december 20, 2024 - toronto, canada

Iconic Canadian rap-rock group Down With Webster took over Toronto’s History in hometown show less than 5 blocks away from where they grew up in Toronto’s beaches late Friday night. The first of their two headlining shows, part of their holiday WIN-tour, the band promises to “get fucking festive” and exceeds all expectations.

Perhaps one of the only bands that truly knows how to throw a party, Down With Webster is a guaranteed good time; drinking Jameson straight from the bottle, chugging beers, and launching stacks of red solo cups into the crowd throughout the show. After a lengthy hiatus from live shows, Down With Webster are back in a big way, bringing new (old) music and new (actually new) music along with them.

Their most recent release in October of this year is a self titled originally recorded in 2006, bringing back the peak of 2000’s party culture with it. The set list is filled with fan favourites as the sold out crowd roars at every track and band members dance across the stage. Songs like “Your Man”, “Rich Girl$”, and “She’s Dope” are met with the overwhelming chorus of fans screaming every word as they jump and sing along.

Slower tracks, like “Back of My Hand” which is preluded with the story behind its creation, are met with the same excitement, even as fans slow down to sway back and forth. Despite the feeling of nostalgia that comes with their reunion, Down With Webster takes the opportunity to tease new music, playing an unreleased track which is met with buzzing excitement from the audience.

In the spirit of keeping things fucking festive, the band pauses to unwrap gifts they have brought for the audience, excitedly announcing “It’s fucking socks bitches!” before throwing them into the crowd. After sharing the wealth of Christmas cheer alongside gifts such as a barbecue lighter, tissues, a hair clip, and some playdough, the band continues to rip through their setlist.

As the holiday antics continue, the band walks off stage for a Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You interlude, as the iconic song rings through the venue before tapering off to declare “All I want for Christmas is…. Bad Bitches, Bad Bitches, Bad Bitches”, mixed with A$AP Rocky’s “F**kin’ Problems”. Unrelenting, up next is “All I want for Christmas is…. Shots! Shots! Shots!” assisted by LMFAO. For one final round, “All I want for Christmas is…” rings through the venue before the Pizza Nova jingle is cued and the band returns to stage carrying stacks of pizza boxes (pizza included) to launch into the audience.

One of the most iconic Canadian bands from the early 2010’s, it's hard to describe not only how incredible they are but their impact on the cultural landscape to people who grew up outside of Canada. However, it is undeniable how freaking fun Down With Webster is live. Whether you grew up with them or not, everyone is welcome to get down as the party continues late into the night as Down With Webster is clearly having just as much fun on stage as everyone in the crowd.