Billy Talent

Electric City Hosts Sold Out Billy Talent Show in Buffalo, NY

Canadian punk-rock band, Billy Talent, stopped in Buffalo, NY on their recent summer jaunt. Out in support of Crisis of Faith, their sixth release, the show sold out almost as quickly as it was announced. Fans, from both sides of the border, filled one of the newest venues in town, Electric City.

Surprisingly, not only was it a sold out Sunday night show, there was no opening bands to support Billy Talent. Doors opened at 7pm and the merch table quickly developed a line that snaked through the mezzanine. At 8:30 sharp, as the lights went down and the fog machines kicked in, the crowd erupted in anticipation. Devil in a Midnight Mass started the show and there wasn’t a still body in the venue. Vocalist, Benjamin Kowalewicz was bouncing all over the stage and could be seen playing air guitar at one point in the evening, covered in sweat. Fellow founding members Ian D’Sa {guitar}, and Jonathan Gallant {bass} joined Kowalewicz along with new touring drummer, Loel Campbell.

Fans of all ages sang along to nearly every word the band played. Benjamin stops between songs to chat briefly with the tightly packed crowd, at one point asking who has been with the band throughout their, hard to believe, 30 year history. He also mentions noticing quite a few young fans in the audience and hands one a drumstick snagged from Loel’s kit.

The walls were buzzing with excitement this evening. Towards the end of the 21 song set you can see the exhaustion in every person on stage as well as in the crowd, but not a single soul wanted the show to end. Billy Talent played all their hits, such as Red Flag, Devil on my Shoulder, Rusted From the Rain, and Try Honesty as well as those that never made it to the radio such as Line & Sinker, and Pins and Needles. The song Fallen Leaves noted the end of an intense, sweaty night out.

Overall, I would definitely recommend attending at least one Billy Talent show in your lifetime.