Pleased To meet me: Among Legends
Introduce yourself… (Where are you from, what band do you play in etc..)
Hey, this is all three members of Among Legends: Sara on drums, Mitchell on bass and vocals, and Bennett on guitar. We're a melodic punk band originally from Waterloo, Ontario but we're now spread between Toronto, Oakville and Waterloo.
Why do you play music?
We play music because it's really the only way any of us want to spend our time. Being in a band is so much fun - we get to travel around and see a bunch of cool places, meet tons of new people, and listen to countless rad bands. At least two of us fell in love with punk rock in our teens, and spent a lot of time going to local shows. We got to see other people making music and loved being a part of that community as an attendee - eventually we decided it would be fun to find a more involved way to participate, so we started a band and haven't looked back!
What was a major influence on you as an Artist/Band?
We're a DIY band, and a lot of inspiration has come from seeing other bands and people figuring things out and doing it their own way. Going to see ska and punk shows as a teenager, put on by people who were doing it for the love of it, would have sort of kick-started the passion for being involved in the scene. And then as we developed the band, being a little older and confident in the "we'll figure it out" mindset, is directly tied to seeing other people figure it out before us. I think that's a big part of the DIY thing - it doesn't really matter how big or how small the thing is, the real inspiration is seeing that people are doing what they want to do, in a way that they want to do it.
What’s a favourite book or film?
Mitchell: I looove horror movies, and don't have a favourite, but I know exactly which one started it all: the US version of The Ring. I begged my dad to rent it for me, I chickened out the first night I tried to watch it, but eventually got through it and fell in love with horror right then and there. And I think the movie holds up! It's got a great mystery and really good acting, especially for a remake.
Do you prefer the recording process or performing live?
Sara: I definitely prefer performing live! Recording is fun, but also sort of stressful - and I think it's possible that I don't enjoy picking apart every aspect of a song in the same way some other folks in the band might. To me playing shows is the ultimate goal of being in a band - you spend all sorts of time writing music and figuring out how to perform it live, getting to travel around and share that with people with all of the energy that comes with a live show is the best.
Mitchell: I do love playing shows, but honestly I think I prefer recording. There's something about building a song, the way I hear it in my head, that's infinitely satisfying. And the collaboration is cool in a recording context, when everyone can really hear and understand what each other is doing. Both things are really really fun, but my vote is on recording.
Bennett: Playing live; there's spontaneity and risk in a live performance that makes it inherently exciting plus the energy of a crowd is something you as a performer can feed off of and can't really be recreated in a studio setting
What would be a dream collaboration?
Mitchell: Alicia from Bully would be amazing as a vocal feature - she's a killer songwriter, great lyricist, has an amazing voice, and you'd get a break from hearing me sing all the time. Wouldn't that be nice??
Bennett: John Reis because no one else sounds like him on guitar, and I'd love to know how he does it!
Sara: It would be very cool to record with Bill Stevenson at The Blasting Room. He's obviously super influential as a drummer and songwriter with his work in Descendents and ALL, and he's helped make so many amazing records. Learning how he approaches recording and writing would be a super cool experience.
Describe a favourite album.
Bennett: Grace by Jeff Buckley - to me, it has everything; great musicianship, songwriting, arranging, and production choices supporting unmistakable and expressive vocals and some really interesting textural instrumental choices.
What's your favourite local haunt?
Sara: Jane Bond in Waterloo for great vegetarian food and an awesome beer selection. They also have a cute patio in the back during the summer, and have hosted tons of very cool shows - there are posters all over the wall, and it's fun to see who has played there in the past.
What's your strangest experience while performing live?
Mitchell: We played a show at the Rockpile, just outside of Toronto, a few years ago, and about halfway through our set the power went out. But only the power for the lights - everything was still amplified so we were at full volume but playing in the dark! It was a shock for a moment, but then people lit up their phones and it became really fun.
If I were pursuing anything other than music it would be…
Sara: I think over the course of being in this band I've learned that I really enjoy being slightly crafty. I make a bunch of merch for the band - pins, lighters, patches, tapes - and I have a lot of fun doing it. I'm not great at drawing, but I enjoy being artsy in a hands-on kind of way, so maybe I'd be pursuing some sort of craft-based endeavour. Making merch for other bands could be a cool outlet for that!
What are some of your favourite aspects of being a musician in Toronto?
Bennett: I like how much breadth there is in the Toronto scene - there are so many good musicians playing in so many different styles that it's inevitable you will pick up varied influences and ideas.
If you weren’t playing music in Toronto where would you be?
Mitchell: If I was hanging out in Toronto but not playing a show, I would be ordering and eating an entire pizza at Bitondo's. I will die on the hill that Bitondo's makes the world's best pizza (I have never been to Italy).
Any sage advice for young musicians?
Start a band! And don’t be afraid to go all-in on it. You have time, so if you love music, go for it. And if you do start a band, send us a message and let's set up a show!
Lose My Grip is available JULY 10, 2026 via LITTLE ROCKET RECORDS
