One Last Night: Last Bullet, Crown Lands, Ready the Prince, and Hot Lips
The legendary Horseshoe Tavern has been hosting sold out Saturday nights for 70 years, and on a late January weekend they did it again with Last Bullet, Crown Lands, Ready the Prince, and Hot Lips hitting the stage in front of happy, hot, sweaty Toronto rock and roll fans.
There’s something special about live music and concerts in small clubs, but this one also offered an added element… Last Bullet, the Toronto based rockers, took the stage for the last time. After 10 years, three EPs, and hundreds of live shows, the band stepped out under the lights to rock the crowd one last time, and they brought it.
Before the headlining farewell, the rock and roll show started with Hot Lips, Ready The Prince, and Crown Lands taking their turns on the beloved stage in front of those checkerboard floors. And as the sold out crowd lined up and filed in, filling the room and standing shoulder-to-shoulder, the music greeted them and set the tone for the night.
Hot Lips, a local Toronto three-piece, hit the stage first, welcoming the crowd and raising the temperature in the room. The trio (Karli, Keith, and Alex) were straight rock and roll to start the night, with guitar, drums, synth and beats creating their sound.
Karli’s vocals were strong, and awesome to hear on a testosterone filled bill. And as the set flowed from song to song, the band stayed tight, energetic, and on point.
We’re still early in the career of Hot Lips, but as they progress and play more shows like this one, they’ll only prove that they’re here to stay. Check out their 2017 EP American Hardcore and single Limelight for a taste of what they’ve already got to offer.
Another Toronto trio took centre stage in the second spot on Saturday night, and from the first note, there was not doubt that Ready the Prince came to play.
Rocking out with a traditional three piece guitar, bass, and drums lineup, Ready the Prince offered a deeper groove and lyrically driven rock and roll to the Toronto crowd. And with the over the top energy that genre thrives on, these three dudes (Stephen, Daniel, and Jordan) offered the promise that the outrageous spirit of rock and roll lives on.
Get your own sample of what Ready the Prince provides with a listen to their 2017 EP, Note to Self.
Co-headlining the show, and coming to the Horseshoe Tavern stage in third slot, were up-and-coming stars, Crown Lands.
The Oshawa duo wasted no time getting into their own groove, acknowledging the crowd’s loud energy, embracing for their pre-show hug in the middle of the stage, and then letting it all hang out in their set.
It was clear from the t-shirts and conversations in the crowd that Cody and Kevin were a popular attraction on Saturday night. And as they played and the Toronto audience danced, clapped, sang, and cheered, it was clear that they continue to become a fan favourite with every show they play.
With driving bass throughout, Kevin Comeau’s shredding guitar work, and Cody Bowles’ drums and vocals all coming together in a retro-laced rocking effort, these two reminded the audience that they’re on the way up, and we should all be ready for it. Listen to 2017’s Rise over Run to get caught up, and stay tuned for more to come.
Note: We hung out with Crown Lands in the green room right before the show to talk about where they’re at and what’s coming next. Stay tuned for that, the full setlist from Saturday’s show, and more.
In the fourth spot, headlining and saying goodbye, Last Bullet came with everything that had to offer.
While they’ve always been balls to the wall, high octane, rockers, it was clear that there was a certain freedom that came with playing their last show. There was no tomorrow, no reason to hold back, and all the reason in the world to leave everything they had on the Horseshoe Tavern stage.
They hit the ground running, opening with Cowboy, and they didn’t slow down from there.
Yes, this was a goodbye, last show, farewell night for Last Bullet, but it was also a celebration of nearly a decade of songs and hard work and playing rock and roll.
Note: We had a chance to talk to Bryan, Brenden, and Michael before the show to talk about the band’s decision to call it a day, their highlights, rock and roll, and more. Stay tuned for that.
The sold out Horseshoe Tavern was the perfect setting, and the opportunity to play for sweaty, loud, enthusiastic fans one last time was no less than what the band deserved.
Last Bullet Setlist, Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto (January 27, 2018)
◊ Cowboy
◊ Can’t Move On
◊ State Of Confusion
◊ Carefree
◊ What Is Meant To Be
◊ Smoke & Ashes
◊ Runnin’ Out Of Time
◊ Gimme Time
◊ Bright Lights
◊ Last Bullet
◊ Love Song To Rock
◊ Southern Lips
◊ Rock Til We Die
◊ Sin
◊ Little Miss Filthy
◊ Forget The Rest
◊ Girl’s Gone Wild
◊ Jailhouse Rock
Photos of Last Bullet at The Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto
Photos of Crown Lands at The Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto
Photos of Ready The Prince at The Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto
Photos of Hot Lips at The Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto
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