out of the gate, you can absolutely hear this band’s influences: Alice in Chains, Deftones, heavy blues rock, and grunge. It’s written all over their music which has a nice heavy chugging bass line throughout, reminiscent of the mid-90s era, making it very easy to find yourself grooving and headbanging along.
The Los Angeles-based band, made up of Graham Stanush (vocals, bass), Sebastian Gonzalez (lead guitar), Matty Bielawski (vocals, rhythm guitar), and the newest addition, London Hudson (drums), are currently on their first international tour. Their debut album, the self-titled Return to Dust, was released in May 2024.
They certainly got the crowd interested early and maintained the energy throughout their set. I’m looking forward to big things from this group in the future.
The next group to hit the stage was Tigercub. The Brighton, UK Alternative Indie rock trio is made up of Jamie Hall (vocals/guitar), James Allix (drums), and Jimi Wheelwright (bass). Tigercub is a guitar-heavy, bluesy group with mind-bending mid-song musical breaks and guitar solos. They are well-established, having formed in 2011, and have 3 studio albums – The most recent of which, The Perfume of Decay was released in June 2023.
Jamie’s 7-foot-tall frame is certainly not missed. Giggling to myself as they took the stage, I immediately stated to absolutely no one “Wow, he’s very tall”. He has a presence on stage that is not just about his stature though. They kept the crowd warm with a differing, but complimentary style to the previous band.
Nearing 9:30 pm headliner Chevelle took to the stage to a raucous and ready crowd. I would be lying if I said I had heard anything by them since their 2002 release which included the well-known single “The Red”. However, their career has not stagnated in that time. Active since 1995, they have 9 studio albums, and therefore a truly massive bank of songs to choose from.
The three-piece group is made up of two original members, and brothers, Pete (vocals, guitar), and Sam (drums) Loeffler, and their touring bassist, Kemble Walters. This trio are no strangers to the stage, and they kept the crowd engaged with a good mix of the older albums, and newer songs, ensuring a well-rounded experience.
Hailing from Illinois, USA, the hard alternative rock group has a number of accolades to their name, including 17 #1 hits. They can be compared to the heavy grunge sound of their initial era, with a clear touch of Tool type influence. It’s a great mix, and their sound clearly has good staying power, as their success and continued popularity would prove.
Overall, the show was a great night of grunge and mid-late 90’s influenced music, to a packed house of nearly 2,500 fans.
See photos from the show below!
