Crushed about Crush Luther (19 photos)

Having just returned from Australia, Toronto-based pop/punk band Mugshot embarked on its Shrinky Dink Tour on March 1 with friends 16th Avenue and Crush Luther.

Mugshot's 2006 JTB Records release Pause and Reflect is receiving rave reviews and it's established a large and devoted fan base demonstrated by more than 18,000 MySpace friends and an impressive fan page.

16th Avenue, all the way from Saint John, New Brunswick is currently ranked in the top 10 unsigned pop/punk bands on Purevolume.com.

Crush Luther's video for City Girl has been on MuchMusic's Top 10 for an outstanding 34 weeks.

All three bands could headline tours of their own but the fact that the three are performing together is reason to be very excited.

Personally, I was very stoked about seeing Crush Luther.

Naturally I was crushed (sorry for the pun) when Crush Luther was not at the Friday night stop for the Shrinky Dink Tour at The Oddfellows Hall.

Through a bit of online investigation, I have determined the band is stranded somewhere.

The 100 or so kids in attendance didn't really seem to notice and went ga-ga over Mugshot and 16th Avenue.

16th Avenue blasted into its powerful set and provoked shrieks and laughter when it dedicated its song Contagious to STDs.

Adding: "I hope you're educated, kids."

The band also dedicated a song to Britney Spears shaving her head.

Very funny, energetic and cute as all get out, they warmed the audience up and got the room moving and moshing.

Mugshot, beautifully inked and full of spunk, kept the fever going, playing its most popular tunes as the dreamy-eyed girlies sang along.

It was an odd sight to behold a skinny punk kid with a bright red mohawk singing along with a Shakira tune as Mugshot unexpectedly broke into an impressive version of Hips Don't Lie.

Anything but shy, they encouraged the crowd to move in as close as possible while they were playing, loving the attention and feeding off the energy in the room.

Not just eye-candy, Mugshot and 16th Avenue are destined for greatness with their overt determination, catchy tunes, solid songwriting and an undeniable love for what they do.

Local openers Moncton, Whitechaple District and Stay Seventeen must have been thrilled to share the bill with entertainers of this calibre.