Concert Review: The Gutter Demons At The Rockpile

By Less Lee Moore

March 7, 2015
Toronto, ON

If you haven’t heard Montreal’s Gutter Demons, and you have even a passing interest in rockabilly, psychobilly, old skool punk rock, or just damn good music, you must rectify this situation immediately. I had never heard this incredible trio until last week, but at The Rockpile on Saturday night, I got schooled.

The Gutter Demons were birthed in 2001 and tragically broke up in 2008, only to rise from the bowels of hell in 2014, better and more badass than ever. What makes them stand out from other bands that dabble in rockabilly, punk, and horror aesthetics is their commitment to what they do. This isn’t a fuckin’ costume; it’s a way of life! Individually, they’re incredible musicians who play off of each other during a show in a way that feels dynamic and refreshing in a post-modern, poser world.

Johnny Toxik attacks his guitar and belts out the band’s evocative lyrics with a growl eerily akin to Motorhead’s Lemmy. R1 pounds the drums with a fierceness while Flipper is an absolute beast on the upright bass, looking like something from The Road Warrior. It’s enough to make the heart of even the most jaded scenester skip a beat, and it certainly brought goosebumps to the skin of Yours Truly. Though I was sorely tempted to join the pit, it flourished without me.

The band ripped through songs like “House By The Cemetery,” “The Wild One,” “Sunday,” “Devil Horns” and many more in a set that was so invigorating it seemed to fly by in about five minutes. I’ve seen a few hundred bands perform in my time on this earth, and The Gutter Demons have now earned a place among the finest on that list. They’ve got a few albums, singles, and EPs that you should definitely check out, but the best way to experience the glory of The Gutter Demons is to see them in the flesh! DO NOT MISS YOUR CHANCE.