October 5th 2019, Ladytron at the Danforth Music Hall

Looking back over my collection of concert tickets, it seems like October has been a particularly good month for seeing Ladytron in Toronto, with at least three separate gigs happening that month over the years. I've been a fan of them since I stumbled across their debut "604" back in 2001, and I've always made a point of seeing them perform whenever I've had the chance. In my mind Ladytron exists in a similar space as Curve and Lush and Interpol, making music that transcends format and style, creating their own unique musical niche. I really appreciate their Retro-Futurist sound, their blend of electronic and organic elements, and their strong songwriting skills which sneakily subvert the Pop music format in interesting and creative new ways.

Ladytron's most recent visit to Toronto was a stop at the Danforth Music Hall on October 5th 2019 in support of their self-titled sixth album, and it was their first show in the city since they played at the Phoenix back in 2011. Given the length of time between shows, the band wisely chose a set list that largely alternated between songs from the new album and fan favorites, all of them working together nicely to present a solid overview of the band's career. They opened the night with Black Cat, as they have for many of their shows over the years, and then they followed it with The Island which would have been their most recent single at the time. As the show moved forward they played Ghosts, Runaway, The Animals, Fighting in Built up Areas and more, all of which were well received by the crowd who spent most of the night singing and dancing along with the band.

They saved Seventeen and Destroy Everything You Touch for last, an encore of their most popular tracks to end the night on a high note. And it really was a high note, it was a great show, an excellent performance inspired by the synergy between audience and performer, and as Carolyn and I left the venue and made our way along Danforth towards the subway we were filled with smiles and that post-show glow that always comes from a great concert. 

My experience has been that Ladytron never disappoint in a live setting, they're always pretty awesome, and this show at the Music Hall fully lived up to and surpassed my expectations. Definitely a band that I'm grateful to have seen so many times in the past, and one that I very much look forward to seeing again in the future...