Our Girl Peace, Collective Soul & Greylin James Rue
July 24, 2025
Budweiser Stage, Toronto, ON
As storms loomed over Toronto, the thirtieth anniversary celebration for Our Girl Peace at Budweiser Stage was pressured to pivot—however not even extreme climate might dampen the power.
Opening act Greylin James Rue took to the stage early, finishing a shortened set earlier than most followers had arrived as a result of her unexpectedly early begin time.
Nova Scotia’s Wintersleep adopted go well with, delivering a condensed efficiency that also included fan favourites “Weighty Ghost” and “Amerika.”
With climate warnings rising extra pressing, Collective Soul continued the development of early units. Frontman Ed Roland made a glittering entrance—bare-chested below a black sequined floral go well with—bringing excessive power and aptitude to the abbreviated set. Celebrating greater than 30 years as a band, they performed a collection of hits and touched on their 2024 album Right here to Eternity. However regardless of their efforts to remain forward of the storm, nature had different plans.
After Collective Soul’s efficiency, the occasion got here to a halt as a result of a extreme climate alert. Concertgoers had been suggested to shelter in place or exit the venue amid excessive winds, lightning, and torrential rain. Whereas some assumed the present was over and left, the bulk waited it out—finally rewarded when the skies cleared and the stage lights returned.
Our Girl Peace lastly emerged, decided to make the wait worthwhile—and so they did. Enjoying a career-spanning set full of fan favourites and deep cuts, lots of which hadn’t appeared in stay exhibits for over 15 years, OLP reminded Toronto precisely why they’ve remained a staple of Canadian rock for 3 a long time.
True to their poetic roots—OLP took their title from a Mark Van Doren poem—frontman Raine Maida shared his oft-told story of being impressed by Gord Downie at a Tragically Hip live performance in his youth. That affect got here full circle throughout a robust crowd-led tribute to The Hip, with followers elevating their lights and voices to Locked within the Trunk of a Automotive.
Surprises had been plentiful: Wintersleep’s Paul Murphy returned to the stage for a visitor look, and in a captivating second of spontaneity, Maida swapped wristbands with a fan—exchanging his for a maple leaf sweatband.
The set additionally showcased OLP’s ongoing evolution, with the debut of recent materials together with “I Wanna Be Your Drug” and a reimagined model of “No matter,” initially written as a theme for wrestler Chris Benoit. After the tragic murder-suicide involving Benoit in 2007, the band retired the tune from stay exhibits. Now, 23 years after its launch, the up to date model—launched on July 24, the night time of the live performance—options revised lyrics geared toward elevating consciousness round psychological well being and suicide prevention. All streaming proceeds will likely be donated to associated initiatives throughout North America.
OLP closed the night time on a excessive, with “Clumsy” main right into a raucous encore chant of “O-L-P! O-L-P!” earlier than Maida reappeared—this time at a piano within the 300-level—for an intimate efficiency of “Not Sufficient.” He was quickly joined by his spouse, Chantal Kreviazuk, for the intro to 4 A.M., earlier than returning to the principle stage with the total band to complete the emotional encore.
Regardless of the storm-related chaos, the present delivered an evening to recollect—one in all resilience, nostalgia, and connection.
And on a private notice, it was a significant milestone for this creator and photographer: the possibility to seize the efficiency of the artist that impressed the title of my youngest little one.
