CHAT PILE destroy Calgary.
The "Cool World" Tour
CHAT PILE w/ Gouge Away & Nightosphere
Saturday March 1, 2025
Commonwealth Bar & Stage, Calgary, Canada
A packed house on a warm Saturday night.
Opening band Nightosphere crushed the room with their signature "slowcore" style. The enigmatic pair of Claire Hannah and Brittany Sawtelle were truly captivating in their energy.
This was my first time seeing Gouge Away, who brought an atmosphere and attitude reminiscent of the old-school hardcore scene. Singer Christina Michelle calling on the crowd to stage dive while the band had a moshpit pushed to fever pitch. Guitarists Mick Ford and Dylan Downey jump from raw punk energy to '70s inspired rock-outs.
Chat Pile played their first ever Calgary show to a sold-out venue. Their profile has increased significantly since the success of 2022 album "God's Country" and last year's critically acclaimed "Cool World."
The band remain down-to-earth in their presentation; walking out with little fanfare to Quincy Jones' "Soul Bossa Nova" and vocalist Raygun Busch's banter about obscure movie trivia. By their second song, Busch has removed his shirt and dominates the stage in just a pair of shorts. There's no rockstar flare or flamboyance on display here, this is grassroots rawk n roll full of piss and vinegar, absolutely devastating in its raw delivery.
Guitarist Luther Manhole has a distinct style that is equal parts atmospheric melody and dissonant lung-crushing sludge. The rhythm section of Stin (bass) and Cap'n Ron (drums) shift effortlessly from groove energy to noise-doom heaviness.
Chat Pile ripped through a set leaning heavily on their releases from the last 3 years with "The New World" blowing open a Röwdy pit, and "Why" getting a full crowd shout-a-long. By the time that massive build-up in "Pamela" hits (AND RESURRECT MY SON!!) the crowd and building are on the brink of total fucking destruction.
The lyrics are pissed-off and disturbing, the music is bleak, raw, and oh so fucking HUMAN in all of its bare truth, but Chat Pile's performance ends up being a cathartic experience to behold. Their anger never devolves to hate, their message doesn't preach but educates, their darkness still allows for a little light of hope that if we know better we might try to do a little better.
It was fun hearing Raygun talk about the band's first time through Banff, and his knowledge of some local film industry history... right before his band crushed our skulls in. Chat Pile are absolutely NOT to be missed.
“OUTSIDE THERE'S NO MERCY”
Chat Pile Setlist:
Brutal Truth
The New World
Shame
Frownland
Slaughterhouse
Why
I Am Dog Now
Pamela
Masc
Camcorder
Tropical Beaches, Inc.
Funny Man
Dallas Beltway
Gouge Away Setlist:
Maybe Blue
Only Friend
Deep Sage
Idealized
Consider
Stuck in a Dream
Newtau
A Welcome Change
Overwatering
Uproar
Hey Mercy
Ghost
The Sharpening
Nightosphere Setlist:
Pining
Faim Dévorante
Two Heads
Poverty Policy
Foxfire
Thrasher