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By KRYS GRANDMOND
Staff Writer

It's a Saturday night in Toronto, and parking isn't the easiest to find. But after missing the last Afflatus show due to rain, I wasn't about to give up, and as I pulled into the little lot a block away from the popular Horseshoe Tavern, I found myself getting somewhat excited for the show ahead.

There's one thing that separates Afflatus from a lot of other bands I've seen. Well, okay, there's a few things, but the one that stands out is their fans. A dedicated lot of people you'd probably never see mingling together outside of the bar. But that night, everyone was there for the same reason, and as the band took the stage, the already crowded dance floor in front took on a few extra bodies.

In a word, the performance was phenomenal. The band's energy was contagious, and the fans danced, jumped and sang along to song after song. A true display of fan support, seeing as how this was their CD release party and there was no other way of knowing the words unless they'd been to countless shows before.

The band performed song after song with a seamless perfection that wowed any newcomers who just happened to walk in the doors of the bar that night. When Beadle announced that he wanted everyone to sing along with the next song, the crowded back room of the Horseshoe erupted into screams as everyone knew what was coming next.

Forgive me.

No, it's the name of the song. The song that got my attention in the first place, the song that makes Afflatus who they are, and the song that 95% of the people in the club that night knew every word to. And it was incredible to see. I didn't even have to watch, as I could hear just how many people were screaming the words in perfect sync with the singer, who seemed pleased to say the least.

With the occasional fan getting the chance to grace the crowd through Beadle's microphone, the show could have easily turned into nothing more than a karoke party, but the band kept it in check with just enough fan interaction to have fun, without going overboard. Not an easy feat, especially when everyone in the crowd wants a turn.

All in all, a great night and a perfect portrayal of the band's true talent. Something I'd want to see again, and again and again and again ... now if only they'd hurry up and get their butts back into the Niagara Region!