THE NEW ERA OF DANCE GAVIN DANCE OWNS THE NIGHT IN TORONTO

Sacramento’s post-hardcore band Dance Gavin Dance (DGD) embarked on their ‘Return of the Robot’ Tour across North America. This tour commenced on May 22 in Philadelphia and will conclude on June 29 in San Diego. I’m thrilled to see the only Canadian sold-out show on May 29 at History, Toronto.

Before the show even began, the venue was already packed, and the stage was filled with four drum kits and amplifiers — clear signs that four bands would be performing tonight. First up was Dwellings, who kicked off with tracks like “Pick Up Before You Go” and “Lemonade.” Their blend of R&B-influenced vocals and progressive rock instrumentation immediately set the tone for the night. Next, Belmont took over the stage with their greatest hit “Overstepping,” and “Pushing Daisies,” bringing harsher vocals that amped up the crowd even further. Then came The Home Team, whose heavy pop sound brought a refreshing tone. Their set included “Slow Bloom,” “Worthy,” and “Loud,” keeping the momentum of the audience.

As the members of Dance Gavin Dance took the stage one by one, two giant inflatable figures in the background sprang to life — one with a human face, the other a bull-headed robot — defining the bright and playful theme of this tour.

They started with “Speed Demon,” the first release spotlighting Andrew Wells as the new clean vocalist following Tilian Pearson’s departure. DGD inherited their signature style, merging post-hardcore intensity with funk-infused grooves and technical math rock guitar work and Andrew demonstrated fresh sounds to the fans.

DGD then performed their newly released single “Midnight At McGuffy’s,” taking fans on a surreal ride. The back-and-forth between Andrew’s melodic vocals and co-vocalist Jon Mess’s aggressive screams laid fertile ground for waves of crowd surfers to rise and drift freely above the crowd.

“Blue Dream” is easily one of my favourite songs. It opens with a soulful, R&B-infused verse and chorus that gently cooled down the night for a bit, lulling the crowd into a dreamy state. Then, a sudden shift in tempo and the eruption of Jon’s screams awakened the audience. My favourite moment came when fans sang along to the iconic line — ‘Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, don’t move’ during the bridge. It’s a collective moment that makes the performance unforgettable.

With several lineup changes since the band was formed in 2005, DGD has now entered a new era, fronted by new vocalist Andrew Wells, longtime harsh vocalist Jon Mess, lead guitarist Will Swan, and drummer Matthew Mingus, as well as touring members Sergio Medina on bass and Martin Bianchini on rhythm guitar. Changing vocalists can be a major challenge for any band, but when Andrew asked the fans, ‘Who’s been listening to DGD since high school?’ The roaring response spoke volumes. It has proven that, for many in the audience, DGD remains a beloved part of their formative years.

With the recent releases of their lead singles “Midnight at McGuffy’s” and “All the Way Down,” DGD has officially announced the 11th studio album Pantheon, set to be out on September 12 via Rise Records. Even after two decades as a band, they not only continue to deliver the signature elements that longtime fans expect, but also aren’t afraid to push boundaries and experiment. Pantheon promises to offer a sense of relief, a light in the dark amidst the chaotic world — stay tuned for the rest of the tour and what’s to come.