George Thorogood and the Destroyers Rock the MTELUS with The Baddest Show on Earth Tour at Montreal’s Jazz Festival
Montreal was treated to a night of blues-rock as George Thorogood and the Destroyers, with support from Alastair Greene, proved that they’re still Bad to the Bone at the Montreal Jazz Festival
With a career spanning over five decades, George Thorogood, now 75, is still going strong. He and his band, The Destroyers, are still out on the road, touring and yes, he’s still donning his black pants.
Thorogood's lengthy career has elevated his vocals and guitar playing to the next level. Seeing him live felt like stepping straight into a jukebox filled with good-time rock ’n’ roll. There’s something magnetic about his no-nonsense swagger and unmistakable slide guitar tone.
They kicked off the night with “Rock Party,” and it definitely did what it promised, got the party started. White strobes flashed, guitar solos ripped, and the saxophone blared. They followed up with a distinctive blues guitar riff at the beginning that was highly recognizable with “Who Do You Love,” followed by a rock up-tempo beat of “Mama Talk to Your Daughter.”
After the flashy intro with strobes, the band jumped into “I Drink Alone,” with gritty guitar riffs that perfectly matched Thorogood’s rough, growling vocals. He strutted across the stage with relaxed swagger, carrying his guitar like a baby.
One of the night’s biggest highlights came with “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer.” Fans were clearly waiting for it, and they weren’t disappointed. The song began with Thorogood’s now iconic storytelling intro, delivered with flair and humor, before launching into the rockin’ chorus, with most of the audience singing along.
Before launching into “Get a Haircut,” Thorogood gave a shout out to their musical idols; “When you’re starting out, everyone has a hero, an idol. We got our heroes too. But I can never say it right, his name is either Mick Richards or Keith Jagger. Whoever that cat is, I owe him a lot. I think we all do.” The band then followed with one of their most iconic hits, “Bad to the Bone.”
The set ended with “Gloria,” followed by a thank-you to Montreal fans and their cover of 'Hank Williams’ “Move It on Over,” a classic that hit all the right notes before the lights went down. After a brief pause, the band returned for an encore with “Born to Be Bad.”
While Thorogood plays the tough guy, he also took a moment to remind fans not to drink and drive. He was quick to tell the fans, “But don’t drink and drive, you could always get your buddy’s girlfriend to drive you home!” George then laughed and joked some more, “We might as well get into it - foreplay! I'm so full of sh!t.” He also reminded fans to tip the vendors and bartenders. “The people got to take care of the people, or the people aren’t going to make it,” he said.
If you’ve never experienced George Thorogood and the Destroyers live, make it a point to see them. You won’t be disappointed. They proved that age only sharpens their edge, delivering a show packed with energy, attitude, and timeless rock 'n' roll spirit. More than 50 years into their career, the band showed no signs of slowing down, only revving up. Montreal didn’t just witness a concert; they experienced a rock revival. If this show was any indication, Thorogood is still, very much, Bad to the Bone.
If you want to see if George Thorogood and the Destroyers is coming to a city near you visit: https://www.georgethorogood.com/tour.html
Review and Photos By: SD Photoart MTL - Sam D
