Mike D and the New Boys 5D on Point as They Kick it Old School in Toronto.
By: Jay Broderick
Toronto, Canada - Every Gen-X'er knows the Beastie Boys. And I'll go one step deeper and state that any Gen-X'er loves at least one track from the New York City Hip-Hop group. Regardless of your musical genre of choice, these guys were a staple on your boombox, Walkman, or at the neighbourhood party when the parents weren't home. I mean, at the end of the day, you had to 'Fight for Your Right!!'
I won't profess to being the biggest Beastie Boys fan ever, but man, I loved them. Even as I got into some pretty heavy music, I always dug them! The Beasties mixed every musical genre with their brand of street hip-hop. From Slayer guitarist Kerry King's guitar work on License to Ill, to the smooth jazzy sounds of "Groove Holmes" on their 1992 release Check Your Head, Adam Yauch, Mike D. and the rest of the Boys were groundbreaking. And man, they made some noise!
It's been 14 years since Yauch passed away after a 3 year battle with salivary gland cancer... so hard to believe it's been that long. I recall hearing the news, and feeling completely saddened. He was only 47 years old. Selfishly, my opportunity to see the band had vanished. But when Mike D. announced his 2026 tour with new band 5D, and a Toronto date on October 20th I was pumped! Then the email approval came to cover the show at History, and suddenly, my opportunity to see some of this action live became a real thing!
Angelnumber 8
Going into this show, there was nothing to be found regarding a supporting act for the Toronto show. It wasn't until I arrived at the venue that I saw the name Angelnumber 8 emblazoned on the History marquee. A quick Google search shows the act as an "avant-garde musical project" by Staten Island born Ronald Peabody (aka 6tyfour).
The artist headed out on stage with guitarist Eric Sherman. The stage was completely drenched in blue light. A smoky haze hung in the air. Setting up behind his mixer, Angelnumber 8 mixed sound effects as Sherman played mellow, jazzy riffs. At the opening introduction's conclusion, the frontman welcomed the Toronto crowd, sharing that it is his first time here. A fan yells out "Welcome to Toronto!" and 8 thanks him. He continues to share that he ate some "donut holes" and another fan (I assume) yells "TIMBITS!"... "Yes, Timbits! They're the bomb! Are you guys ready to rock?"
Angelnumber 8 then proceeded through their set. A mix of slower vibes, raps, and higher tempo beats that had the fans singing along. There wasn't a ton of energy from the stage, and perhaps I just didn't get the approach, but the fans were appreciative, as was the singer. Ultimately, that's what matters, but for the up-tempo tracks, and hip-hop vibes, I would have expected some more electricity.
Angelnumber 8 Photo Gallery (all photos by: Jay Broderick)
Mike D 5D
This was a big moment for me. In 2000, I won VIP tickets off of 102.1 The Edge to see the Rhyme and Reason Tour featuring Beastie Boys and Rage Against the Machine. It was the biggest prize I had ever won, and I was completely gassed! I mean, look at that lineup up (which also included other acts like Queens of the Stone Age and Busta Rhymes)!! And VIP??????? Pssshhhhtttttt! I was on top of the world. But days before the July 26 tour kick off (at Molson Park in Barrie, Ontario - the show I was to be a VIP at), Beastie Boy Mike D suffered a serious cycling injury... and the tour was cancelled.... NOOOOOO!!!!!!! To push salt in the wound, because I had won a contest on the radio, they were obligated to give me some sort of compensation. The prize I received instead? A Molson Canadian t-shirt and baseball cap... a shirt and cap that everybody had 20 of, because you received them free inside cases of beer..... Mike D, you owe me one my brother!!!
When the lights dropped, the crowd went wild! A video screen flashed images on the front of the DJ table. A spanish voice-over narrator instroduced "MIKE D!" and the crowd erupted again. Then the man appeared before us, the stage went black, and BAM! The band absolutely exploded with the Beastie Boys track "Hello Brooklyn" from the band's 2006 release Awesome; I... Shot That! What a stark contrast to tonight's opening act. And as I type this, it occurs to me... perhaps that is done on purpose? I don't know, but holy hell! Mike D and his newest band 5D immediately raised the roof!
Mike D's newest band are just that... NEW! Brand new basically, having just been announced to the music world earlier this year in July. Consisting of D's 2 sons Skyler and Davis, Eddie Ruscha and his son Milo and Will Graefe, the band was completely explosive, bouncing and hopping around. During "Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun", one of the DJs came front stage, grabbed a guitar and shredded the heavy riffs from the track. It's a huge reason why I was so drawn to the Beastie Boys...
Just like that, the photography part of the night was over, and I headed out of the pit into the packed venue. I had been advised before the show that it was not a sold out show, but man, it was so packed, I didn't even have a spot at the side of the stage where I always hang out to take in the rest of the show. I ended up at the very back of the venue. If it wasn't a sold out event, then there was only 1 ticket that wasn't sold. I can't see much, even with my inch and a half Doc Marten risers, but I can hear, and the sounds emanating from the amazing speaker system at History were bliss.
With the energy from the stage, the crowd erupted at the end of "That's Right", an intense track that D explained was about arguing over who's right. This intensity can't be maintained forever though as the band rolls right into "I Don't Care", where things come down a tad. The flashing light show ceases, the stage darkens and a reddish megenta hue barely lights the action. Even without the furious raps, Mike D's voice sounds amazing. Man, he is on point!!!
The slower tempo continues through the next couple tracks, until "It's Time" starts to pick things up again. And old 90s B-Boy dances in the open space at the back of the venue where I'm hanging out. Another dude with a Wu-Tang t-shirt dances to himself as well. He comes over to me to tell me that he embarrassingly locked eyes with some other dude while he was dancing (not the old B-Boy), and then continues on. Seeing 2500 people having the time of their life is one of the great things about my job. I love it!
Mike D shouts out the Toronto crowd, shouts out his support act, and shouts out his new band. "There's a lot of quality up on this stage tonight" he says, and I couldn't agree more. The band was FIRE! They've been kicking some serious ass all night, and continue the onslaught for "Secrets". The lighting also continues to be fantastic as yellow beams frantically dance around the stage as an electronic 80s beat breaks down, and "ah ah ahs" fill the background.
Mike D does an amazing job mixing in new songs, Beastie Boys hits, and even a cover from Delta 5 during the band's encore... and while party anthem "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party)" and "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" failed to make the set list tonight, the band closed the night out with "So What'cha Want". Of course, the crowd blows up, arms and cells phones held high, and Mike D and the boys finish hard. WOW!!!
Set List
Hello Brooklyn (Beastie Boys cover)
What We Got
Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun (Beastie Boys cover)
Crypto
Make It Stop
That’s Right
I Don't Care
3‐Minute Rule (Beastie Boys cover)
Switch Up
It's Time
Secrets Pt. I
Secrets Pt. II
Body Movin' (Beastie Boys cover)
Remote Control (Beastie Boys cover)
Thank You
Encore:
Mind Your Own Business (Delta 5 cover)
So What'cha Want (Beastie Boys Cover)
This was 65 minutes of intense energy, jumping around, lights flashing about, rhythm moving bodies, and musicianship that will make any music fan envious. What a ride! Off the top, I mentioned that Mike D. owed me for that cancelled tour back in 2000, and that he did! And then some. Thank you Mike!!
Mike D 5 D Photo Gallery (all photos by: Jay Broderick)
Mike D Online
Show Date: October 20, 2026
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