I tell you this in all sincerity: if you are not privy to the experience of the Tossers my friends, you are missing out. Their March 12 appearance at the Metro was simply amazing. Shredded fiddle bows, mandolins and tin whistles were all part of the musical bar fight that raged inside Chicago’s Metro. The Tossers beat the crowd mercilessly with their Celt-punk stylings. The crowd hit back with their unstoppable dancing and even an old gym shoe (which struck lead singer Tony Duggins in the ribs). But like two Irish brothers throwing punches at each other, not one smile faded during all the musical punches, in fact, they only grew larger.

In the end, I think those who really won out were the fans. Off in the corner of the Metro stood a group a kids. You could tell just by looking at them they had no social skills whatsoever; these were those awkward kids who the geeks and the nerds made fun of in your high school. They seemed to be on that part of the totem poll that was buried underneath the ground. But when that music started playing, they danced. They danced with all their hearts and they poured their souls into that dancing. And they stunk at it! But it didn’t matter; all that mattered was the music. The Tossers were able to pick their feet up off the floor and make them stomp to the beats that Bones, the drummer, and the rest off the Tossers felt they should be dancing to. It didn’t matter who was watching, ‘cause the music was worth it.

Then there was the floppy mohawked kid who was completely awestruck by the music. I think he had come to see the Arrivals, but the Tossers must have touched a chord inside him. It was an amazing site to watch his eyes, glued to the stage, never wavering. But just watching his eyes wasn’t the amazing thing. Watching the pit form around him without him ever letting his eyes leave the stage was the truly amazing thing. Sure, he was being tossed around like a rag doll in the turmoil, but he never once stopped watching. Occasionally, a song he knew would come on and his arm would shoot out and wrap around the shoulders of whoever was next to him and he’d raise his imaginary beer glass and they’d belt out the words as best he knew.

The people that were at the show were not there to be part of a crowd or a scene. They were not there paying respect to some genre that they felt best represented them. These people were truly there for the music and they were not disappointed.

The Tossers
With the Matics, the Siderunners, and the Arrivals
Metro
Chicago, Ill.
March 12, 2005

Entertainment: 4 stars
Art: 4 stars

Photos courtesy of Mike Calabro

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