May 7, 2025
Bush and Rival Sons rock Laval’s Place Bell
You can be certain, that any time Bush are in town, a great night of live music is about to be had. Yet, tonight, Laval’s Place Bell crowd was less than capacity – which really is a shame. Add in the incredible Rival Sons, and Filter, also on the bill, and this was always going to be a night to remember.
Problem is, Canadians are hurting right now. Taxed to oblivion, with funds we used to call expendable income now as extinct as the dodo bird. And expecting the politicians that lead us into this mess to lead us out is, well, futile. No matter which suit is leading the parade.
See Also: Bush at Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa
Even last night’s Steel Panther show wasn’t fully sold out – nor was the Bush gig in our nation’s capital. Facts are facts – Canadians don’t have the money to go out and enjoy themselves anymore, and its starting to show.
Filter
With the countdown at about eight minutes to showtime, Filter started playing to a pretty sparsely filled arena. Its hard enough for folks to get out to Laval for earlier sets, especially when they didn’t expect them to be early. It’s normally the opposite – bands starting late, and all that. I was hoping, given the extra time that we’d get a few more songs, and luckily had just got to my seat in time to see it all.
Kicking things off with the tune You Walk Away, as people walked in, the band members could be briefly spotted, obscured in a shroud of dark neon lights with just glimpses of them seen through the passing spotlights.
It was fine with me though, because their sound was great for an arena show. I was lucky enough to catch the group in Toronto back in 2023, on Alice Cooper’s Freaks On Parade Tour, with Ministry. It’s no secret; I’m not a particularly huge fan of the Maple Leafs hometown (or the Maple Leafs for that matter). I’m a Montreal girl, after all. But! They do know how to do concert sound specifications, and had done every time I have witnessed a show there. Although that one was outdoors, Place Bell was pretty accommodating for the soundscape we got to enjoy.
As it progressed with Trip Like I Do, it was nice to know they were still really solid after all these years. It wasn’t until the time they played their biggest hit, Take A Picture, that we finally got to see the whole band. For a moment, I was convinced I was listening to a recording, and that band hadn’t actually shown up. Maybe Filter are just shy.
That was not so for the concert photographers this evening, as it seems they may have had a beef with photographers in general perhaps? Staying hidden until after the three songs rule, flipping them off and playing in next to no light at all, just to go and put them on after and tease giving the finger them again as they left the photo pit. Seems purposely done, or was it just another coincidence.
The continuous flow of people pouring into the venue still weren’t enough to do a band like Filter justice. At least the ones inside were rocking out, and were lucky to catch any of it at all. Everyone sat in my row were having a nostalgic music moment by then, as Filter ended their seven song set with Hey Man Nice Shot.
Rival Suns
Bridging the gap between opening and headlining act, were Rival Sons who brought the right balance of rock n’ roll and the blues. No obscured shadows here – the fullest, brightest of stage lights helped highlight their stage act. It reminded me of a Black Crows set. The right amount of attitude oozing along with a natural rock swagger. No need for any extra gimmicks. Singer Jay Buchanan’s voice was as clear as day, and the band was loud, shaking us all in our seats. Those of us that will still seated anyway.
It’s no wonder, with their extensive career achievements, from touring with Deep Purple to being invited by Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne to play the last Black Sabbath shows. Opening for huge names as Alice Cooper and Aerosmith. I think this was the right spot for them to gain a whole new audiences attention. Although, when it comes to music knowledge – Montreal is on the ball. The people of Laval aren’t bad either.
Rival Sons excelled at keeping everyone engaged without too much banter. Buchanan apologized for not having a huge French vocabulary, although he did manage a few words. Something crowds in Quebec always appreciate. He then thanked us all for coming out and choosing to support live music over just streaming it at home.
With an absolute beast of a guitarist in Scott Holiday, handling solos like he can play them in his sleep. I wouldn’t bet on that not being the case either. I’m still in awe of just how good it was and the fact their not as known here yet, or maybe I was just unaware. Popular songs I recognized from the catchy riffs, tracks such as Open Your Eyes, Pressure and Time. They were really getting into their flow as the show progressed but with so much in each song there was only time for eight numbers.
If, somehow, like myself, you’ve not yet discovered the majesty that is Rival Sons, and if you’re a fan of The Damn Truth, Dirty Honey or The Black Keys, then this is the band for you. These guys are in that category.
They slowed it down a tad, pulling at our heartstrings, which explained that one particular song called Where I’ve Been, which was about forgiveness. Not just any form of forgiveness; the kind needed when you’ve gone to the same depths of depravity as a junkie or soldier following orders and have to forgive yourself. Reminding everyone that they’re worthy of love.
Just being able to dig deep and really bring out the best at every show is what they explained rock n’ roll was all about. They had that in spades. Lots of Bush fans left the show tonight as new Rival Sons fans, and I’d wager that was the case on every other stop on this tour.
They could have easily headlined tonight and I’d love to see them back for a longer show. Definitely kicking myself for not seeing them in the smaller venues. Though they look perfectly comfortable in a big stage.
Something tells me, the next time Rival Sons set up to play this stage, it’ll be as the headlining act.
Bush
I already foresaw that it would be a pure sing along of an evening, filled with the nostalgia of my teenage years. In the band’s long and illustrious career, plus a brief hiatus, it was the first time I was getting to experience them. Somehow, they have always eluded me. Empty seats were filling fast as word got out of cheaper tickets had flooded the market. Proving that the fans were always here – but the funds weren’t.
Bush will always have that special tie to Canada. Early on, when they started using the Bush name, a copyright issue kept them from using the moniker here. Due to the fact that there was already a seventies band with the same name. So, only in Canada, the album Sixteen Stone had to be released under the name Bush X (which probably makes those albums collectors items too, if you think about it.). If you ever confused about the name change, that’s where the story begins and ends. Eventually, a settlement was reached that saw each member of Bush donate twenty thousand dollars to the famous Canadian music charity, Starlight foundation. Either way, it was a win-win, I guess, since the charity helped out Canadians in need.
Leading into the set with a drum solo, followed by the band coming out gradually. The cheering got loudest as Gavin Rossdale appeared with a huge wave and smile for Montreal. THe years have been kind to him, and he still gets all the women worked up. People were going nuts right from the moment the first chord was heard. First Everything Zen followed by Machinehead. A great way to start the set, with two huge hits that put them on the map.
Greedy Fly got a big reaction as well. One of the older tunes I always enjoyed, and I was glad to have gotten to hear it firsthand. Finally. With a brief moment dedicated to mourning the passing of a longtime friend, producer and engineer extraordinaire; the great Steve Albini, who was responsible for their second studio album, Razorblade Suitcase. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios. The connection to the later cover makes sense now.
Rossdale still has so much love for performing, as the crowd has love for him, and he is ever grateful to share the stage with such talent on this tour. From the angle I was sitting at, I witnessed a moment of him dancing with his own shadow that was cast against the white amplifiers behind him. When he noticed it, he went with it and had a little fun with himself, shadow dancing the night away.
I Beat Loneliness is the name of the new Bush record coming out. They introduced it as a journey to take with them, though not everyone likes new songs, he promise it would be over quick. Sixty Ways To Forget People reminded me of Canada’s own Three Days Grace with the delivery of the classic Bush sound and a touch of the newer rock presets.
Swallowed was done in a solo acapella, and for a moment everyone sang with no matter given to the language barrier. And we sang it darn well too.
During Flowers On A Grave, a particular crowd pleasing moment that was pre-calculated to not get to swallowed, followed by the crowd. Rossdale launched himself into the audience for a quick visit with fans. Taking the full tour of Place Bell. Some fans were chasing him as far as they could go for a handshake, hug or the elusive selfie. Autographs were being signed as he made the full tour and sang at the same time. Multitasking and still sounding great. He came so close to my seats, just one section down, and I honestly don’t think I would hold my composure either around him.
The Little Things was the end of the main set before a four song encore. We started the Montreal classic, the Ole, Ole, Ole chant, but they never really took too much of a pause between songs for it gain momentum. They were enjoying the energy and feedback as we were enjoying giving it to them. You can tell in each thank you Rossdale spoke, the way Rossdale spoke them, that there was some true sincerity to it. Who doesn’t love Montreal, well the politicians destroying it clearly, but that’s a whole other story.
The perfect way to conclude such a highly energetic, emotional evening, was with their highly charged cover of Come Together – the classic Beatles tune. Yes, they covered the Beatles. To my surprise, they already had a recorded version. I thought it was just pulled out on the spot, either way, it was a nice way to try remind everyone of their humanity.
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In French, Rossdale gave an explanation of how important the song was Glycerin was. The final big hit we were all waiting for. Rough translation; “This song gave me my whole life meaning, everything I have. When writing it, I never knew it would have such an impact, so when I play it, I play for you! Thank you.”
It was time for Comedown, and Bush brought the house down. One last song in a huge night for music and the amount of talent in building was exceeding it’s limit. I was rocked out for sure. Tonight definitely felt like three separate, full shows. The biggest highlight was discovering just how much I’d been missing out on, not seeing all three of these bands yet. (Filter in Toronto doesn’t count). And now I have, thankfully.
Hopefully they’ll all be back sooner than later.
