Razorlight Blow Off Toronto Gig

Mass confusion and frustration reigned among the anglophile hipster crowd at Toronto's Mod Club on Thursday night, as Razorlight pulled out from their sold-out headlining gig at the last possible minute.

The official word from show promoter Emerge — announced onstage after opening act Mohair had cleared out — was that "Johnny [Borrell, Razorlight singer] has been with a doctor all day, and it's been determined that he isn't well enough to play tonight."

However, given the British band's somewhat spotty reputation for cancelling gigs (they scrapped their entire North American tour last fall, including a date at Toronto's Virgin Festival, and had to bail on their previous U.S. tour when Borrell lost his voice, or had a nervous breakdown, depending on who you ask) and increasing stories of band discord, it wasn't exactly surprising that most of the crowd took this explanation with a grain of salt.

"I can't believe Johnny's pulling this shit!"

"But I know I heard them rehearsing at soundcheck!" and "They're probably drunk at a bar in Yorkville" were a few choice tidbits that could be overheard as people cleared out, many of them angrily demanding their money back.

Friday morning comments on Razorlight's MySpace page reflected the conflicted state of sympathetic fans versus betrayed ticket-holders, with simple messages of "Hope you're feeling better!" running all the way up to one user's eloquent statement of "Fuck you Johnny, you prima donna phony-ass motherfucker. You better have been really sick. I don't believe you were. I heard that you didn't want to play in front of a half-filled venue. Fuck you."

Earlier on Thursday afternoon, Borrell wasn't available for interviews — which were instead handled by drummer Andy Burrows and bassist Carl Dalemo — and no explanation was given.

The following was posted on Emerge Entertainment's blog on Thursday night:

"March 1st was the day rock & roll stood still. Unfortunately due to illness, not weather, the Razorlight show scheduled for March 1st has also been postponed. The band and Emerge appologize to everyone who trucked through the snow to make it to the gig.

"We expect to have news early next week regarding the announcement of a make up date, as per usual procedure, those who cannot make the makeup date will be able to get a refund at the point of purchase.

"What a night!"

here's no word yet if Borrell's mystery illness will affect the remaining dates of their North American tour, starting Saturday in Chicago.