Up from the floor

Torche has alumni from Florida heavyweights Cavity and Floor so you know they're going to be loud. They also have a fair amount of pop smarts, and singer Steve Brooks can melodicize with the best of the metal bunch. Unfortunately, for most of the show the vocals were MIA. Good thing Torche's tunes work well as instrumental numbers.

Smiling Steve! With guitarist Juan Montoya just visible at left.



Drummer Rick Smith.



Bassist Jonathan Nunez gets bendy.



He can sing, but it's not doing any good.



And so on!







Feedback action!



Drumset-destroying finish!





A very good set - shame about the singing, though.

• Show reminder: The Love Machine, Amos The Transparent, These Electric Lives and Bad Flirt play Mavericks as the i(heart)music festival kicks off. Gunsmoke and The Walnut Kids rock the Bytown. Alex R. Newman and The Bad Ideas, Smaller On You, Isle of Thieves and In Safe Hands perform at Cafe Dekcuf. The Brothers Chaffey and The Withering Pines perform at Zaphod's as part of the Otown Hoedown.