The Flatliners, The Creepshow & The Anti-Queens
March 29, 2025
Bridgeworks, Hamilton, ON
Canadian punk rockers The Flatliners headlined a show in Hamilton at the Bridgeworks on Saturday, March 29th, 2025. The Flatliners have been growing over the past two decades and have become an absolute staple in the Canadian punk scene. This sold-out show had The Creepshow and The Anti-Queens for support.
The Anti-Queens opened up the show and adequately set the mood for the night. Their brand of high-energy punk filled the room with enthusiasm and warmed up the crowd. The Anti-Queens are undeniably great songwriters but their music is very guitar oriented. Their songs are filled with hooky guitar riffs and rock n’ roll guitar solos that shred. When The Anti-Queens aren’t shredding, their songs are packed with choruses that have memorable hooks and anthems. The Anti-Queens have been around for about a decade and as they continue to grow, I highly recommend giving this band your attention. They are such a good time to see live and their recorded music is equally exhilarating.
The Creepshow has more of a horror-punk vibe and gave a bit of variety to the show. Their music has lyrics that tackle the macabre, zombies, and other spooky topics. The Creepshow changed up the punk formula by having a stand-up bass rather than the standard electric bass. It gives them a stylistic difference in the bass lines while adding a bit of flare and theatrics. The energy of their performance made their setlist an absolute treat to behold. I was totally entertained the entire time. Vocalist Kenda “Twisted” Legaspi has a stage presence and attitude that really sells the vibe of their music and is wickedly entertaining to watch. I was not familiar with this band until I saw them play and I thought they were excellent. I’ll be sure to watch out for these Burlington punks next time they play a show near me.
By the time The Flatliners hit the stage, the crowd was thoroughly warmed up and ready for their performance. The setlist did an excellent job of covering the band’s material all throughout their 23 years of releasing music. It really was a great example of a ‘best-of’ style set, with no drops in energy or enthusiasm from the band or the crowd. The Flatliners have an excellent stage performance that leaves the impression that they love what they do and the crowd really felt it. During their set, there was so much movement with moshing, crowd surfing, and fans singing along to their favourite songs. It was my first time seeing The Flatliners but I will be sure to do so again.
The Canadian punk scene is in good hands these days. All three of these bands did an excellent job at showcasing what is happening on both a national and a local level. All of these groups come from humble beginnings in southern Ontario and elevated themselves to becoming staples in the Canadian punk scene. If The Anti-Queens, The Creepshow, or The Flatliners play near you, I highly recommend you check it out. You won’t regret it.