Jutting out from the rows of stores on Queen Street West is a sign marking The Rivoli, separating its brick from the similarly decorated walls beside it. In a path straight towards the building’s rear, a door acts as a gateway into the world of whichever live performers are playing at that specific moment. At the Breaking Sound event on May 14th, four deliciously new local bands serenaded the venue: Forever Temporary, The Jacks Of All Trades, KAMI, and The Brghtlights. Breaking Sound, an initiative built on supporting emerging artists, has hosted the likes of Chappell Roan, The Marías, and Remi Wolf, to name just a few. It makes sense, then, why the organization chose The Rivoli for this specific show. The storied venue has long been featured in Toronto’s music scene, immortalized by the hit feature film Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie.

Forever Temporary were the first act of the night, though calling them openers would be an awkward fit. The stylistic gestures and crowd-focused moments of vocalist Liesl Korompis, coupled with the enthusiasm of the rest of the band, cemented them more as the welcomers of the night. They easily wiped away the ghoulish tiredness that usually accompanies many Thursday nights. For their first original song of the setlist, they played the first song they had created together—aptly named “Splinter,” with how Korompis’ voice broke through stretches of emotional sound to mourn losing a lover to someone else. The band seemed to be living through their instruments; they fused as if they were a natural extension.

Forever Temporary were fueled by not just despair, but teenage angst, rebellion, and humour. Korompis often employed a quick witty response to keep spirits high after emotional songs. The effect was akin to the ups and downs of a rollercoaster. Feeling visceral emotions through their songs, including another original called “The Cold,” Forever Temporary left the stage with their hearts splayed on the floor.

The next band, The Jacks Of All Trades, stepped onto the stage wearing black -shirts, each imprinted with a different icon from a classic card deck. Although missing one part of their quartet, they played as if they were complete. The bassist and guitarist/vocalist switched places around the middle of their set so smoothly that it was impossible to tell if anyone in the band had been taking on their usual roles.The joy that the band exuded during their performance was infectious, and it seemed that they were enjoying their harmonies and riffing on their instruments just as much as the audience did. Theirs was a very lively set–banter offered a glimpse into the band’s dynamic, as did their impractical posing while playing, which showed the confidence in their skills. Seamus Williams’ clear head voice enchanted the crowd on certain songs, while others featured grainy, gritty guitar riffs and punchy drumming. This versatile sound offered a great transition into the next set, played by Toronto’s KAMI.

KAMI’s vocalist, Hope Clubb, was a bright pink figure with flowers on her head and sugar in her voice. The clarity of Clubb’s voice was a balancing feature against the instrumentals, which featured fuzzy guitar tones and deep, earthy drum and bass thuds. At some point during the performance my feet decided to give up on me, so I sat against the wall near the front of the stage. This turned out to be a very good choice. As hazy figures loomed like giants and moving lights shifting into different colours, I could feel the floor swaying with the crowd. There was a feeling similar to a summer night I felt from KAMI’s songs, like a party at a beach or a surfing expedition under the moon. Bubblegum pop fused with rock influences reigned supreme in KAMI’s set, and the audience loved it. The crowd was full of soft, swaying dances which were punctured by occasional cheers after a grand high note, and I could see that the audience felt a  connection with KAMI’s hazy music. Truly, the lineup was picked and ordered in a way that shows the skill of the management and organizers. 

After KAMI came The Brghtlights. Though similar to KAMI in their danceability, The Brghtlights implemented a freneticism in their performance.Addictive backing vocals popped out from their microphones, alongside both guttural screaming and soft transitions. They performed as if they were ripping out their music from their insides, as it felt so vulnerable and visceral. Despite their emotionally charged set, the members of the band themselves seemed laid back, handling any bumps during the performance like pros. Mid-set, they had to get a replacement snare, and the interruption was solved without a hitch. Instead of panicking, they incorporated a back-and-forth with the crowd, asking humorously if anyone had a replacement on them.

The lead vocalist for The Brghtlights performed a stunning display of vocal ability, mixing tones of provocativeness, sweetness, and vocal range–sometimes all at once. The band was powerful in their playing, exhibiting a sense and understanding of music in a raw, unbridled,and pure form. The guitar and bass instruments swooned with emotion, the drums felt like an extension of the soul, and the vocals seemed to melt and morph into their notes. 

The Breaking Sound event on May 14th celebrated four emerging and incredibly talented bands, ones that any music lover should have on their radar. Breaking Sound also has several other shows coming up in Toronto in June, and their initiatives are to be applauded. There’s really not a better way to spend a night than listening to live music from new local bands, with drinks and dancing galore. I say that next time, you should join us!