Today was the day

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Today Is the Day are legendary in the underground rock scene, having been one of the first bands to successfully merge metal’s complexity and aggression with noise rock’s innovation and discordance—a sound that is now commonplace in metal circles. TITD has always been the brainchild of Steve Austin, whose vision and signature sound have always remained steadfast throughout the band’s 18-year career. Last Sunday, these legends pulled into Katacombes and although a bit greyer at the temples, their psychopathic assault has never been fiercer. One question remains, though—where the hell was everybody? I was thinking this show would be a guaranteed sell-out, but for whatever reason, there was a little too much elbow room when they played.

Virginia’s Weedeater, the opening act, didn’t make it across the border. Apparently, the guitarist broke his hand the night before, and—surprise—they have pot convictions on their records, and so were turned away at the border. I mean, they’re called Weedeater, for Christ’s sake. Too bad, as their sludgy doom was devastating when I saw them a couple of years back at SXSW.

WE CAN REBUILD HIM:
Steve Austin

One of my favourite bands in Montreal, the Great Sabatini, picked up that opening slot and actually surpassed their previous brilliance by great leaps. On the cusp of recording their first full-length, the band were well-oiled, with their original drummer back in the fold. Their baritone-tuned onslaught received more of a psychedelic workout, recalling Oceanic-era Isis, with their Am Rep noise assault tucked further in the background. Fans of the current rosters at Robotic Empire, Crucial Blast and Hydra Head, you HAVE to check out the Great Sabatini.

Up next was Today Is the Day, performing alongside the David Hall-directed film based on their 2007 record Axis of Eden. A bold move to be sure, as TITD’s calling card has always being their unhinged, aggressive live show. This had all the earmarking for failure, as the band were forced to turn their live intensity off and on throughout, hitting specific musical cues, but thankfully they rose to the challenge. In fact, this will remain one of my favourite metal shows ever, with the band and film assaulting the senses in perfect synchronicity.

As great as Hall’s surrealistic spin on Axis of Eden is, the night really did take off when the band were hitting full-bore and providing the live soundtrack. Austin in particular is probably one of the best performers you will ever see, with his public exorcism of personal demons grabbing you by your marrow and leaving you gutted. Unsettling and deeply disturbed, Austin gave it up with everything he had before lurching back down beside his amp and waiting out sections of the film before launching into another song. It just doesn’t get any better than this—a Raping a Slave-era Michael Gira, maybe, but certainly in the past 20 years, nobody can get as intense and downright psychotic as Austin when he’s in full kill mode. For the sparse audience, that night was a truly special night that we’re only too lucky to have witnessed. As for the rest of ya—where the fuck were you?

TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT…JONATHAN.CUMMINS@GMAIL.COM