Triumph At Place Bell

We're a little bit backed up on getting my concert photographs up here on The Old Blog.  I suppose we will catch up at some point, but this would be a good time to remind you that my concert photographs can be seen in a much more timely manner by visiting V13 Media, which you can do by following the link.  If you'd like an even more direct route to my photographs, you can visit my personal page over there but using the following link.  It was a return almost 40 years in the making. Triumph last played Montreal in 1987, and for most of those 40 years, nobody ever thought they would ever return. A documentary released in 2021 by the awesome crew at Banger Films fanned some flames, but still, nobody really thought that Triumph would ever head back out on the road. Would they?  Then the news dropped last December that not only would there be some Triumph shows, but that a whole tour was planned.  Including at stop at Place Bell in Laval.  “The Rock & Roll Machine Reloaded Tour” was announced to much fanfare. This was the awesome early Christmas gift that Triumph fans have been waiting for. There were some early questions surrounding who would actually be playing, but drummer Gil Moore and guitarist Rik Emmett assured everyone that they would be there. There would be some extra musicians, it is true, but this wasn’t to be a tribute band. This was going to be a pumped-up version of the band. Triumph on steroids.  A video package of photographs and images captured everyone’s attention before the band hit the stage. They gave us a look at Triumph through the years. A chance to remember so many great moments and albums. Moments later, as pictures of Gil, Rik and Mike evolved from their younger to modern selves, the guitars began to roar to life. Rik Emmett was center stage, and Gil Moore installed himself behind his kit. The anabolic additions of Brent Fritz had a twin drum set right next to Gil while Derek Sharp and Todd Kerns took their places in the wings.  “When The Lights Go Down” brought the seated fans out of their seats. Immediately, all doubts about the power of Triumph were erased. It took mere seconds. After just one song, we’d already had custom videos, explosions and more lights than can be found at Trudeau International Airport. Place Bell was lit brighter than a Christmas tree, which is appropriate when you consider that Triumph tickets must have been on the list of many fans.  The opening notes of “Somebody’s Out There” raised a roar from the crowd. “Spellbound” followed, allowing Kerns a chance to shine on vocals. Later in the set, the crowd shared an emotional moment with the band. Derek Sharp played a brief portion of Harmonium’s “Un musician parmi tant d’autres,” which the crowd adored. “Lay It On The Line,” “Follow Your Heart,” and “Magic Power” brought the main portion of the show to a close. “Fight The Good Fight” ended the evening with a wild mix of guitars, Olés and fireworks.  Was this Triumph’s final hurrah? You never know, but if it was, they certainly made sure to go out with a bang.  All of the photographs were taken at f/3.2 while using various different shutter speeds, ISO settings and focal lengths.  Here are the rest of the photographs that I took of Triumph as they performed on the Place Bell stage.

 

If you would like to find out more about Triumph and their music, you can do so by following the link to their website.  If you would like to see the photographs that I took of April Wine, who performed earlier that night you can do so by following the link.  A big thank you goes out to Triumph's management team, Evenko and Christopher Gonda at V13 Media for getting me a pass to photograph the show.  As always, it is very much appreciated.  This leg of Triumph's tour has come to an end.  Don't you dare miss it if they hit the road again.