New York rockers Bayside were all business Sept. 21, tearing their way through an hour-long set for of an enthusiastic crowd at Ottawa’s Maverick’s bar.
“It’s good to be back here in Ottawa after three years,” lead singer and rhythm guitarist Anthony Raneri said to the crowd as he geared up to open the set.
Raneri, along with lead guitarist Jack O’Shea, bassist Nick Ghanbarian, and drummer Chris Guglielmo, stopped in Ottawa in support of their album Killing Time, released earlier this year.
The four-piece set the tone early, kicking things off with “Already Gone” off of Killing Time. Heavy guitar riffs and powerful drumming whipped the crowd into a frenzy, with many people beginning to crowd surf or sing along with the band.
Bayside then moved on to some more classic material, such as “The Walking Wounded,” “Carry On,” and “They’re Not Horses, They’re Unicorns.” The crowd was quite into the performance, with just about every lyric being sung by the majority of people in attendance.
About halfway through the set, Raneri took what he called a “deserved break” to pick up an acoustic guitar and play fan-favourite “Don’t Call Me Peanut” with O’Shea providing minimalist support with intricate, clean electric guitar.
The rest of the set featured a mix of newer favourites and older songs from the band’s younger days. Both Raneri and Ghanbarian thanked the crowd and promised they would come back to Ottawa soon.
“We wouldn’t be right here, doing what we’re doing, without you guys . . . thank you so much,” Raneri said.
Bayside’s performance was virtually flawless, with every band member putting in a full effort. Their act was well-rehearsed, and each song was played flawlessly. The band was also very good at drawing the crowd into the performance and keeping their interest through each member’s stage presence. Not only did that apply for the fans at the front, but also those who decided to keep away from the moshing and crowdsurfing areas closer to the stage.
With the set being an even mix of older and newer material, the band succesfully catered to older and younger fans alike. The sound quality was excellent, with every instrument being clearly audible in the mix — a difficult task when playing in smaller venues such as Maverick’s.
Opening American pop-punk act Transit showed incredible musicianship while entertaining the crowd with an energetic set. Hailing from Massachusetts, Transit lead singer Joe Boynton pointed out that the band was enjoying their time in Canada, as visiting here was a rarity for them.
Local Ottawa bands Sharks and Ladders and Landslider rounded out the bill, with Landslider releasing their first EP at the show. Each of the bands put their heart and soul into their own performance, which made this show well worth the admission price.