Broken Social Scene Get The Band Back Together at Toronto Island Festival

Posted on Jun 20th 2010 12:45PM by Drew Berner
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Broken Social Scene, Kevin Drew, Charles Spearin

Even when everything that could possibly go wrong does, Broken Social Scene can still put together the show of a lifetime.

On Saturday afternoon of their self-curated Toronto Island Festival, the band fought through busted amps and glitchy electronics -- not to mention a drum kit that literally had to be tied down -- to deliver the kind of performance most bands can only dream of.

Nowhere but in Toronto would fans get to see the band with its full complement of vocalists, guitarists and peripheral players. It was far from a "get everyone we know on stage and fool around" type of affair -- whether it was former Death From Above 1979 drummer Sebastian Grainger singing harmonies on 'Forced to Love,' Feist dueting with frontman Kevin Drew on '7/4 Shoreline' or Metric's Emily Haines delivering 'Sentimental X's,' each guest brought a welcome magic to the stage.

The band rocked its way through a set that included most of their recent album, 'Forgiveness Rock Record,' as well as a slew of hits including the Brendan Canning-sung 'Stars and Sons,' 'Fire Eye'd Boy,' noisy ballad 'Lover's Spit' and fan-favourite 'Almost Crimes.'

"My father said if we don't play this one we're idiots," Drew announced before launching into set-closer 'Ibi Dreams of Pavement.' -- of course, the elder Drew had a point, as the recently reunited Pavement would eventually close the night out.

BSS clearly loves Toronto, as they seemed to put a little extra into each song. Drew is known to wax poetic about their hometown while on stage, but was particularly effusive on this day -- at one point even interrupting instrumental barn-burner 'Meet Me in the Basement' to announce how great the city has become since the band was first born.

And as much as they love the city, Toronto music fans love them right back.