Tear Away Tusa is tearing up the stage
A band of Guelph music students called Tear Away Tusa has been captivating the Guelph music scene for a while now, and they’re only getting better. After seeing them perform on the Johnston Green during Orientation week, I made it a personal goal to see them again. The powerful female presence backed by a band of diversely talented musicians was captivating to watch, especially on the unique outdoor venue under the stars. Three weeks later, I conveniently met the bassist of the band on campus, who was handing out posters and stickers and telling people about the upcoming show at District, downtown on Friday, Sept. 26. I was excited to catch a glimpse of the local music scene in Guelph as I heard there are always fantastic bar bands to see. Being 18, I don’t have many options, so I was stoked to hear about this one.
A couple friends and I arrived at District unfashionably early to a very open and uncrowded room. Opening for Tear Away Tusa were Better Weather, who were in the middle of a sound check, and London’s OL’ CD following. About an hour later, the Windsor-based Better Weather started their set for a sparse crowd. The beginning of their set seemed somewhat nervous and a little slow. The light show at District is very aesthetically pleasing, so it made them look as cool as any other band, but the music was lacking something. About halfway through the set, the singer said something along the lines of “Thanks for listening to our sad music, now we’re going to pick it up a bit,” and that’s when the show really started. The guitar melodies and the singer’s talent shone through, and they ended up putting on a pretty good show. At this point, more people were showing up, and the set got progressively better and more alive.
OL’ CD, haling from London, Ontario, were the second openers of the night. This band kicked up the energy one-hundred per cent and got the girls dancing. They were completely uninhibited performers, and the entire set almost seemed like a jam session. The raunchy guitar riffs and integration of multiple singers gave the band a super-cool 70s feel. The group kept the crowd entertained indefinitely, and introduced their songs with snarky comments like “This song is about going to Newfoundland and getting drunk because there’s nothing else to do there”.
By the time Tear Away Tusa was onstage, the entire bar was full of people who were very happy to be there. It was such a sociable atmosphere, it seemed like the entire crowd was a big group of friends. Then the music started, and a large majority of the attendees were singing along. Singer Erin Tusa has no shortage of personality, and unquestionably defines the band with her unique voice and commanding stage presence. A solid band backs her, including a groovy bassist and a horn section that brought a particular class to the stage.