I got to see Augustines at The Garrison on October 8. In a very short period of time, Augustines has become one of my favourite bands. Their live performance only served to cement this opinion.
This is the type of band that shines on stage. These are the kinds of anthemic and passionate songs that shine when performed live. You can see the intensity on singer/guitarist Billy McCarthy's face. You can see the sweat bead on his forehead. Multi-instrumentalist Eric Sanderson and drummer Rob Allen give it their all, too. This is a band leaving it all on stage, night after night, winning fans over one by one.
The band's set included songs from their recent self-titled release, their 2011 release Rise Ye Sunken Ships under the name We Are Augustines and even included tunes from McCarthy and Sanderson's previous band Pela.
As often happens at Augustines shows, they performed a few tunes unamplified in the middle of the crowd. I don't know how often the next thing happens, but they then spilled out into the street to serenade the neighbours and finish their set while standing on the wheel well of their uhaul. Very cool and fun way to end the show.
Enjoy some Augustines' music:
"Chapel Song" from Rise Ye Sunken Ships
"Cruel City" from Augustines
"Juarez" from Rise Ye Sunken Ships
"Augustine" from Rise Ye Sunken Ships
"Now You Are Free" from Augustines
"Nothing To Lose But Your Head" from Augustines
"Book of James" from Rise Ye Sunken Ships
"Weary Eyes" from Augustines
They finished up the show on the side of their uhaul, on Dundas Street, with "New Drink for the Old Drunk" from Rise Ye Sunken Ships. Spectatcular performance. So glad that I was introduced to this band.
