Rock fans of all ages lined up outside The Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto for a Thursday night of live rock ‘n’ roll. The first time Sebastian Bach had been back in Canada for five years, fans radiated with excitement as they waited for the doors to open, all hoping to grab the perfect spot at the front of the stage.
Sebastian Bach
The Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto – 24 October 2024
Words And Photography: Taylor Cameron
Canadian hard rocker Sebastian Bach held his fist raised high in the air as he came to the stage. The crowd went absolutely wild as his band, consisting of Paris Bierk (drums), Brody DeRozie (guitar) and Fede Delfino (bass), ripped into What Do I Got to Lose? a track from Bach’s latest album, Child Within The Man.
Still at the top of his game, Bach commands the stage with ease, and a powerful energy radiates across the iconic Phoenix. 
With a ferocious guitar riff and heavy drum beat, the Skid Row 1991 classic Slave To The Grind is up next. Whipping his hair and swinging around his microphone like a lasso, Bach’s stage presence has not faltered since his days in Skid Row.
“We’re celebrating the 35th anniversary of the first Skid Row record tonight,” Bach says, the crowd erupting into loud cheers. Arguably one of the best hard rock debut albums of the 1980s, Skid Row’s self-titled album remains a classic.
Bach continues to gain more fans every day, the room filled with young and veteran rock fans alike. From Here I Am and Sweet Little Sister to Can’t Stand The Heartache and Piece of Me, the crowd belts out every word to these iconic songs along with Bach. The energy in the room is unmatchable.
“Back when Much Music actually played music, and you could turn your TV on and see something called a rock video, they played the hell out of this one,” Bach says. “This is a song sung by a 19-year-old boy from Toronto, Canada. This is 18 And Life.” 
Hundreds of voices could be heard singing along to the track that hit #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. This is a song that has remained popular through generations of rock fans
Another fan favourite from the Skid Row debut album is the power ballad I Remember You. Sebastian Bach dedicated the song to the late Abbott brothers, Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul of Pantera, whom Skid Row toured with in support of the Slave To The Grind album. Tonight, fans cheered in respect, many in the room having attended that very tour.
“Woke up to the sound of pouring rain.” The venue became deafening as the crowd sang along to every word of this hit song. Hearing these songs sung live by the voice who made the Skid Row classics what they are was truly a magical experience for a young rock fan like myself; Bach even pointed me out when catching me singing along in the photo pit to Here I Am. 
“It’s great to be Bach in Canada,” Sebastian exclaimed. Growing up in Toronto in the ’80s, he experienced a much different Toronto to what it is today. “I used to tease my hair up really high, put on makeup, and come to the Diamond Club [which is now known as The Phoenix] at 14.
“But no one knew how old I was,” Bach laughed. “However, you never had to worry about getting into the club when going out because there were so many people outside that the streets were also the club.”
As the night neared its end, the band played a few more Skid Row classics, Rattlesnake Shake and the anthemic Youth Gone Wild.
“I want to dedicate this one to anyone who has been rockin’ and rollin’ to this music for thirty-five fucking years. This is for the Youth Gone Wild!” 
Horns held high in the air, the crowd went ballistic. Youth Gone Wild is a song that takes veteran rock fans back in time to when they first heard the song on Much Music or on a cassette tape, as well as being an anthem for the new generation of fans who have found comfort in these old records.
Surprising the crowd with one last song, Bach and his band performed Future Of Youth, another track from Bach’s latest album. This was the song’s live debut. Future Of Youth translated to the stage perfectly, blending into the set of Skid Row songs with ease.
The energy of Sebastian Bach and his band did not falter once throughout the night. The singer is as energetic as ever. You would think you were seeing him as a young 20-year-old.
Sebastian Bach is truly still on the top of his A-game.
Lear Haven
Lear Haven, a band local to the Toronto area, kicked off the night. Their ’70s blues influences gripped the crowd’s attention, their sound having a likeness to bands such as Led Zeppelin and The Black Crowes.
Although a short, five-song set, Lear Haven warmed up the crowd brilliantly with their fun stage presence, both energetic and captivating.
Kurt Deimer
Up next was actor and musician Kurt Deimer. Backed up by a slew of talented young musicians, Deimer and his band took the stage with an iron fist. With talking rap-style vocals and heavy rock melodies, Deimer’s unique sound is strong with an Aerosmith Walk This Way kind of vibe.
Performing in Toronto for the first time, the crowd welcomed them to the city warmly. Visibly enjoying the set, the audience lit up the room with phone flashlights and lighters during the ballad Hero.
Ian Corabi (drums), Marco Pera (bass and backing vocals), Sammy Boller (lead guitar) and Brendan Hengle (guitar) delivered enthralling performances, providing the backbone and melody of the songs flawlessly. Pera’s vocals soar, adding depth and dimension to the tracks, and the contrast between his and Deimer’s vocal styles pairs in an interestingly perfect way. 
“I sing the low parts, and Marco sings the high parts. That’s just how we do it,” Deimer states when praising Pera’s vocal talents. With an album set for release on 25 April 2025, Deimer and his band gave the crowd a sneak peek into what we can expect.
Playing two unreleased tracks, Look, and the closing track of their set, Fight, both songs ended with loud applause echoing throughout the venue walls. The energy radiating off both the crowd and band was magnetic. The five musicians commanding the stage held everyone’s attention with ease throughout the entire set.
Deimer definitely gained many new fans.
