Hall, which holds a special place for the 18-year-old singer-guitarist.
"Me and my band rehearsed here for the first time ever back before the MMVAS
[MuchMusic Video Awards] and I performed 'Stitches' for the first time," he told
the crowd of 500 lucky contest winners, whose female quotient screamed at
pretty much any opportunity. "So it's cool to be back here. I remember
standing on this stage for the first time meeting my band and figuring out
where I wanted to go in terms of live performance. It's really nice to have it all
sorted right now."
Mendes' last hometown concert was headlining the Air Canada
Centre in August and he just sold-out New York's Madison Square Garden. His
second album, Illuminate, which came out Sept. 23, is on track to top the
Billboard 200 chart and he is set to begin a 45-date all-arena tour in Manila
next March that will take him all over the globe for the better part of the year.
Mendes' underplay at the Great Hall was a rare opportunity to see the rising
Canadian star, who first earned millions of fans in 2013 through his Vine videos
before landing a record deal with Island in 2014.
Concertgoers won tickets for the night's 45-minute set through a variety of
methods. The first 30 fans to arrive at a Toronto pop-up shop on Sept. 22 and
preorder Illuminate on site received tickets to the show and a meet and greet
with Mendes; the next 50 got tickets only. Then the remaining 400 or so passes
were handed out through contests on radio local stations, TV morning shows,
social media and a partnership through Tourism Toronto.
Over 125 years old, the historic venue, with its built-in stage and horseshoe
balcony, was mostly filled with kids and their parents. While waiting for Mendes
to begin promptly at 7 p.m., a little boy skipped around a column and a girl
braided another's hair. Teenage girls were anchored in front of the stage, with
screams starting as soon as Mendes appeared with his acoustic guitar for
"Something Big" off his 2015 chart-topping debut album, Handwritten .
"I feel it in my bones," he wailed in his bluesy tone, probably surprising more
than a few of the moms and dads in attendance too. When the song kicked in
for the chorus, he encouraged his fans to "sing it out" for the "whoa, oh ohs"
and more. They didn't need to be told twice.
The new "Three Words" followed before the whole band joined Mendes for the
soulful "Ruin," which had the shrill-sounding teens backing him on entire lines;
the album had been out a week and a day and most knew it better than his or
her schoolwork. Screaming continued until Mendes introduced the next song
"Lights On," another new one. "You guys rock," said Mendes. "That's the first
time I've sung that song when the album's been out."
He then laid into the bluesy ballad "Don't Be A Fool," before rocking a fiery
version of his smash "Treat You Better." He put down the guitar for "Like This,"
accompanied only by a pianist, then, with his band back onstage, performed the
darker new single "Mercy." He then got behind the Baldwin baby grand piano
himself for his No. 1 hit "Stitches," followed by "Life of the Party."
And on the dot, after 45 minutes, he said, "I love you guys. See you soon.
Thank you for coming" and left the stage with a wave. Next time, these kids see
him, he'll just be waving to several thousands more.
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