Ten years ago, Toronto rockers July Talk released their acclaimed sophomore album Touch. And to celebrate the anniversary, they’ve released a deluxe vinyl as well as embarked on the Touch X Tour with not one, but two stops at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver.

Opening the night was Vancouver’s own Gay Nineties. The band recently returned from a hiatus, as Parker Bossley, Bruce Ledingham, Malcolm Holt, and Pascal Le Vasseur took the stage with a mix of old & new songs. From the incendiary “Hold Your Fire” to new teases with “Tidal Wave”, the band is as sharp as ever, with Bossley hinting at a new album coming soon.
After Parker and Pascal swapped guitar & bass, they slipped in a cover of the 80s classic “One Thing Leads to Another” by The Fixx, which lead into the brand new single, “Internet, Sex & Drugs” before an old favourite “Letterman”, the soaring chorus bringing the set to a huge finish. If the new tunes are any indication, I will be looking forward tot he new album!

It wasn’t long before the lights dimmed and a montage of clips about the word ‘touch’ played over the speakers, with July Talk hitting the stage; singers Peter Dreimanis and Leah Fay Goldstein, guitarist Ian Docherty, bassist Josh Warburton, drummer Danny Miles, and Dani Nash on percussion.

They started off the set by playing Touch in full, immediately launching into the first track “Picturing Love” before Peter welcomed to everyone, including 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and giving a land acknowledgement. Leah then adding they were going to put their money where their collective mouths are with a donation to the Urban Native Youth Association, before going back into the album with “Beck + Call”. From the explosive “Now I Know” to the eerie “Strange Habit”, and my favourite, the steamy “Lola + Joseph”, they burst through the album with an unparalleled energy and Peter + Leah’s contrasting vocals blending together beautifully.

After the simmering slow burn of the title track, they slipped in “Love’s Not Dead”, a b-side from that era (also the name of the bonus album that is included with the new vinyl). Peter then exclaimed “that was the album, now let’s party!” and they immediately launched into a favourite of mine, the frenetic “Summer Dress” with the sold out room singing along. True to his word, the band kept the party going for the second half of the set, delving through their catalogue from “Certain Father” off their latest album Remember Never Before, back to their self-titled debut with “I Am Water”.

They wrapped up the set with the incredible catchy singalong “Paper Girl”, which they said they hadn’t played in a while, and were soon back for a couple more with everyone joining in. First with another one of my favourites, the explosive “Guns + Ammunition”, and one last rager with “The Garden”.

The first time I saw July Talk was a little over ten years ago, on that very stage at the Commodore (opening for Matt Mays in 2013). They immediately hooked me with their raucous music and exciting live show, and if anything, that’s only been amplified over the last decade. Peter and Leah have an incredible stage chemistry, and even visibly pregnant she was stalking around the stage, dancing, and singing with Peter & other bandmates. They’re back at the Commodore tonight (March 12) so hopefully you can make it there.

setlist
Picturing Love
Beck + Call
Now I Know
Johnny + Mary
Strange Habit
Push + Pull
Lola + Joseph
So Sorry
Jesus Said So
Touch
Love’s Not Dead
Summer Dress
Gentleman
My Neck
Certain Father
I Am Water
Paper Girl
(encore)
Guns + Ammunition
The Garden