May 22 2026 – Toronto, Ontario
Australian indie-rocker Courtney Barnett brought the energy to Toronto’s History on May 22. In support of her latest album Creature of Habit, she performed a set that let her bold sound shine while still feeling deeply intentional. Her dry humour and personal storytelling through her lyricism set the tone for everyone to let loose and feel free to be their genuine selves for a 90 minute set that was alive with raw guitar solos and heavy drums.
Truman Sinclair opened the night with a heartfelt folk set. He released the Anniversary Edition of his 2024 EP Pale Moon Pale Horse on March 4th of this year. He felt like the perfect choice to get the crowd ready to hear what they came for. His set displayed honesty and a love for music that could only be reminiscent of Courtney herself.
Touring her latest album, Creature of Habit, Barnett’s set balanced new material with older tracks and fan favourites, creating a show that celebrated old and new fans alike. Starting off strong, the show opened with “Stay in Your Lane,” which also happens to be the first track on Creature of Habit. The stage was bathed in a deep red light which pairs perfectly with the grungy vibe of the song and its raw, distorted guitars. She transitioned songs with a simple “Thank you!” and the bassline kicked in for the next tune, a 2018 track called “City Looks Pretty”, followed by “Avant Gardner” (2013). The latter was the chaser that got the entire venue excited for what was to come.
From the moment she walked onstage, the crowd was completely locked in and ready for a night of classic indie rock. The set design was simple – Courtney on the left, Stella Mozgawa (drums) in the center on a short riser, and Bones Sloane (bass) on the right, with a group of vertical bar lights that lit up and pulsed with different colours and patterns. While it may seem like an insignificant choice, having this setup places emphasis on all the musicians on stage and it felt more like a full rock band set. Early on, a projection of the Creature of Habit album cover appeared behind the band: a giant praying mantis. Barnett’s performances thrive on an understated charm, and that quality translated perfectly to fans in the crowd at History. There was little dialogue in between songs, but with the few words that were said you could tell Courtney was having a good time and appreciated the crowd’s response to her set.
Before playing “History Eraser,” from her 2013 project The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas, she said they had added it to the setlist just for Toronto. What stood out about this show was how Barnett and her band set an effortlessly balanced pacing throughout the night. The set moved between loud garage-rock energy and reflective melancholy without ever feeling uneven, one always paving the way for the juxtaposition of the next.
The Creature of Habit North American Tour still has the second leg of shows to go before it wraps up at the end of the summer in LA, and tour dates are only continuing to sell out. Barnett reminded Toronto that sometimes a great concert only needs honesty, loud guitars, and an artist who knows exactly who they are. Get tickets here.
