It was billed as a night to rock in the new decade at the Orpheum Theatre, and it certainly lived up to the hype.
Canadian rock band Toque performed at the Orpheum on New Year’s Eve, to the delight of the 260 people in attendance. Cory Churko (guitar), Todd Kerns (vocals and guitar), Shane Gaalass (drums) and Brent Fitz (bass) played cover hits throughout the evening, creating a fun evening.
The band also helped the audience count down to the start of a new year and a new decade.
Jocelyn Dougherty, who owns the Orpheum Theatre with her husband Alan, said it was a wonderful night and a new year’s to remember.
“Toque was sensational,” Dougherty told the Mercury. “People who hadn’t heard them before talked about how great they were, and other people who had seen them before said they enjoyed this concert even more. So it was just a great evening.”
Dougherty said Toque created an atmosphere in which it felt like the Orpheum had hired several different classic rock bands.
“Everyone knew and loved every song they played. After their intermission, the crowd stood for the entire rest of the concert and chanted ‘Toque’ until they came back for an encore,” said Dougherty.
The band was also thrilled with the evening.
“They had a lot of fun with the venue and the crowd. They said they had a lot of fun themselves.”
Adding to the concert was the atmosphere generated by the intimacy of the Orpheum’s main theatre.
Stand-up comedian He Fangzhou opened the evening. Pizza was delivered by the Tower Café for a meal after midnight.
Many people came in from out of town for the concert as well, she said.
“It was really unique. People said they hadn’t been out for 10 years on New Year’s, so they were so thrilled that there was something different they could do. I’m glad they came.”
Dougherty said that since it was the dawning of a new decade, and since the Orpheum is now 105 years old, they decided to try something different by hosting the concert, and they’re glad they did.
