The Maysides Kick off the 2026 Toronto Concert Scene with Fire!
- jaybroderick
- 12 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Toronto, Ontario
By: Jay Broderick - Toronto's music scene didn’t exactly come roaring into 2026, but Hamilton region punks The Maysides did everything in their power to change that. For fifteen bucks at the good ol’ Horseshoe Tavern, the city had the chance to kick off the year with a stacked bill of punk, alt‑rock, ska‑leaning chaos, and one of the most charming acoustic sets you’ll see anywhere. The crowd wasn’t huge (I understand that the holidays just ended, and funds are likely a little low, but COME ON TORONTO!!!), but the energy inside the room grew with every band, every horrible joke, every chug, and every pogo stick bounce.
As always, I arrived at the venue early, and found myself chatting with a young man named Sam at the bar, awaiting for the doors (well, the curtains at The Horseshoe) to open. Great chat with a great kid (sorry Sam... most people to me are "kids"), but like a lot of young people in this city right now, he’s in tough. With little hope of ever owning their own home, it's a huge reason why a lot of young people are moving... not only out of the city, but out of the country. Nights like this matter for people... a reminder that community still exists, even in dimly lit bars with sticky floors.
Francy Planet
The night opened with a one‑man universe named Francy Planet, an acoustic guitarist from London (Ontario). I joked with The Maysides’ frontman Matt Harris, who was hanging out in the crowd watching the show, that Francy had traveled farther than his band did.
Francy's set came wrapped in a Macbook, complete with a “narrator” voice that popped in between songs, adding context, humour, and a bit of theatricality. Ahead of the third track of his set, the narrator explained that he (?) is here because while Francy has no trouble singing, he stutters when he speaks. It was delivered with warmth as Francy immediately strummed into “The Writers' Room,” a slow‑burning, melodic piece that showcased the singer's soothing voice and impressive range. Toward the end, he held a long note, glanced at his watch, and the crowd cracked up.
The narrator returned before a song about divorce, and Francy asked the crowd to join him on the “Ba Ba Bahhhhs.” The first attempt was… not so great. He told them to do better. They did, and the room lit up with harmonies.
More narrative interludes followed... Smashmouth references, Instagram plugs, and merch table reminders... but the moment that stuck was when Francy paused, genuinely thanked the crowd, and said, “Check on your friends.” A simple message, delivered with heart. And an amazing sounding set!
Monday Big
Then came Monday Big, a six‑piece explosion of colour, rhythm, and joy from Barrie, Ontario. Matching red shirts for all, the band's frontman in red jeans and a white jacket emblazoned with the band’s name. Their dress looked like a late 1950s/early 1960s rock and roll band, but their style was all their own.
Featuring a married couple on vocals, keyboards, guitars, and drums. The stage was packed, but they didn't let the cramped space hinder their fun. The band's frontman bounced around, while the drummer thrashed his head with every hit.
Before the fourth track of their set, the singer asked the crowd to dance, and the band launched into a funky groove that made it impossible not to move. Their rappy vocal style, playful energy, and obvious love for what they do made them a very entertaining act.
Their cover of Sum 41’s “In Too Deep” blew the room open. The female singer jumped into the crowd, hyping everyone up, and her life mate followed. By the time they closed with a track punctuated by the singer pogo‑sticking through the audience, Monday Big had set the stage for what was next.
Wasting Time
I covered Wasting Time when they opened for Econoline Crush, but tonight they came in hotter, louder, and tighter. They amped everything up tenfold, as they opened their set with "How Much I Miss Those Days", the lead track from the band's third album Hurry up and Wait. Even a lone fan started moshing by himself. Honestly... Respect!!! And the band fed off the energy.
Wasting Time's frontman "Mad Vlad" introduced a new track, “Ripped Blue Jeans,” before the band tore through a run of songs that showcased their pop‑punk instincts and relentless pace. Bassist Mike Quan was back to his perfectly timed jumps, guitarist Mark Bedross was up to his usual antics, and the band barely stopped to breathe.
Ahead of the band's 6th track of their set, "Mad Vlad" (aka Vlad Bojco) announced, “So, we’re Wasting Time! We’re going to be playing a bunch of new tunes you may not have heard before,” and launched into “Tear It Up.” During the breakdown, fans raised their phone flashlights, creating a surprisingly tender moment before the band detonated the song again.
“Oh this is a ska song… we wrote a ska song… it goes like this…” became another highlight as they blasted into ""Pale Room", and by the time they reached “In Due Time,” the flashlights were back, though the band refused to let the song stay slow for long. Just like their Econoline set, they kept banter to a minimum and blasted through their material with precision and fire.
The Maysides
Finally, The Maysides took the stage. Tonight, they were short one bandmate (guitarist Kenny Holt), but not short on energy. They kicked into high gear immediately with their 2015 track "Bucket List", setting the tone for their first show of 2026.
“Bonjour… we’re kicking off the new year…” Matt Harris announced, before he and bassist G.I. Holm launched into a ridiculous back‑and‑forth about work sucking and masturbating. Classic Maysides chaos.
They hit a Blink‑182 “First Date” cover early, sending fans dancing. Then came “1000 Friends,” one of their earliest singles, and still a crowd‑pleaser. Harris was going hard... sweat was flying. “That’s when you know it’s getting good,” he said after wiping his forehead. The banter between him and Holm was relentless, terrible, and hilarious!
Halfway through their set, the party anthem “CHUG.” Matt asked for dancers, singers, and invited the opening bands onstage. As they all piled onto the artists' platform, the lone mosher returned, and the crowd finally thickened. Matt chugged a beer mid‑set, cheered the mosher, and the band blasted into “Basement Days.” They slowed things down for their brand new song “Goodbye, So Long,” an intimate moment that showed a different side of the band before they ramped things back up again for their finale.
Even with the smaller turnout, The Maysides played like they were headlining a festival. The energy spilling form the Horseshoe stage was a surge of power that was unrelenting. That’s the mark of a band that loves what they do.
Set List
Bucket List
Any Girl
First Date (blink-182 cover)
1000 Friends
Been There, Done That
Chug
Basement Days
Goodbye So Long
Loved and Lost
It wasn’t a packed night at The Horseshoe, but it was a meaningful one, full of heart, humour, sweat, and community. Toronto missed out. Fifteen bucks for four bands giving everything they had? Absolute steal. Nights like this remind you why live music matters. Why scenes survive. Why people like Sam show up, even with life pounding us down.
The Maysides kicked off 2026 with a bang. Let’s hope the rest of the city catches up.
Concert Photo Gallery (all photos by Jay Broderick)
The Maysides Online
Show Date: January 8, 2026
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