Live, Big Wreck, The Damn Truth, and One Big Night of Rock

From Montreal bar stages to arenas, The Damn Truth headlined a night that delivered on all fronts

ByThe Main

April 11, 2025 · 1 min read

Live, Big Wreck, The Damn Truth, and One Big Night of Rock

Phtoography by Eva Blue / @evablue

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Discover the places mentioned in this story

Place Bell

One one of the first warm nights of the year, Montreal's rock faithful headed to Laval’s Place Bell.

The Damn Truth opened, and for anyone who caught them coming up in the city's club scene, seeing Leela Baum command an arena stage feels like watching something click into place. The band has been one of Quebec's most committed standard-bearers for guitar-driven rock for years, and at this scale, that commitment reads loud and clear.

Big Wreck followed with the kind of set that explains why they've been a fixture on Canadian rock tours for decades. Ian Thornley is a generational talent who makes a support slot feel like the reason you bought the ticket.

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One one of the first warm nights of the year, Montreal's rock faithful headed to Laval’s Place Bell.

Then Live, who arrived carrying some baggage. Ed Kowalczyk is currently the only original member, and his former bandmates recently filed a cease and desist over the band name.

None of that was on stage, however: He worked through a catalogue that hit every mark the crowd came for, from "Selling the Drama" through to "Lightning Crashes," which closed the night the way it usually does in these situations—a few thousand people singing something they've had memorized since 1994.

Rock definitely isn't dead.

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Arts & Culture

Live, Big Wreck, The Damn Truth, and One Big Night of Rock

From Montreal bar stages to arenas, The Damn Truth headlined a night that delivered on all fronts

ByThe Main

April 11, 2025 · 1 min read

Phtoography by Eva Blue / @evablue

The Main is reader-supported. Subscriptions are what keep us independent. Five dollars a month — the restaurants, the guides, the weekly bulletin, and what to do each weekend. Support us today.

Discover the places mentioned in this story

Place Bell

One one of the first warm nights of the year, Montreal's rock faithful headed to Laval’s Place Bell.

Free account required

For readers who care about Montreal

Create a free account to read this story and access 3 articles per month, plus our weekly Bulletin.

Independent. Local. Reader-supported.

Already a member? Sign in

One one of the first warm nights of the year, Montreal's rock faithful headed to Laval’s Place Bell.

Then Live, who arrived carrying some baggage. Ed Kowalczyk is currently the only original member, and his former bandmates recently filed a cease and desist over the band name.

Rock definitely isn't dead.