Wildlife

Toronto indie rockers Wildlife took to the stage late last night at Adelaide Hall for an energetic, powerful set. Despite it being one of the last shows on the last day of Canadian Music Week — as was obvious from fatigued members of the audience — the band evoked cheers and howls as they filled the room with their massive pop hooks and layered arrangements.

Drawing heavily from their recent LP, On the Heart, they played with a certain controlled chaos that only comes after years of experience. The band's five members can let loose, turn their amps up to 11 and still sound perfect. It was a revelatory show that closed Canadian Music Week with a bang. - Exclaim!

Wildlife, a favourite of the Toronto indie-rock scene, and the winners of the 2014 SiriusXM Indie Award for the best Rock Artist/Group Or Duo Of The Year, played a highly energized set at Adelaide Hall on Saturday night. Focusing attention on material from their sophomore album On The Heart, the 5-piece had fans enraptured from the first guitar-string pluck of "Born To Ruin" until their set-closer, and personal favourite, "Killing For Fun" from 2010's Strike Hard, Young Diamond.

Anyone who has seen a Wildlife show before knows this band pushes the boundaries whenever on stage, and although their live performances have an almost palpable sense of urgency, they are still masterful musicians that do not sacrifice musical quality or self-control despite their enthusiasm and Saturday night was no exception.

As Wildlife continue to gain momentum and popularity, the venues in which they play will also grow in size, evidenced by their attendance at Montreal's Osheaga Music Festival. Being that this band is a must-see live, and should be enjoyed in intimate spaces like Adelaide Hall, buy a ticket the next time an upcoming Wildlife show is announced and while the opportunity still exists. - Examiner

The great thing about a sold-out show, especially at The Troubadour, is that it brings out more people to see the opening band. And for those that caught Toronto’s Wildlife to kick off the night, most found a new group to love. It’s not often a relatively unknown band draws the response Wildlife did, but fans just seemed like they couldn’t get enough of their indie rock sound. While this was the band’s first trip to Los Angeles, we can only hope that it’s the first of many more to come. - L.A. Record

Wildlife featured on CBC Television's "The National" for Canadian Music Week. - The National (CBC Television)

"It may be late in the game, but these twelve tracks feel like one of the most memorable finds of the entire year, channeling the stomp-pop of contemporaries like Wolf Parade, mixed with the quirk of bands like the Harlem Shakes." - Baeble Music

"Simply put, every single track is amazing, crackling with an urgency and a vibrancy that brings to mind albums like Apologies to the Queen Mary or A Lesson In Crime or Shine A Light." - iHeart Music

"The five songs are bold, full of angst and to the point, but they're also filled with youthful exuberance and affirming righteousness..." - Exclaim Magazine

"It’s fast-strummed, passionately delivered indie rock, and when the gang vocals and reverb roll in, as in opener Stand In The Water, a punkier Arcade Fire comes to mind." - NOW Magazine (Toronto)

"They have the infectious energy and intensity that have become standard for many new bands since Spencer, Dan, Arlen and Dante exploded on the scene, but Wildlife adds a recklessness – more akin to West Coast, bearded drunkards like Ladyhawk" - Herohill