SHOW REVIEW: THE GREETING COMMITTEE LIVE in TORONTO

The Greeting Committee took Toronto by storm on July 19 with dynamic energy and musicianship. 

Embarking on a North American tour and with their recently released EP, “Everyone’s Gone and I Know I’m The Problem”, The Greeting Committee is gaining attention from indie rock lovers here and abroad. The band consists of Addie Sartino on vocals and oftentime bass, with Pierce Turcotte and Brandon Yangmi on guitar and Austin Fraser on drums. The band has previously performed with Saint Motel, MisterWives, The Mowgli’s and Canada’s own Arkells over the past several years. 

Fans gathered at The Velvet Underground in the heart of Toronto, buzzing with excitement and eagerness for the show on a hot Friday night. The opening act, TOLEDO, calmed the crowd for a while with an intimate acoustic set and soulful vocals. But, as the lights dimmed and the band came out, the venue exploded with energy from lead singer Addie Sartino and her powerful vocals on “Tell Me I’m Wrong”. 

The crowd cheered when Pierce Turcotte passed Sartino his bass guitar and proceeded to jam out while continuing on with the song. Fans were excited to see the band up close and interact with them throughout the show. Not only is Sartino a multi-instrument musician, but so is band member Turcotte, who serenaded the crowd with some spicy saxophone licks to kick off the show. Yangmi was featured on guitar throughout the night and Fraser held down the fort behind the drum kit. What is notable about The Greeting Committee other than their insane musicianship and amazing music is their ability to make their fans feel very much part of the experience. Frequently, Sartino leaned over into the crowd, get on the fans’ eye level and made it a very immersive experience. 

From Kansas to Canada, The Greeting Committee is set to be a force of nature, making a real name for themselves in the indie rock scene. Their tour continues throughout the US and Canada with tickets still available. I recommend seeing them now before they inevitably blow up into stardom.