20 years ago, Death From Above 1979 released their debut album, You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine. Fast forward to today, they’re celebrating the 20th anniversary of their beloved debut on the Death From Above 1979 Attempt The Total Liberation Of USA And Canada tour. Self-described as “Canada’s only punk band,” drummer and vocalist Sebastien Grainger and bassist Jesse F. Kieler formed Death From Above 1979 back in 2001, releasing their debut EP the following year. The duo would revolutionize the dance-punk genre with the release of You’re A Woman, I’m A Machine in 2004, propelling them into the mainstream. You’re A Woman, I’m A Machine seamlessly blends elements of punk, disco, and hard rock. It’s sleazy. It’s grimey. It’s abrasive. It’s everything you could ask for in a dance-punk record. Tonight’s show is at the legendary Vogue Theatre in Vancouver–their second-to-last show of the year, wrapping up part II of their North American tour. It’s a sold-out show and the Vogue is packed, with lines for bar and merchandise curling up and around the staircases. Washington DC-based punk duo Teen Mortgage is opening up the show, already getting the crowd moving and the mosh pits started. We’re in for a sweaty night.

Soon enough, the dark opening chords for Turn It Out echo throughout the room and the crowd erupts. This is not the night to leave your earplugs at home. Grainger’s frantic drumming and Kieler’s fuzzed out bass explode through the speakers and immediately, everyone in the crowd is moving. Turn It Out is the opening track of You’re A Woman, I’m A Machine, which the duo will play in full tonight. Turn It Out seems to end as soon as it begins, leaving us no room to rest as they blast right on through to fan-favourite Romantic Rights–the crowd once again erupting as those opening pick scratches fill the room. It’s a relentless 35 minutes as they play their debut front-to-back–the band and the crowd feeding off each other’s energy. Going Steady is a personal favourite of mine, Blood On Our Hands gets the crowd-surfing going with its iconic riffs, and Little Girl may just be the most infectious track in the set.

They close out the first set with Sexy Results, a more laid-back, groove-based track with a heavy disco influence–finally giving us a moment to breathe, but not for long as they roll into another set of “punkers” as Grainger calls them. The energy is just as high for their second set, as they play a selection of tracks from their recent three records, some highlights being Freeze Me, Nomad, and Trainwreck 1979, which they finish off the second set with. Soon enough, the crowd is screaming for an encore, and they end the night off with Dead Womb off their debut EP, their most pure, straightforward punk number, giving the crowd one final rager before they finish the show. 20 years later, Death From Above 1979 are still blasting our eardrums and ripping our heads off, leaving every crowd frenzied, sweaty, and spent. Towards the end of the set tonight Grainger says, “This was the best show of the tour,” and hey, maybe he says that every night. But based on the undeniable energy and sense of community in the room tonight, I can’t doubt his words. Vancouver witnessed something special.

Death From Above 1979 Live Dates

Jan
20
2025
Seattle, WA, US
The Crocodile – Old Location

Jan
21
2025
Portland, OR, US
Revolution Hall

Jan
23
2025
San Francisco, CA, US
The Regency Ballroom

Jan
24
2025
Solana Beach, CA, US
Belly Up Tavern

Jan
25
2025
Los Angeles (LA), CA, US
The Novo

Jan
26
2025
Phoenix, AZ, US
Crescent Ballroom

Jan
28
2025
Denver, CO, US
Ogden Theatre

Jan
30
2025
Dallas, TX, US
Ferris Wheelers Backyard & BBQ

Jan
31
2025
Austin, TX, US
Empire Control Room & Garage

Feb
1
2025
San Antonio, TX, US
Paper Tiger

Feb
2
2025
Houston, TX, US
Heights Theater

Apr
23
2025
Hindmarsh, SA, Australia
The Gov

Apr
26
2025
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Metro Theatre

Words and photos by Charlie Morcombe

Order tickets for Death From Above 1979 HERE