The Crowd at The Phoenix was Ready... TO EXPLODE With the Killer Dwarfs

jaybroderick
Jun 23
3 min read

By: Michael Drukarsh

Toronto, Ontario - With Canada Day right around the corner, it is only fitting that we celebrate two homegrown Juno Award nominated bands in a venue that is as Canadian as maple syrup.

Sven Gali

Originally out of Hamilton, Sven Gali opened the show with "Freakz", a track from their 1992 self-titled debut album. From there, original lead singer Dave Wanless carried the crowd through a hectic journey of originals and covers backed by two other original members. Andy Frank on the guitar and Shawn Minden on bass were joined by current members guitarist Sean Williamson and drummer Dan Fila. Flanked by a huge projector screen, the band integrated classic horror films such as Nosferatu along with psychedelic and out of the world graphics to bring classic songs such as "Tie Dyed Skies" and "Keeps Me Down" alive. Also featured was new original track "Coming Home" off their 2023 release Bombs and Battle Scars.

Getting back to their roots as a cover band, Sven Gali also performed an incredible rendition of "Ace of Spades" along with three Canadian classics, "Lunatic Fringe" (Tom Cochrane), "Disgusteen" (Teenage Head) and a very impressive cover of Triumph’s "Spellbound" which is also found on the latest album. According to Wanless, when recording "Spellbound" for Bombs and Battle Scars with Triumph’s very own Gil Moore, he discovered the secret to singing the song was a pair of old vice grips clamped tight on his balls. Something Walness swears he did not do.

Killer Dwarfs

Exploding on stage like a whirling dervish, Killer Dwarfs' founding member and lead vocalist Russ “Dwarf” Graham immediately took control of the now packed Phoenix and never let go. Opening with 1990s "Coming Through", the Dwarfs delivered a set showcasing songs spanning their discography from 1988’s Big Deal to 1992's Method to the Madness. Don’t worry though, they didn’t forget their earlier stuff, we'll get to that. Adding to the chaos on stage, guitarist Gerry “Dwarf” Finn, bassist Johnny”Dwarf” Fenton and fellow original Dwarf, drummer Darrel “Dwarf” Millar help deliver the sounds that ruled the glory days of 80s rock.

Busting out the acoustic, Graham took center stage and slowed the pace down with a beautiful rendition of "Driftin Back", the screen behind flashing memories of the band's 44 year career. And then, after a few more tunes and a few instrumental breaks The Killer Dwarfs hit the crowd with a flurry of songs that everyone was waiting for. Going back to 1986’s Stand Tall, the band blasted out "Stand Tall" and "Keep the Spirit Alive" complete with the famous red tricycle before finishing off with "Dirty Weapons" from 1990’s album of the same name.

Then, digging all the way back to 1983, The Dwarfs finished the night off with the song and video that made them a household name across the country, "Heavy Mental Breakdown". The crowd went nuts the band proved why they truly are “The Little Big Men from Toronto”

"I'm ready... TO EXPLODE!!!!"

Concert Photo Gallery