Ellery James Roberts, the lead vocalist, performed with what he called a “healthy dose of whimsy” and admired what he described as the “nice energy in the room.” These Toronto fans definitely got what they were waiting for and after the show they quickly swarmed the stage to get some one-on-one time with the band. One fan even brought a handmade shrine.
The night started off with The Neverminds, a local Toronto band whose indie shoe gaze sound was a perfect segway into WU LYF’s set. The Neverminds
started with gentle tunes like “dawn” and ended with some killer explosive instrumentals in songs like “afterglow.” To say the least, the young band definitely made an impression.
In anticipation for WU LYF, the floor immediately filled up. The set began with an eerie ring in the dark with applause prompting the band to emerge from the shadows. On the keys, Joe Manning sported a Rivoli baseball cap with his rock star uniform which obviously included a band tee and jeans. While the rest of the band wore typical rock star attire, Roberts wore a white long-sleeve shirt with some black sweats. He immediately slipped out of his slides, getting comfortable on stage, barefooted. A choice that soon came to make sense as he danced across the stage like he was alone in his living room.
WU LYF live in Toronto at Adelaide Hall July 21 2026 photo by Trinity Lee
Roberts headed straight for the edge of the stage engaging directly with fans singing with intensity for songs like “Lyf” and “Cave,” even getting some help from the audience for tunes like “Spitting Blood.” He moved his body in tune with the music and when introducing “Fool” he spoke about an “overwhelming urge to dance” that audiences usually get overcome with. One thing is for sure, Roberts definitely felt that urge.
The energy was on a rise and for the tail end of their set starting with “Robe,” Manning’s Rivoli hat came off to set his hair free so he could properly thrash around to the energy of the music. A fan even shared a shot of Fireball with Roberts mid-set.
As the night went on, the entire venue moved to the music and when they first left the stage for a break, crowds cheered for an encore. So, to end off their much-awaited return to Toronto they played some WU LYF classics like “Heavy Pop” and new favorites like “Tib St. Tabernacle.”
Words and photography by Trinity Lee
WU LYF live in Toronto at Adelaide Hall July 21 2026 photo by Trinity Lee
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