Having missed the two Faith No More shows here in San Francisco because I was on the Monsters of Rock Cruise, I had to figure out another way to see one of my all-time favorite bands. It just so happened that in between a couple of speaking gigs for my day job, I would be in Toronto for their show at the acclaimed Sony Centre. Problem solved, and better yet, I can now add international photojournalist to my LinkedIn profile.
Faith No More are touring in support of Sol Invictus (Latin for “unconquered sun”), their first new album since 1997’s appropriately titled Album of the Year. To be honest, I never really thought that Mike Patton and crew would ever deliver new music, and if they actually did, I wondered would the near two decade long break make a difference. Would it stifle their creative genius and would they still have their quirky edge and sense of humor?
Those worries were laid to rest during a surprise performance at Amoeba Records last November where the band released the first single”Motherfucker” exclusively on 7″ vinyl to coincide with Record Store Day’s Black Friday. The band also debuted another new song called “Superhero” that was equally as brilliant. Faith No More was back, and they were calling their own shots this time around. No major label bullshit to deal with, they were doing it because they wanted to—and it showed.
Fast forward to last week in Toronto and Faith No More put on one hell of a show for the capacity crowd. In true Faith No More fashion, the stage was set for what seemed to be a funeral of sorts. Adorned with white drapes and dozens of flowers, it was anything but a metal setting. Add in the Burt Bacharach music before the band took the stage, and you have a testament to why this band has such adoring fans—they are completely unpredictable.
Faith No More can do no wrong in the eyes of its hardcore following. These aren’t just fans; it’s more like a religion. And it expands beyond Faith No More into just about anything these guys touch, especially when it comes to eclectic frontman Mike Patton. The setlist that night was a perfect mix of the “hits” if you will, alongside some FNM classics, and a hefty helping of new material. Highlights for me included opening with the new classic “Motherfucker,” then diving right into “Land of Sunshine” and “Caffeine” from their groundbreaking masterpiece Angel Dust.
“Last Cup of Sorrow” and “Ashes to Ashes” sounded incredible, while “Digging the Grave” and “The Gentle Art of Making Enemies” where blisteringly tight. If anyone ever had any question on the legacy of Faith No More it was being addressed with aggression. The new songs gelled perfectly with the older material while also moving the Faith No More sound into new territory.
Bottom line: Faith No More sound better than ever before and the new album is absolutely brilliant from start to finish. Let’s hope they continue to tour well into 2016 and beyond. Check out hi res photos from the show in the gallery here.
