My Top 5 Moments of (Ever?) 2025: Jay Broderick Looks Back at the past 12 Months
- jaybroderick
- 4 days ago
- 6 min read
By: Jay Broderick - Man... where does one even start? When I shot my first concert back in 2018 (a blues festival called The Canal Bank Shuffle), I never dreamed where the road would lead me. I shot the same festival again in 2019, and a seed was planted. I knew then that this is where I wanted to take my photography. I mean, still images PLUS music, all wrapped up in one? It wasn't going to get much better than that. At least little did I know!
I'll say that once I really focused my energies on this, each year has been bigger than the last. And 2025 was no exception. It has held the biggest moments in my photojournalistic career, and even if this ends up being the pinnacle, I'll be extremely grateful! With that, here are the moments that have made this the best year yet!
#5 Kerry King - February 1, 2025 at Danforth Music Hall
I'm a fanboy... I admit it! As a professional, it's not something we are supposed to let get in the way of the "job". But what is one to do? The greatest thing about photographing live music is the opportunities to be up close, and as close to personal as you can get with your musical icons. For me, Metallica and Slayer are 1A and 1B. When Slayer essentially called it quits in 2019, I was completely bummed. It was unlikely I'd ever get to shoot these giants of thrash metal. And then Kerry King announced his own project, and the dream gained much more potential. Well, at least half of the dream... With an announced February 1st show in Toronto, I was definitely crossing my fingers for an approval... and then it happened! In the much more intimate Danforth Music Hall, this was a once in a lifetime experience!
#4 Andy Kim Interview - November 5, 2025
Yes, LoudTO is mainly focused on heavy music (and we always will be), but we have always maintained that we will cover music of all genres, especially when warranted. And I'm a child of the 1970s. I grew up listening to popular music of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s before my tastes switched to the heavy. But the music of my past will forever hold a place in my heart, and when the opportunity comes up to either cover a live event, or better yet, actually chat to one of the artists of my youth, I'm all in! Needless to say, when the email crossed my desk with a request to chat with Canadian music legend Andy Kim, it was a complete no brainer. The resulting conversation was so easy, and Kim was so down to earth, it was almost as though I've known him personally my whole life. And that is completely a testament to the man I spent half an hour chatting with on November 5th, about his 21st Annual Christmas event at Massey Hall, which subsequently, was a truly fun celebration.
#3 PAKT - July 16, 2025 at The Rockpile
Fanboy moment #2... this one for me revolved heavily around Testament guitarist Alex Skolnik. Admittedly, I was not completely familiar with the rest of the band whose first name initial creates the band name... P (Percy Jones of Brand X), A (Alex Skolnik of Testament), K (Kenny Grohowski), and T (guitar, electronics phenom Tim Motzer), but when I experienced this jam session, it totally didn't matter. As the band settled into their seats, and "warmed up" their fingers and limbs, they smoothly transitioned into a completely improvised free flow. Seamless!!!! Aside from the chill vibes emanating from the amplifiers, what put this one over the edge was that there was literally only about 30 people here. Not great for the band for sure, but for the fans, it was as though they were receiving a private listening. Such an intimate setting also allows for a pint and a chat with the players. Very, very, very, very cool!!!
#2 Sacrifice - October 11, 2025 at The Concert Hall
In any other multiverse, this would easily take the number 1 spot on a "greatest moments list". You will see why I painstakingly have to put it in the number 2 spot on my list after reading the adventures of number 1, but I'll happily call this "1A"... Sacrifice at The Concert Hall. It was the same venue I first saw this band at in 1988, and it's a band I am a huge fan of. Sadly, we don't get a lot of opportunities to see these guys play live, despite the fact that they are local Toronto boys... well, at least based out of Toronto. Some of the guys have moved to different parts of the continent, but for all intents and purposes, they are a Toronto band. This was the first show the band has performed here in close to a decade. Perhaps that's part of the allure. Perhaps it wouldn't be as special if they played ALL THE TIME. And damn, this one was special! There was a huge buzz before, and a huge buzz weeks after this concert. In the heavy metal world, it really doesn't get any better than this! Despite what I just mentioned about the allure of a band playing seldomly, I want more... and I guarantee you, there are thousands of metal fans around the world who thirst for more Sacrifice!
Honorable Mention Sessanta 2.0 - May 22, 2025 at Budweiser Stage
Before I get to my most memorable moment of 2025, I want to give a shout out to Sessanta 2.0, a live music event celebrating the 60th birthday of alternative rock icon Maynard Keenan James... volume 2... so really, the 61st birthday of James. As a photographer, this was the worst show I ever had the pleasure to shoot... seriously! We were only granted permission to shoot the last song. YEP! THE LAST SONG ONLY! And the lighting was absolutely horrendous. So why in hell is this show worthy of an honorable mention? Because as a fan, the show absolutely kicked ass. Featuring A Perfect Circle, Primus and Puscifer, each act rolled on and off the stage at different intervals throughout the event. I had personally never experienced the originality of this one, and with the 3 bands being displayed, performing their gold, how are you going to get any better??
#1 Buckcherry - May 7, 2025 at Pickering Casino Resort
This one was really a Steel Panther show. Buckcherry was in a support role for this one. And it is easily the pinnacle of my live music photography career. As a side note, when we are shooting larger events like this, we are only permitted to shoot the first 3 songs of each band's set. In a first for me, during opening act Kurt Deimer, his tour photographer handed me a pass that allowed me to shoot the band's full set from the pit. UNREAL! I felt on top of the world. But things were about to get even wilder with the second act on the bill. As my fellow photographer David McDonald and I headed toward the photo pit exit after shooting Buckcherry's first 3 songs, guitarist Stevie D yelled out to us that we were allowed to stay and shoot their full set. Like WHAT??? TWICE IN ONE NIGHT??? These were already the best moments of my photographic life. And then, as the band played their last track of the night, Stevie D motioned for McDonald and I to come up on stage to shoot the last couple minutes from their vantage point. Honestly, I didn't know what was going on. As I stood frozen, David said "Come on! He's telling us to come up on the stage!!" WAIT..... WHAT?????? I quickly snapped out of my trance, headed up on stage, and experienced the greatest moment of my career!
If I never experience anything similar for the rest of my life, I will forever be happy for these moments of 2025, along with every other show I have been given the distinct honor to cover for both the bands, and of course you, our most dedicated readers.
Thanks brother! Means a lot.
What an amazing 2025 in pictures/articles and for you personally Jay! Can't wait for what 2026 brings you!