Refused Are Fucking Dead: A Recap of Their Farewell Show in Toronto with Quicksand and Sundowner
Photo: Steve St. Jean
On Sunday night, legendary Swedish hardcore band Refused performed their final Toronto show on their farewell tour. Initially delayed due to frontman Dennis Lyxzén's heart attack in June 2024, the tour almost didn't happen. But Lyxzén fully recovered and led the band through an absolute barn burner of a set. Before we get to that, let's talk about the opening acts: Toronto's Sundowner and the tour's main support, New York's Quicksand.
Sundowner, the Toronto-based three-piece post-hardcore band, wasted no time launching into a fury of riffs that set the tone for the night. Their deep grooves and relentless energy captivated the packed house, amping up the crowd for what was to come. Despite their short set, they left a lasting impact, closing on a note that they stand with Palestine (as do we) and calling for a peaceful resolution. If you're new to them, check out their 2024 EP Asbestos Tiles via Sun Gone Records here.
Quicksand followed with a relentless, finely tuned set showcasing their ability to rip decades after their '90s post-hardcore heyday. Walter Schreifels kept banter to a minimum but had a few memorable moments, including a pointed takedown of a drunk heckler who interrupted him mid-sentence (trust me, I had the bad luck of standing right in front of the guy). He also addressed the elephant in the room: they are an American band. He made it clear how much he loves Canada, calling us family, a moment that felt particularly significant given the political climate between our two countries.
Then came Refused, opening with a bang as they tore into "Poetry Written in Gasoline" from their 1998 New Noise Theology EP. The crowd erupted as they followed it up with "The Shape of Punk to Come" and a deep cut from Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent (1996).
Lyxzén had plenty to say throughout the night, touching on politics, the state of the world, and his journey back to the stage after his heart attack. At one point, he jokingly called Canada "the 51st state," which got immediate boos before he quickly walked it back, making it clear he was on our side. He was engaged, grateful, and aware of the moment's weight.
Refused dug deep into their discography, pulling out rare cuts and fan favourites, delivering a set that felt like a celebration and a proper sendoff. One of the biggest highlights of the night came when Damian Abraham of Fucked Up joined them on stage to perform Fucked Up's rendition of "Party Program" from The Shape of Punk to Come's 25th-anniversary compilation. It was an electrifying moment that perfectly captured the raw, communal spirit of the night.
I've been lucky enough to see Refused multiple times: at their 2012 reunion show at Sound Academy (now Rebel), again at Arrow Hall with Deftones after the release of Freedom (2015), and now for their farewell tour. Each show was iconic in its own way. If the band is really "fucking dead," I'm just grateful I got to witness them go out on their terms.
Thank you, Refused.
CONCERT PHOTOS
REFUSED
QUICKSAND
SUNDOWNER
REFUSED SETLIST
Poetry Written In Gasoline
Shape of Punk to Come
It's Not Ok
Rather be Dead
Break
Circle Pit
Malfire
Liberation Frequency
Summerholidays v.s. Punkeroutine
Party Program (With Fucked Up's Damian Abraham)
Refused Are Fucking Dead
The Deadly Rhythm
Elektra
New Noise
Useless Europeans
Encore:
Coup d'état
Worms of the Senses/Faculties of the Skull
Photography by: Steve St. Jean
