Spotlight Ottawa

Vancouver rockers Default kept the post-Grunge sound alive through the 2000s with several international hits and a string of Canadian chart toppers. Returning from a five-year hiatus, the band was refreshed and energized, delivering a high-energy performance for fans at Ottawa’s Algonquin Commons Theatre.

Default at Algonquin Commons Theater by Photo Credit: Matthew Perry

A Radikal Warm up

Openers Daysormay started the night off right. Looking and sounding confident, they put on an impressive performance showcasing their eclectic fusion of hip hop, electronica, alt-rock, and blues. Lead singer Aidan Andrew hyped up the crowd, going all-out with his frenetic moves. His enthusiasm paved the way for Default’s even more amped-up string of crowd-pleasers.

Can’t Slow Default Down

Default at Algonquin Commons Theater by Photo Credit: Matthew Perry

Wasting no time to get the crowd pumped, Default started with “Sick and Tired,” the lead-off track and a lesser hit from their first album, The Fallout. This set the tone for a show that drew heavily from early favourites and hit singles. Throughout, the entire band clearly enjoyed themselves, frequently stepping to the front of the stage to pose for fans. Old school rock energy pervaded a performance filled with all the classic moves – jumps, hair flips, wide stances, stick twirls, coordinated guitar theatrics, and gatherings around the drum kit for big rock finishes.

Hits like “Throw it All Away,” “Count on Me,” and “Taking My Life Away” got huge responses. But in a set of relentless volume, Default also managed to display their sensitive side. Default stands apart from many of the other hard rock bands of the 2000s with tunes that aren’t just heavy, but emotive as well. Nothing in their catalogue shows this off more powerfully than “Let You Down,” a heartfelt song about loyalty, as hard rocking as it is beautiful, that sounded even better live. The band founded their career on a similarly styled song, “Wasting My Time,” their breakout hit and main set closer that got the entire room singing.

All She Wrote

The rousing encore featured a loving tribute to Chris Cornell in the form of a killer version of Soundgarden’s “Outshined.” Default closed out the show with the aggressive “Deny,” another early hit that left the crowd hoping they wouldn’t have to wait another 12 years for the band to return.

Check out the complete setlist here

Aaron Kaiserman

Nov. 13/2018