Anyways, Wild Rivers at Massey Hall
Wild Rivers at Massey Hall was very different from your average concert in the best ways. Their two-act show brought together the vocal harmonies not only of the band but also of every fan packed into the small theatre. There wasn’t a bad seat in the place, and you could feel how excited people were to be there, celebrating the band’s early days with the songs that have brought them attention in recent years.
Inside Massey Hall
The first half of the show was a love letter to their self-titled debut album, Wild Rivers. The nine-song act marked the band’s introduction into the music industry, and throughout the set, they reflected on their earlier days recording music on a minimal budget, scoring studio time wherever they could, and finding each other together, as a band. They played the album start to finish, accompanied by a 10-piece orchestra. It felt cinematic at times, and the incorporation of classical instruments—violin, cello, and tambourines—elevated the musical atmosphere of the night.
During the short intermission, fans filled the concession and merch lines, grabbing drinks and browsing tables stacked with T-shirts, bandanas, totes, crewnecks, CDs, and vinyl records with designs that were impossible to resist buying.
When the band returned to the stage, the energy was amped up significantly. Act one leaned more into a wholesome sing-along from your seat vibe, but act two got everyone at Massey Hall up and moving. Fan favourite songs like Thinking 'Bout Love, Amsterdam, and Anyways, I Love You had the crowd on their feet, singing every lyric, and turning the theatre into a harmonious chorus.
One of the night’s standout moments came during Never Better, one of the band’s most recognizable tracks and my personal favourite. The performance showcased the group’s signature harmonies, powerful vocals, and natural crowd engagement, creating one of my most memorable moments of the evening.
The band also played an unreleased song that they teased could be featured in an upcoming album.
Debuting with Devan Glover and Khalid Yassen, Wild Rivers began as a duo in Kingston, Ontario, later expanding to a trio with Andrew Oliver. They shared with the crowd how the band formed during their college days and gradually became something they were passionate about pursuing, spending many days taking long drives to record in any studio they could access for an affordable rate.
Wild River has made three more albums since their debut in 2016 and has performed across many stages. From opening for Noah Kahan in 2024 during his Sticks Season European leg, to putting on their own show at Osheaga summer of 2024.
But even with that, their Massey Hall show felt wholesome and intimate. They kept it personal, chatted with the crowd, thanked their touring musicians, and did the classic ‘fake’ finale only to come back for a two-song encore.
It was quite obvious that by the time the show officially ended, everyone wanted to stay and hear more.
