Nothing sets the mood for a great show, like great openers and DWW had been touring Canada in the beginning of 2011 with some equally awesome talent. Joining the Toronto band were American up-and-comers 2AM Club, and The Envy. For their final show of their second annual WINtour they also added another Toronto band Sweet Thing to their lineup.
2 AM Club is definitely a unique band to say the least. When first hearing them I thought them to be a lesser polished version of Down With Webster. They had the talent, and the music, but they were lacking when it came to the energy of their set. Don't get me wrong, there was energy, but it wasn't at their highest levels. Their music is catchy and definitely not something you hear everyday. While mainly pop oriented, they include rapping portions but more on the side of Eminem and less Jay-Z. It's hard to describe, but it was definitely interesting. They have a lot of potential and if they keep working at what they're doing I think they could definitely go places.
The Envy, I can't deny it, was amazing. Once a struggling band trying to get noticed, they are now known across Canada for their unique tunes and for their mentor, Gene Simmons. Because of Simmons they are on the road to mega-stardom and it's refreshing that they're 100 per cent Canadian. Their songs - or more so they're voice- isn't something you hear on the radio every day. The songs are heartfelt and emotion emits from the lead singer's Shaun's voice is so powerful and you can see how much effort he puts into his performance. The entire band has a presence on stage and everybody couldn't help but get caught up. While they sang their single Don't Let Go, they also managed to sing a few new songs as well. One that stood out in particular was the song called "Fingers Crossed". Dedicated to the victims in Japan, the song had a sentimental touch to such a devastating disaster.
Sweet Thing was probably my least favourite set of the night. I honestly could not decide on whether or not I liked their music or not. The set itself was entertaining and they were full of energy but the music to me just didn't fit. They don't have just one distinct sound and I think that's what bothered me. Now I know a lot of bands have multiple sounds and different types of songs but theirs just didn't seem to mesh well together and it just seemed a little odd.
Down With Webster. A band you can't put a label on, and definitely can't define in one word. With Seven (it is seven right?!) members in the band they all have their purpose and all give their own energy that allows them to put on a great show time after time. With a mixture of rock, R&B, Rap, and Hip Hop, each song has a different beat but is catchy and definitely fun to dance and sing along to. They have a unique way of performing and this time it included a strings section (directed by bassist Tyler Armes' dad), on top of their horn section AND the rest of the band. While playing favourites from way back when like "Ten," and "Big Wheels", to their hit singles "Your Man," "Woah is Me" and "Rich Girls" off of their debut full-length cd Time to Win Vol. 1, they also gave the crowd a taste of what is to come. With catchy tunes like "G.T.F.O." and "She's so Dope" to the heartfelt songs that meant a lot to the band, they had a wide range to please the sold out crowd at Massey Hall.
The thing that makes DWW so successful is their dedication to what they do and the fact that they always put 120 per cent into each and every show. Every single member of the band has a part to play and they go at it with full force. There's not one person who leaves their shows without sweat glistening on their forheads and their voice raw from singing along and cheering them on. They have an essence that not many bands have these days and it's really something that people enjoy every time they see them perform. Just a couple years ago they were playing at venues small enough that they couldn't even fit every person on stage (yes they have ALL been in the band for many years). Now they are headlining their own tours in Canada and slowly making a name for themselves in the States. Their unique sound and crazy energy has allowed them to gain fans of all ages and will allow them to further their career to the highest degree possible. If you haven't seen DWW live yet I recommend doing so as soon as humanly possible. My mom even likes them - and that's saying something seeing as she's rolled her eyes and shook her head at 90 per cent of my music choices since I was a teen.
Check out the video of Down With Webster performing She's So Dope at Massey hall during CMW 2011.
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