The Washboard Union and Guests perform live during Live Loud at Massey Hall in Toronto. Photo By: Jay Broderick By: Jay Broderick Toronto, Ontario - Massey Hall doesn’t host ordinary nights... and this one wasn’t meant to be! LIVE LOUD, in partnership with Matthew Perry House and Make Music Matter, brought together an almost impossibly stacked lineup of Canadian icons, rock heavyweights, hip‑hop pioneers, and rising voices. The mission: use music and storytelling to break sti

Breaking Benjamin perform live at RBC Amphitheatre in Toronto, Canada. Photo By: Justin Michael Carriere By: Justin Michael Carriere Toronto, Canada - Wednesday September 9th marked one week since a huge storm tore through TO and surrounding areas leading to power outages, downed trees and many a cancelled show (RIP AC/DC at Rogers Stadium). So, it was understandable that there was some palpable tension as the early crowd filed into the RBC Amphitheatre under cloudy skies and

Faceless perform live at Tranzac Club in Toronto, Ontario. Photo By: Michael Drukarsh By: Michael Drukarsh Toronto, Ontario - The future of music lies in the classic rock of yesterday as evident in the seven song set by Toronto’s very own Faceless. Consisting of high school friends (and full disclosure, a couple of former students of mine) Faceless performed at the Tranzac Club on Brunswick Street to help launch Project Metamorphosis. According to their website, “The Creative

Rob Zombie performs live at RBC Amphitheatre in Toronto, Canada. Photo By: Jay Broderick By: Jay Broderick Toronto, Canada - As we were becoming men in the late 1980s, early 1990s, we spent a lot of time in our buddy Carey, or Jon's basements. Amongst the rituals was alcohol, watching comedy TV like In Living Color and Get a Life and of course, our fill of MuchMusic's Power Hour, an hour of heavy metal videos. As the 90s took hold, the Power Hour started featuring bands like

Vile Decree perform live at The Spot in Newmarket, Ontario. Photo By: Michael Drukarsh By: Michael Drukarsh Newmarket, Ontario - The Spot in Newmarket continues to deliver loud, aggressive, one of a kind shows, and the lineup on Friday August 21st of Vile Decree, Hellseer and AAWKS was no exception. In fact, with this lineup everything was actually a little louder and definitely more aggressive. AAWKS AAWKS perform live at The Spot. Photo By: Michael Drukarsh Based out of Ba

Anciients perform live at The Garrison in Toronto, Ontario. Photo By: Jay Broderick By: Jay Broderick Toronto, Ontario - A three‑band bill at The Garrison always feels like a rite of passage... sweaty, loud, intimate, and absolutely unforgiving! And Anciients’ August 20, 2026 headlining show turned that little Dundas West room into a furnace of riffs, screams, and full‑body energy, as is typically the case when Inertia Entertainment brings a show to the venue. Dawn of Ourobor

Deep Purple perform live at RBC Amphitheatre in Toronto, Canada. Photo By: Michael Drukarsh By: Michael Drukarsh Toronto, Canada - Three legendary bands, Jefferson Starship, Kansas, and Deep Purple, took to the stage on August 18th, 2026 and delivered sets full of 70s nostalgia sprinkled with a few new tunes that fit right into the groove of the night. Sure, one could argue that the bands on stage are not in fact “legendary” as members of each band have changed over the years

Dimmu Borgir perform live at History in Toronto, Canada. Photo By: Jay Broderick By: Jay Broderick Toronto, Canada - History has become another favourite Toronto Live Music Venue of mine. Wait... who am I kidding? At this point, I can honestly say there isn’t a single Toronto venue I dislike. But History seems to bring a vibe all its own. It's an amazing space, plenty wide for us photographers to move around, even when there are 16 of us. The sound is superb, and the lighting

Killswitch Engage perform live at Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto, Canada. Photo By: Justin Michael Carriere By: Justin Michael Carriere Toronto, Canada - I think I’m love… with metal shows. I know what you’re going to say… “But Justin, you barely know metal shows, don’t you want to take your time before you really commit to anything…?” Nope! Metal shows give me the warm and fuzzy stomach obliterating, spine tingling butterflies and I can’t get enough! And this night was n

Foo Fighters perform live at Rogers Stadium in Toronto, Canada. Photo By: Justin Michael Carriere By: Justin Michael Carriere Toronto, Canada - Foo. Fucking. Fighters. To be honest it’s hard to know where to start on this one… Dave Grohl, the original Foo Fighter, has been a pioneer in rock and roll for over 30 years and his list of accomplishments is absolutely immeasurable. But I will say one thing definitively… the man is a Bonafide ROCK STAR!! I can’t even begin to compre

Train perform live at RBC Amphitheatre in Toronto, Canada. Photo By: Jay Broderick By: Jay Broderick Toronto, Canada - RBC Amphitheatre again... man, I love this venue! And while Foo Fighters are tearing up Rogers Stadium 34 kilometres away (JMC is there), I’m here for Train and the 25th anniversary of their hit album Drops of Jupiter. What a perfect day. The sun is shining, it’s very warm but not stinking hot, and there’s zero humidity. That outdoor summertime concert buzz i

Nicole Haber performs live at Kempenfest in Barrie, Ontario. Photo By: Michael Drukarsh By: Michael Drukarsh Barrie, Ontario - For those of you living in Southern Ontario and traveling north to cottage country on the long weekends, there is a good chance you are familiar with Kempenfest, Barrie Ontario’s signature festival event, now in its 54th year. Running through the Civic August long weekend, Kempenfest attracts over 100,000 people each year, so getting an opportunity to

Styx perform live at RBC Amphitheatre in Toronto, Canada. Photo By: Jay Broderick By: Jay Broderick Toronto, Canada - A co-headlining night like this doesn’t come around often. A time machine that could take me back to the 1970s and 1980s would probably be the greatest trip ever. Unfortunately, science has yet to figure this one out, so the next best thing would be a Styx and Chicago tour, rightfully called “The Windy Cities Tour”. On July 28th, 2026, RBC Amphitheatre hosted

311 perform live at RBC Amphitheatre in Toronto, Canada. Photo By: Justin Michael Carriere By: Justin Michael Carriere Toronto, Canada - The year was 1996. A young Justin and his friends had their rollerblades strapped on and were aggressively hurling themselves down staircases and onto hand railings. Getting themselves kicked off of properties and yelled at for all kinds of shenanigans, the one constant was the soundtrack on the boombox (yup, we had one), and a mainstay on t

Burn'em Court perform live at Sadlier House in Peterborough, Ontario. Photo By: Kelly Leblanc By: Mike Johnston Peterborough, Ontario - The Sadleir House had it’s structural integrity tested on Friday July 17th as Burn’em Court pulled up like a rocket sled on rails. In front of a sold out room, the guys did what they do best... they shredded. Lead singer Dave Clark crumbled the stage to the ground with his patented high energy performance. A born rockstar, Clark anchors the g

Muse perform live at RBC Amphitheatre in Toronto, Canada. Photo By: Justin Michael Carriere By: Justin Michael Carriere Toronto, Canada - Muse. And they were. For 16,000 people!! The lads from London (the UK, not the ON) have sold over 30 million albums since forming in 1994, won 2 Grammys (and a plethora of other awards) and are currently on tour for their 10th studio album The Wow! Signal. Matt Bellamy (lead vocals, guitar, keyboard), Chris Wolstenholme (bass, backing vocal

Shinedown perform live at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Canada. Photo By: Justin Michael Carriere By: Justin Michael Carriere Toronto, Canada - I was at a university gym when I first heard Shinedown in 2004. Their song “.45” came on over the sound system and when the chorus dropped, I instantly added an extra 200 lbs to my bench press… or maybe it was an extra 2 lbs on a calf raise (I don’t remember exactly as it was over 20 years ago)… Regardless, I felt an infusion of adre

Kim Mitchell performs live at Meridian Place in Barrie, Ontario. Photo By: Michael Drukarsh By: Michael Drukarsh Barrie, Ontario - Kim Mitchell Headlines Barrie Butter Tart Festival (insert Spinal Tap joke here)! But wait, it's true! And, believe me, the free outdoor concert at Meridian Place was no joke! After having to cancel a couple of previous concerts in Barrie due to weather conditions, Kim and his band, consisting of long time collaborator and friend Peter Fredette on

Six Feet Under perform live at Lee's Palace in Toronto, Canada. Photo By: Jay Broderick By: Jay Broderick Toronto, Canada - This was one of those nights where Toronto’s metal community proved exactly why they're one of the greatest crowds in the world. Soaked in rain, sweat, riffs, and absolute unity! Six Feet Under’s first Toronto appearance in 23 years turned Lee’s Palace into a furnace, and thanks to Inertia Entertainment, the city finally got the long‑overdue beating it d

Winona Fighter perform live at The Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto, Canada. Photo By: Michael Durkarsh By: Michael Drukarsh Toronto, Canada - By night I may be MICHAEL DRUKARSH PHOTOGRAPHER! By day though I am Mr. Drukarsh, grade 7 Science teacher. After finishing the year only a week or so ago and looking forward to a wonderful summer, I did not expect to get called back so soon. However, when Winona Fighter personally invites you to attend Summer School, well, you go! A