CMW 2013: Young Rival @ The Horseshoe by Cody McGraw

FRIDAY — Like most music fans, I occasionally like being punched in the face with some killer rock tunes, helping me to forget I’m holding a beer and that someone's sweat just hit me in the shoulder. Young Rival is one of the bands that always help me achieve this feeling.

Even after seeing them several times, I’m continually impressed by their incredibly catchy songs and amazing musicianship. To say the whole crowd left with a mushroom bruise is not an exaggeration after a near perfect set that included an amazing Deadly Snakes cover that MAY have been better than the original.

My favourite thing about Young Rival (other than that song "Your Island") is that they are effortlessly cool. Their recent success hasn’t affected their easy, breezy live shows and they seem to improve with each and every rock thrash.

My only complaint is that after their set, when I finally notice I'm holding it, my beer is already warm.

MP3: "Got What You Need" by Young Rival

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Find all of our coverage of Canadian Music Week 2013 here. 

Photos: Adam Bunch

Cody McGraw is many things but the thing you can actually call him to his face is the Managing Editor of The Little Red Umbrella. See more posts from him here or follow him on Twitter (@cody_mcgraw).