CJ Ramone and the Final Tour Live at Toronto’s Horseshoe Tavern
CJ Ramone rolled into Toronto with Dog Party on his final tour, and we were there.
CJ and Dog Party were joined by Toronto punk rock band DOWNBELOWS. It was a show for the history books.
DOWNBELOWS were just finishing up their set when I arrived, and the audience was in full swing. There were clearly lots of fans who had come out early to catch the local talent.
Next up were Sacramento sister duo Dog Party. Nothing prepared me for the energy this band brought to the stage. Gwennie and Lucy Giles are pure fire! Speedy songs, luscious lyrics, adorable playing off each other, gorgeous guitar riffs and badass beats. And when Lucy screams, it’s magical.
It’s fair to say that there were lots of smitten listeners. There were no setlists on the stage during their set, and it felt like they were making song decisions on the fly, a bold move, if true.
At the end of the set, Lucy let the crowd know that if you followed them on Instagram, shared a photo of them at the merch table, that they’d give you a free pin.
Dog Party brought the crowd to a frenzy. Just where I’m sure, CJ Ramone wanted them.
I have to talk about the overall energy in the room. From the moment I arrived until the moment I exited The Horseshoe, the feeling was electric. There was an air of intensity and something intangible. This show was momentous, and everyone knew it.
In true punk rock style, CJ Ramone and his band walked on stage like it was any other day. Appearing cool and calm, CJ walked to his bass, with his back to the crowd, picked it up, turned slowly and it began.
The floor of the Horseshoe Tavern was packed, and I got my front of stage shots and got out quickly. I’m just not a fan of being moshed.
The audience was a great mix of ages, and we were all there for the same reason, to see CJ Ramone’s last show in Toronto.
CJ Ramone and his band played a 28 song set. Let that sink in for a minute. 28 songs! There was a point during Sheena Is a Punk Rocker, that the sound guy left the soundboard and headed over towards the bar. He reached up and turned on another piece of equipment. There was some dial adjusting, and it got louder and seemingly clearer. It was perfection.
There were stories, including a sweet nod to Steve Soto before CJ launched into Rock On, a song he wrote for Steve when he left this world. There were jokes and quips including a reference to being old and needing to take a break somewhere around the 20 song mark. It was a quick break, and the band kept us all interested by riffing on stuff everyone knew.
It was a solid finish, with an amazing encore which included Sedated, Blitzkrieg Bop, and R.A.M.O.N.E.S., the Motörhead cover.
If this tour is coming to your town, you need to go. I feel privileged to have witnessed this show.
CJ Ramone Final Tour Toronto Horseshoe Tavern Set List
Author profile
Writer/Photographer/Editor
Toronto Music Blogger
(Click Image)
Black Lives Matter. Learn. Donate.
CJ Ramone and the Final Tour Live at Toronto’s Horseshoe Tavern
By Trish Cassling
CJ Ramone rolled into Toronto with Dog Party on his final tour, and we were there.
CJ and Dog Party were joined by Toronto punk rock band DOWNBELOWS. It was a show for the history books.
DOWNBELOWS were just finishing up their set when I arrived, and the audience was in full swing. There were clearly lots of fans who had come out early to catch the local talent.
Next up were Sacramento sister duo Dog Party. Nothing prepared me for the energy this band brought to the stage. Gwennie and Lucy Giles are pure fire! Speedy songs, luscious lyrics, adorable playing off each other, gorgeous guitar riffs and badass beats. And when Lucy screams, it’s magical.
It’s fair to say that there were lots of smitten listeners. There were no setlists on the stage during their set, and it felt like they were making song decisions on the fly, a bold move, if true.
At the end of the set, Lucy let the crowd know that if you followed them on Instagram, shared a photo of them at the merch table, that they’d give you a free pin.
Dog Party brought the crowd to a frenzy. Just where I’m sure, CJ Ramone wanted them.
I have to talk about the overall energy in the room. From the moment I arrived until the moment I exited The Horseshoe, the feeling was electric. There was an air of intensity and something intangible. This show was momentous, and everyone knew it.
In true punk rock style, CJ Ramone and his band walked on stage like it was any other day. Appearing cool and calm, CJ walked to his bass, with his back to the crowd, picked it up, turned slowly and it began.
The floor of the Horseshoe Tavern was packed, and I got my front of stage shots and got out quickly. I’m just not a fan of being moshed.
The audience was a great mix of ages, and we were all there for the same reason, to see CJ Ramone’s last show in Toronto.
CJ Ramone and his band played a 28 song set. Let that sink in for a minute. 28 songs! There was a point during Sheena Is a Punk Rocker, that the sound guy left the soundboard and headed over towards the bar. He reached up and turned on another piece of equipment. There was some dial adjusting, and it got louder and seemingly clearer. It was perfection.
There were stories, including a sweet nod to Steve Soto before CJ launched into Rock On, a song he wrote for Steve when he left this world. There were jokes and quips including a reference to being old and needing to take a break somewhere around the 20 song mark. It was a quick break, and the band kept us all interested by riffing on stuff everyone knew.
It was a solid finish, with an amazing encore which included Sedated, Blitzkrieg Bop, and R.A.M.O.N.E.S., the Motörhead cover.
If this tour is coming to your town, you need to go. I feel privileged to have witnessed this show.
CJ Ramone Final Tour Toronto Horseshoe Tavern Set List
Author profile
Writer/Photographer/Editor
Toronto Music Blogger
One comment on “CJ Ramone and the Final Tour Live at Toronto’s Horseshoe Tavern”