Dwayne Gretzky In Concert
The repertoire for Toronto-based supergroup Dwayne Gretzky? Oh, you know, only the greatest pop songs of all time.
From Springsteen to the Supremes, Bowie to Beyonce, The Beatles to Oasis, and the Beach Boys to the Beastie Boys, the collective known as Dwayne Gretzky is a live-band jukebox. And they're comprised of young, energized musicians totally and completely in love with the entire history of pop music.
Their commitment to the pop pantheon spans eras, genres, and styles, and their performances are more than nostalgia trips. Dwayne Gretzky is one of the most consistent concert draws in Toronto, boasting 100 sold-out shows in their hometown and slowly but surely taking over venues with capacities in the multiple thousands. Whether it's their newly minted summer camp weekend, their annual mega-blowout New Year's Eve celebration, or any of the dozens of club shows in between, DG puts on a sweat-drenched, crowd-pleasing, super sing-along of a performance. Every time.
The core of Dwayne Gretzky — singer/bandleader/former child actor Tyler Kyte and lead guitarist Nick Rose — play in EMI-signed dance-pop band Sweet Thing. They're backed by a rotating lineup that has featured a who's who of Toronto's fertile live music scene, including members of Arkells, Flash Lightnin', Allie Hughes, Born Ruffians, July Talk, and Our Lady Peace.
You never know who might catch the spirit and jump onstage with the band. What started out as a lark among seasoned musicians messing around onstage at a bar — this was before they even had a name, which later surfaced on a fan video posted to YouTube — has turned into a full-time vehicle for earnest, life-affirming self-expression.
The band often starts shows with no set list in mind, instead reading the room like a DJ would and picking, on the fly, from among the 80-plus songs in their repertoire. They've also dedicated sets, tours, and residencies to specific styles or eras, like "epic" rock songs or the 1990s. Whatever direction they choose, you have to love the songs they play — after all, they're all masterpieces.