All Photos captured and edited by Cleah Fast

Friday January 3rd, time of death, 10:03 pm.

The night I had the pleasure of experiencing a gritty rock scene for the first time.

The incredibly talented CHLORINE kicked off the year in unforgettable fashion headlining a show at The Rivoli in Toronto, aptly titled "The Death of CHLORINE." As the name would suggest, the entire event was staged like a funeral. Flowers adorned the stage, band and audience alike were dressed in funeral attire, and a "funeral director" delivered eulogy-like introductions for each opener and for CHLORINE themselves. The Rivoli was slammed, the suspense real, as CHLORINE got ready to take to the stage for their first performance of the year.

The house lights dimmed, and the crowd went into hyperdrive. In near darkness, Aristides, Jacob, Ryan, and Johnny took the stage, building an eerie instrumental intro that filled the room with tension and curiosity. Then, as Radin (the band’s frontman) emerged, the stage lights brightened, revealing the band fully for the first time. Dressed sharply in suits, they wasted no time diving into their first song. It was apparent from the opening note that the full venue was there to voice every lyric with the band.

Every song put the audience in a trance. The keyboard player, Johnny, stole the show more than once—whether stepping out from behind his keys to dance with the band or fueling the crowd's chants for Jacob to shed layers of clothing. Camaraderie in the band was palpable, oozing from their recent week-long retreat in a remote cabin in Canada. That translated to the stage, particularly during "People Say," where an electrifying Radin guitar solo overflowed with emotion and left the crowd speechless.

The energy only mounted into the night. It had been almost a year to the day since CHLORINE last graced the Rivoli stage and the crowd responded in kind with unmatched fervor. When Radin asked, "Who came to dance? The crowd responded with thunderous movement; it shook the floor beneath my feet. The room was a living organism—singing, dancing, and moving in perfect harmony to the band's symphonic jamming, which reached its peak when Radin cheekily announced, "F**k it, one minutes of Van Halen," launching into a cover of the legendary band's hits.

But it was about so much more than the music. Comical aspects of the show really took it to a different level. From Johnny's over-the-top facial expressions and witty banter with the audience, to just totally insane interactions with his band, he had them in hysterics without taking a break. From destroying tambourines to holding Jacob crowd surfing and making sure the bass remained plugged in, this never-out-of-energy character gave just one more incomparable layer to a completely unique evening.

The Death of CHLORINE" was one of those nights, topped by an encore that wasn't even planned. Adding a layer of spontaneity to an already chaotic and magical performance. we later found out it was not planned and the song decision was made on the spot. As the band handed out pristine white roses, Radin and Johnny closed the night with a soulful jam that brought some audience members to tears. Cries of bittersweet joy reverberated across the room, chanting in agreement in wanting to have that one song played just one last time.

An unforgettable night of raw energy and electrifying music, 'The Death of CHLORINE' proved to be anything but an end. With roaring cheers, thunderous riffs, and a room alive with passion, CHLORINE turned what was meant to mourn death into a powerful celebration of camaraderie, skill, humor, and just overall enjoyment of life.

Check Out & Stay Connected with CHLORINE on their Social Channels linked below:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chlorineto/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chlorineto

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@chlorineto