Born to Rock

Related Content

• Queens of Country Soundtrack to Feature Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse), Wanda Jackson, and Classic Country
  August 17, 2011
• The Pixies @ Mesa Amphitheatre
  September 23, 2010
• The Weekend at Rhythm Room, 9/20/11
  September 21, 2011
• Built to Spill (Oh, Yeah, and Kings of Leon) at Cricket Pavilion on 7/10/10
  July 11, 2010
• French Quarter Tour Diary - Week 1
  September 24, 2011

More About

• Hot Hot Heat
• Born Ruffians
• Steven Hamelin
• Isaac Brock
• Arts, Entertainment, and Media

Like this Story?

Sign up for the Events Newsletter: What's happening in town? From underground club nights to the biggest outdoor festivals, our top picks for the week's best events will always keep you in on the action.

Privacy Policy Cancel Continue

Born Ruffians, a nascent Toronto trio, move with mesmerizing twitch, shouting with childish abandon, as if they were Hot Hot Heat stuck in an elevator with the Go! Team. Frontman Luke Lalonde’s guitar tone is thin and shrill, switching between jagged Pixies pulses, and more lugubrious indie noodling, like that of Built to Spill. His boyish tenor croon flits acrobatically above the music, sounding very much like Isaac Brock when not joined by the backing vocals of his mates. With guitar used primarily for accent, the rhythm section really steers, particularly drummer Steven Hamelin, who can hit the shit out of his kit but generally adheres to a somewhat spare aesthetic. Lalonde’s high-energy vocal gymnastics complement the herky-jerky rhythms, with the shouted choruses and brief melodious phrases providing a tensionless counterpoint. While nicely distilled from the aforementioned influences into some effortlessly catchy rock, they’re still in the process of forging a distinct personality. This prevents their debut (Red, Yellow, Blue) from being a real triumph, as the nervy, heart-pumping sound begins to wear and fray over the course of an entire album. Still, it’s a promising start, stocked with hooks and assurance.
Sat., Oct. 18, 8:30 p.m., 2008