FEATURING AT SHIPS END, PUP & BILLY TALENT
JUNE 28, 2024
ICEBERG ALLEY PERFORMANCE TENT, ST. JOHN’S, NL
Photo Credit: Tara Thompson
Night 9 of the Iceberg Alley Performance Tent concerts began with At Ships End, a local band that formed in St. John’s, NL in the early to mid-2000s. The band started out as a seven-piece Folk/Rock band featuring a variety of traditional instruments including banjo, fiddle, and a tin whistle as an ode to traditional Newfoundland and Irish elements. Their melodies definitely leave you wanting to tap your feet along to the beat.
At Ships End started off with ‘Cold Black Heart’, a track from their album Awake. This helped to set the mood and get everyone moving on their feet. They also played ‘Have You Ever’, a track that was one of the first songs they ever released as a band. This was a nice surprise for those who have been following them since day one.
Since they were playing a Punk show, the band decided to do a cover of ‘Linoleum’ by NOFX, along with a cover of ‘Paint The Town Red’ by The Mahones. Seeing how bands can take a cover song and put their own spin on it is always a treat. At Ships End also played ‘St. John’s’, a track that Dave Whitty (one of the singers in the band) recorded on his solo album after taking a break from the band a number of years back.
Those who knew the songs by At Ships End had no problem singing along. For those who didn’t, the band broke out into the chorus of ‘Heave Away’, which most Newfoundlanders have no problem singing along to, before transitioning into an original tune called ‘Jack of All Trades’
At Ships End finished their set with a song about drinking, called ‘Drinking My Life Away’ before introducing the last song, ‘Awake’. With these catchy tunes, the audience of the Iceberg Alley Performance Tent was set for an amazing night.
Next, PUP graced the stage of the tent for the first time. PUP, a Canadian punk rock band from Toronto, Ontario, consists of Stefan Babcock (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Steve Sladkowski (lead guitar, backing vocals), Nestor Chumak (bass, backing vocals, keyboards) and Zack Mykula (drums, backing vocals, percussion).
PUP began their set with ‘Totally Fine’, a track from their fourth album The Unraveling of PUPTheBand released in 2022. They grabbed the audience’s attention right from the beginning as the crowds flocked to the stage with cheers. Other tracks from this album included ‘Robot Writes A Love Song’ and ‘Waiting’, a track that was released as the first single from this album.
PUP brought their fans back to the earlier days with tracks from their debut album, PUP, released in 2013. These tracks included ‘Dark Days’ and ‘Reservoir’, letting the audience see where they started and how far they’ve come.
Some of the highlights of the set seemed to be tracks from their 2019 album, Morbid Stuff. This album claims to be about accepting the darkness and the moods that you feel along with everything that comes with it, while just trying to find that little bit of light. (PUP) This is something that many can relate to while trying to overcome the trials and tribulations that life hands out. Songs from this album included ‘Free at Last’, ‘Morbid Stuff’, ‘Kids’, and ‘Scorpion Hill’
PUP also rocked out to tracks from their second album, The Dream is Over, released in 2016. These tracks included ‘My Life is Over and I Couldn’t Be Happier’, ‘Old Wounds’, ‘Sleep in the Heat’, and ‘Familiar Patterns’. They ended the show with ‘If This Tour Doesn’t Kill You, I Will’, followed by ‘DVP’.
They were able to hit all the feels with some slower tunes, making sure to keep their signature rock sound. They did let the audience know that they were working on some new music but didn’t plan on playing any, only focusing on the old music. The audience answered in cheers. Many were dancing, jumping, and moving along to the beats, with some crowd surfing. With so many people in the audience (the show was sold out), they took a few moments to ask the audience to be nice to each other. This was my first PUP show but I am sure it will not be my last!
Billy Talent stole the show. This Canadian rock band hailing from Mississauga, Ontario formed in 1993 with Benjamin Kowalewicz (lead vocals), Ian D’Sa (guitars, vocals, keyboards), and Jonathan Gallant (drums, Percussion). Jordan Hastings (drums, percussion) joined the group in 2016 when original drummer Aaron Solowoniuk took a hiatus due to his health. The band went on to release their first full-length self-titled album in 2003, along with winning a Juno for Best Album of the Year and Best Band of the Year.
The release of Billy Talent, led to hits such as ‘Try Honesty’, ‘River Below’ and ‘Nothing to Lose’, all of which they played with cheers from the audience. Actually, I think the only time the cheers and whistles subsided was when the audience got a chance to sing along. When introducing ‘Nothing to Lose’ it was described as a track that holds a lot of meaning; both 20 years ago when it was written and now. Kowalewicz went on to say that if you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out and make sure to go easy on yourself and each other. This song really hits all the feels, especially hearing everyone sing along with it.
Billy Talent started their set with ‘Devil in a Midnight Mass’, a hit from their follow up to their first album entitled Billy Talent II. This track really got the audience amped up for an amazing performance. Other tracks from this album included ‘This Suffering’, ‘Perfect World’, ‘Pins and Needles’ (a track that Kowalewicz said was becoming one of his favourites) , and ‘Surrender’.
Along with playing some of the older hits, Billy Talent also played some newer hits from their latest album Crisis of Faith which was released in 2022. These include the first single from the album ‘Reckless Paradise’ which was also their first radio release since 2016. Other newer hits included ‘I Beg to Differ (This Will Get Better)’.
This was a show all about the hits and the audience rocked to each and every song, such as ‘Ghost Ship of Cannibal Rats’, ‘Rusted From the Rain’, ‘Saint Veronika’, and ‘Devil on My Shoulder’. Everyone got to hear one of their favourite hits.
Billy Talent ended the night with two of their older hits, ‘Red Flag’ and ‘Fallen Leaves’, both from their second album. ‘Red Flag’ was released as the album’s second single in September 2006 and later went on to be listed as one of the 200 Best New Rock Songs of the Millennium in 2010 by the Canadian rock music radio station 102.1 The Edge. ‘Fallen Leaves’ was released as the album’s third single in November 2006, with lyrics that may hit home for many people as they tell of the struggles of being an addict. The audience sang and bounced along to these tracks, not wanting the night to end.
Billy Talent has had an impressive career to date, selling over a million album copies in Canada and nearly three million internationally. They have certainly come a long way from a band that got together during a high school talent contest to selling millions of records and performing sold-out shows. If you ever get a chance to see Billy Talent live, it is a show you don’t want to miss!
