HOLYWATR Bring Controlled Chaos to a Packed Mod Club in Toronto
By: Jay Broderick
Toronto, Canada - It had been a long time since I last walked through the doors of Toronto's Mod Club. Long enough that I immediately noticed how much the venue's media protocols had changed since my previous visit. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing, just different. Even getting through the doors felt like a new experience. Photographers were now required to check their bags and carry only their equipment into the venue, a somewhat unusual requirement, but one that was handled efficiently.
With roughly 30 minutes until showtime, the venue was already packed shoulder to shoulder. I was told the evening was close to a sellout, and judging by the amount of live music fans already here, there was no reason to doubt it. Fans filled every available space (except the area directly in front of the bar which security was being sure to keep clear), and the buzz inside the room was overwhelming. In fact, it was loud enough before the music even started that I found myself reaching for my earplugs just to dull the roar of conversation and anticipation.
The night's headliner, Los Angeles-based alternative metal and post-hardcore outfit HOLYWATR, arrived in Toronto as part of their Deo Gratias Tour. The phrase translates to "Thanks Be to God," despite the band's repeated comments that while faith may influence aspects of their artistry, they do not consider themselves a Christian metal band.
Mercury
The evening began with Tennessee indie rock outfit Mercury, a band whose logo left me completely confused. Their logo looks like it belongs on a death metal festival poster rather than alongside an indie rock bill, but the confusion disappeared once the four-piece walked on stage. Fronted by vocalist and guitarist Maddie Kerr, Mercury delivered a set built on atmosphere, emotion, and understated musicianship. With her hair hanging over her face, Kerr maintained a quiet presence between songs. Despite her shy, very young sounding voice, she spoke volumes once the music began.
The group's opening numbers drifted along at a slow, melodic pace while drummer Zack Lockwood provided a striking contrast, attacking each beat with passion and intensity. Standing through powerful downstrokes and dropping back onto his stool between passages, he looked completely immersed in the music. And the audience responded immediately as fans swayed gently, nodding along to the chilled-out grooves and rewarding each song with enthusiastic applause.
"Thanks for being here. It means a lot," Kerr told the audience at one point, introducing the band as being from Tennessee. As the set progressed, Mercury leaned into rhythmic, almost soulful melodies that showcased their versatility. By the time the band's final song arrived, Mercury had earned the room's full attention. Kerr thanked HOLYWATR for bringing them on tour, introduced her bandmates, and closed their set with a track that had only recently been released.
Mercury Photo Gallery (all photos by: Jay Broderick)
HOLYWATR
If Mercury provided the evening's calm, HOLYWATR supplied the storm. The contrast between the two acts was immediately audible as they kicked off with the intro to "Deo Gratias" the "Give Me a Show". The band's first three songs arrived in rapid succession, each one heavier than the last. By the fourth track "Are You There?", the bass frequencies were literally rattling through my chest while the band encouraged the crowd to move. And move they did! Mosh pits erupted instantly as the floor transformed into a swirling mass of energy.
Then vocalist Patrick Middelthon slipped behind a piano for a gentler moment, before launching back into crushing heaviness. From the elevated steps at the rear of the venue, I had a perfect view of the chaos unfolding below. As songs ended, the crowd rewarded the band with thunderous applause.
"Toronto! It's good to see ya!" Middelthon finally greeted the fans. "It's good to be back, except for that motherfucking border crossing. I tell you... every time!" The room roared. He proceeded to explain that the band would be performing their latest album release Deo Gratias in its entirety while also mixing in some fan favourites. "I screwed up my knee the other night, so I've got a brace on. But it's our birthday!" The crowd cheered again. Never one to miss an opportunity to stir things up, the singer pointed toward the balcony and exclaimed "I wanna see somebody jump off that! And I wanna see more crowd surfing!"
As HOLYWATR launched into "Writing Goodbyes," the band's balance of melody and aggression was immediately noticed. Piano passages provided moments of emotional breathing room before giving way to pummelling breakdowns and crushing riffs. Middelthon's vocals carried the gritty gravel expected from modern post-hardcore while remaining melodic whenever the songs demanded it.
The energy continued through "Everyone Dies," where a crowd surfer emerged from the back of the venue and successfully floated all the way to the front, and then before performing "Fade," Taylor dedicated the song to their new friends in Mercury, creating one of several genuinely heartfelt moments throughout the evening.
Later in the set, he asked how many people were seeing HOLYWATR for the first time. A sea of hands shot into the air. Despite that fact, the band had nearly sold out the Mod Club, proving that the band is making waves. During this exchange, the vocalist encouraged everyone to leave the stresses of the outside world at the door and simply enjoy themselves. Moments later, the opening notes of "Burn the Witch" hit, and the room exploded once again. The bass pounded through the floor while the venue seemed to vibrate beneath the crowd's feet.
One of HOLYWATR's greatest strengths is their ability to balance brutality with vulnerability. When Middelthon introduced "Wake Up," he explained that it was the only song on the record he had written entirely himself. Seated once again behind the piano, he delivered a performance that stood in stark contrast to the band's heavier material. It served as a reminder that heaviness works best when there's something softer to compare it against. The emotional piano-driven moments made the crushing breakdowns feel even larger when they returned.
As the band wound down their set with "Nightmares," "Nailpolish", and "Loose Ends", they brought an end to an evening that had delivered everything fans could want from a modern post-hardcore concert.
Set List
Deo Gratias (intro)
Give Me a Show
Hiding in Plain Sight
Are You There?
Pure Leaf
Writing Goodbyes
Everyone Dies
fade (short)
Burn the Witch
make it hard to steer
God can't save what's mine (interlude)
winter pine
Wake Up
green room
Prove Me Wrong (no outro)
Without u
ashes (interlude)
Nightmares
nail polish
loose ends
HOLYWATR's performance wasn't just heavy... there was clear contrast. Massive breakdowns collided with elegant piano passages. Harsh screams shared space with melodic vocals. Chaos and community existed side by side. The musicianship was exceptional. The energy was relentless. The crowd was fully invested.
For a band playing to a room where many attendees were seeing them for the first time, HOLYWATR left Toronto looking like a group that's quickly outgrowing club-sized venues. And judging by the packed Mod Club on this October night, Toronto was more than happy to help them celebrate.
HOLYWATR Photo Gallery (all photos by: Jay Broderick)
HOLYWATR Online
Show Date: October 21, 2026
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