Plaid wearing 90s rock fans rejoiced as the decade was brought back to life in Oshawa.
Alternative rock bands OLP and IME rocked the Tribute Communities Centre Oct. 29 in front of a screaming near-capacity crowd.Oshawa duo The Standstills, who rose to fame during 2012 after winning the 97.7 CHTZ-FM Rocksearch, opened the show with their mix of blues and western inspired hard rock.
The groups started their Canadian tour Oct. 15 in Abbotsford, BC, and finished it off Nov. 5 at Casino Rama in Orillia. This year marked the first time I Mother Earth’s original vocalist Edwin has performed with the group since his departure in 1997.
“It makes me feel young again that’s for sure, It brings back that sense of youth,” said BMO Branch Manager Charlene Esposto, an Our Lady Peace fan at the show. “it’s a good opportunity for us to be able to reclaim that and feel something we haven’t felt in a really long time.”
Formed in the early 1990s in Toronto, both Our Lady Peace and I Mother Earth share a similar style of music and fanbase, with fans sometimes even confusing the two.
“My mom and I used to listen to them on the radio all the time and we used to laugh because their names were so similar we thought they were the same band,” said James Hennebury, a fan at the show seeing both OLP and IME for the first time. “Now they’re doing it (touring) at the same time and it is awesome.”
Both OLP and IME continue to make new music. OLP released the single ‘Won’t Turn Back’ in 2014 from their 2012 album ‘Curve’, and IME released the singles ‘The Devil’s Engine’ and ‘Blossom’ in 2015.
Although fans are always happy to hear new music, its really the songs from the bands glory days that hold a special place in people’s hearts.
“Honestly I’m here for their old music,” said Leanne Legleiter, an OLP fan at the show with a friend. “When they come out with new music then definitely yeah I’ll listen to it, but I love their old stuff.”
Aside from the grungy outfits and loud music, the tour aimed to bring about some good to those in need.
All three bands worked with World Vision, who came along the tour. The goal was to sponsor children in one specific community in Zimbabwe which with bands are associated.
“They’re looking to sponsor all the children in that community and do a water project,” said Lorie Smith, a volunteer with World Vision. “I see the program from start to finish and I see how its just transformed communities.”
As of Oct. 29 100 children had been sponsored through the tour, 199 shy of the goal. For more information on this or similar initiatives visit worldvision.ca.
