Written by: Justin Fisher
Photos by: Quinn Hall
Date: Feb 27, 2025
Leon's Getting Larger's sold-out album release show on February 8th was a celebration of their unique style of emotional punk, which is well displayed on their debut album You Be Good Now. Their fans, friends, and family braved the cold temperatures and packed themselves inside The Handsome Daughter to experience a can't miss show.
I always appreciate when a punk or emo bill includes an acoustic sets. It seems to ease the crowd’s anxiety and fatigue before the heavier performances. Singer-songwriter Kennedy Gilbertson brought that dynamic shift, performing songs from his debut album Anyways, Hello alongside a handful of crowd-pleasing originals. With a natural stage presence, Kennedy delivered heartfelt performances, including 'Desjardins,' which showcased his quirky lyricism and unique chord voicings.
Locater, featuring members of Ceilings and Elder Abuse, has been a key force in Winnipeg’s emo scene, blending grunge and shoegaze influences with a fresh perspective. Drawing inspiration from melodic punk bands like Title Fight, the No Sleep labelmates have built a reputation through unforgettable Winnipeg shows and tours with acts like Seventh Dose.
Basking in the red glow of The Handsome Daughter’s stage lights and drenched in guitarist Nick Fondse’s signature chorus- and reverb-heavy tone, Locater delivered a set featuring tracks from their debut LP, Clandestine, along with several new songs that are soon to be released on an upcoming EP, as announced by Fondse.
Nick Gammon’s emotive vocals cut through the rich soundscape shaped by Fondse and rhythm guitarist Josh Bedry, while bassist Sean Kaye and drummer Jesse Spencer lock in a powerful rhythm section. Spencer’s intricate, persistent drumming stood out, especially on tracks like 'Phantom.'
Locater is a must-listen for fans of modern shoegaze and grunge, drawing comparisons to bands like Title Fight and Basement.
Guilty Sleep is another shoegaze-punk band making waves with two EPs, the latest released early last year. While they share influences with Locator, they bring their own take on the genre, drawing inspiration from ’90s shoegaze pioneers like Swervedriver, My Bloody Valentine, and The Smashing Pumpkins, while also echoing modern acts such as Nothing and Slow Joy.
With an impressive résumé supporting bands like Fucked Up and Chastity, as well as recent tour dates out east with Montreal’s Sea-Red, Guilty Sleep knows how to command a crowd, and that’s exactly what they did at The Handsome Daughter on Saturday. A sold-out room erupted into massive mosh pits as the band unleashed their signature three-guitar wall of noise, with Haise and Eric trading lead vocal duties on tracks like 'Sleeve' and the chaotic 'Cocoon.'
Their performance set the stage for the energy to come with Leon’s Getting Larger while also offering a glimpse into what Guilty Sleep has in store for the year ahead.
While Leon's Getting Larger frequently makes comedic movie references in their song titles and Instagram show announcements (their name itself being a nod to the 1980 Zucker film Airplane!), they have no problem getting emotionally vulnerable whether thats through their deeply personal songs or the tearful, joyous hugs shared between band members.
At their sold-out album release show, the band performed You Be Good Now in full, alongside tracks from their earlier EP. One of the standout moments came during Antoinette, when guitarist Niko turned his mic stand toward the crowd, leading to a pile-up of fans shouting every word while drummer and vocalist Luc sang his verse. During the bridge, the room was pure euphoria. People were smiling, dancing, and jumping with their friends, completely immersed in the moment.
Another highlight was when Leon's Getting Larger invited a friend onstage to play guitar for their cover of Constant Headache by Joyce Manor, seamlessly blending in an interpolation of Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus. The entire audience screamed the lyrics at the top of their lungs, with fans running onstage to sing alongside the band. And, of course, no Leon’s show would be complete without multiple crowdsurfing moments. This was the biggest show of their career so far and the crowd didn’t disappoint.
Each band delivered a high-energy set, complete with mosh pits, crowdsurfing, and, to top it all off, a karaoke night hosted by The Handsome Daughter and the bands. Throughout the night, I overheard multiple people saying this was one of the best local shows they’d ever attended. As time goes on, one thing is clear: Leon’s Getting Larger is only going to keep getting larger.
The next Winnipeg Leon's Getting Larger show is Friday, March 21st at Times Changed, presented by Hot Goths Never Die. They will be playing with Rather Ripped (Sonic Youth Tribute) and Joe Madden/brón
They will also be going out west to play a handful of shows in April, including Hi-Light Fest in Edmonton.
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