Rounding out a summer tour that has taken the band across Canada and the US, including a stop at ‘Summerfest’ in early July, the foursome from Florida known as ‘The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus’ hit the stage for an All Ages show at the Mod Club in Toronto on Saturday August 22, in support of their latest CD entitled ‘Lonely Road’.

They are presently touring with three supporting acts, Go Radio, The Dares and Monty Are I, which made for an early start to the night as the first band was scheduled to hit the stage at 6:20pm.

We arrived shortly before Red Jumpsuit was set to go on and right upon entry of the club the enthusiasm in the audience was palpable and there was already a discernable crowd of young girls gathered at the front of the stage cheering as the band underwent a last minute sound check. They departed the stage and then within moments the lights went down and they re-entered to eerie choir-like music, I almost expected The Undertaker to appear. It was at this point the audience erupted, no doubt in anticipation of the great rock show that was about to follow.



Encouraging the frenzy, lead singer Ronnie Winter commanded the crowd to throw their fists in the air as they lead in with ‘Damn Regret’, off their sophomore album ‘Don’t You Fake It’. During the second song as the more enthusiastic fans formed a mini moshpit, I watched drummer Jon Wilkes, firstly because I can certainly appreciate a shirtless tattooed musician, but more importantly, because if anyone seems to love what they do, it is Jon. His facial contortions and energy during the song indicated he was having as much fun, if not more, than the fans that came out that night.

It was during this second song that Ronnie introduced us to Matt Canter on guitar, who upon mention of his name ripped into an impressive guitar wail and whose stance and antics reminded me of Jack Black in School of Rock. Since the departure of Elias Reidy shortly after the completion of ‘Lonely Road’, Matt Canter has become an honorary “Apperati”.



Another song in, and with the audience now amply warmed up, the next one was dedicated ‘to the ladies’, and they proceeded to play the ballad ‘Cat and Mouse’. Duke Kitchens commanded the piano for this one, providing a brief departure from the heavy guitars we had been hearing. However, the ladies didn’t impressed as they left the front stage area during this from-the-heart anthem, the lyrics to which I am certain every one of us has thought and felt at some point. The next song ‘False Pretense’ seemed more up their alley as it brought the crowd back into the fray with the catchy bass undertones of guitarist Joey Westwood. There were a few ballad-y type songs throughout the night, including a love song that Ronnie Winter had penned for his wife, where the band seemed to lose the momentum of the crowd – these fans weren’t in the mood for sappy, they definitely came to rock out.
And rock out they did to one of the bands biggest commercial hits, ‘Face Down’. Then the last song of the night ‘Grim Goodbye’ succeeded in bringing the show to a rapturous close.

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus is a band that describes their objective as “Writing straightforward rock songs about topics that are REAL and you can relate to”. I have to say these guys are no nonsense, no gimmick, no pretension, just a straight up authentic rock band.

Although they promise more dates will be added, currently the Toronto gig was one of the last stops on the tour - the band rolls into Raleigh, North Carolina on Sept 18th.