After tearing the house down and making their long-awaited return to The Drake Hotel, we caught up with Toronto band The 99s. Known for taking audiences on a nostalgia trip into the freshest decade of pop, rock + R&B favourites, we got to know this eclectic group of musicians a little better in our new In The Green Room series, read on + catch them during their next shows on July 21 + August 11.
+ It’s so good to have you back! You have a season of performance ahead of you, what are you most looking forward to?
Alex – Being back and performing for people
James – The crowd, the energy, the people
Alex – We were building something great at The Drake before the pandemic and we’re excited to pick up where we left off and create a super fun night for everyone
+Tell us about your origin story — How did you get your start in music?
ABC – We all accidentally bought a timeshare together.
+ You’re no strangers to The Drake, your last residency was back in 2020. What do you think makes it such a unique venue in the city? Do you have any favourite memories of The Drake to share?
Carleigh – We’ve all played at The Drake individually and in other bands, and we’re excited to finally be playing together again.
Alex – The Drake is such a great location. It’s discoverable – meet new people and The Drake just seems to be a happening spot. The Drake has a great history of being a springboard for bands.
+What’s your favourite song to perform right now?
James – Never Too Much/ Sledgehammer/ All Night Long
+ What artists/albums do you have on repeat?
James – Ceréna – Resurrection
Carliegh – Listening to each other’s records/ Kate Bush – Hounds of Love
Alex – Rosalia – MOTOMAMI
+ Outside of music, who or what is inspiring you lately?
James – Sunshine; swimming in lakes; The AGO
Carleigh – Peers back on stage and show what they’ve been working on
The 99s are an eclectic group and rotating cast of Toronto’s top emerging musicians that have come together to lead the nostalgia trip into the freshest decade yet. Through an onslaught of pop, rock and R&B favourites, it’s as impossible to know what’s coming next as it is to not shout-sing along to every word.
The good-vibes-only group made their public debut just before the pandemic, with a successful 4-week residency at the Drake Hotel in Toronto. This, after blowing the roof off of the coveted annual Hallowe’en party at private members club Soho House Toronto in October 2019. With these and other private shows under their belt, the group is just getting started. Plenty more to come when the world gets back to normal.