Broken Social Scene - Toronto, 6/24/06

Posted: 06.25.06 | Categories: [Amy Millan]  [Broken Social Scene]  [Feist]  

With a lineup that some were calling lack-luster, after 3 years of epic summer shows on Olympic Island, local heroes Broken Social Scene sold it out (the Island, not themselves, so shut it, all you nay-sayers.) Perfect weather, a near-perfect crowd, a proper (yet not overbearing) security team, and nary a hitch throughout. To do a day like Saturday justice in a write-up is impossible, so I’m hoping the photos will do the talking.

Broken Social Scene – To love this band is to not only experience the exhilaration of brass anthem blasts and voices raised to the sky in multiple harmonies, but also to see the members interact with each other, family, and friends. In the wings to the side of the stage, there was much dancing of moms and children alike. There aren’t many 10+ year old bands left that haven’t grown bored and now just dial it in live, but with every back-to-back note of Shorelines / Cause=Time / Fire-Eyed Boy it’s plain as day that they still get a huge rush out of playing together. It is to this love of their band and each other that my photo set is focused and dedicated.

In the days following, Emerge (promoters and organizers of the event) have been all over themselves with apologies for insufficient catering and disposal management. But really, who came for the food? Most of the fans attention was focused on the reason we were there – the music. Triumphant is a cheesy word, but for this, it’s also a perfect word. As the fans sifted home to the strains of "KC Accidental" (their closing song), and you looked back to see stage lights illuminating the water & the sky for miles and 10,000 hands held high – it was just nothing short of triumphant.

Additional (really fun) photos from this show: Flickr slideshow.