Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Parlovr games

Parlovr ended the night in their usual energetic way. They were about as bouncy a band as I've seen this year, and bettered an earlier appearance at Cafe DeKcuf. Unfortunately the crowd had tapered off a bit - I think some folks wandered off to catch the tail end of the Rock'N'Roll Pizza Party at Nine. There was no sign the dwindling crowd affected Parlovr's enthusiasm.

Keyboard action from Louis Jackson!

Parlovr at Mavericks

Guitar action!

Parlovr at Mavericks

Pointing action with Alex Cooper!

Parlovr at Mavericks

Alex sings!

Parlovr at Mavericks

Jeremy MacCuish is somewhere under hair.

Parlovr at Mavericks

Running about!

Parlovr at Mavericks

More Jeremy!

Parlovr at Mavericks

Alex gets some keyboard time.

Parlovr at Mavericks

These guys are one step away from turning into a Misfits cover band.

Parlovr at Mavericks

Hair-tossing action!

Parlovr at Mavericks

Alex gets close.

Parlovr at Mavericks

The whole lot!

Parlovr at Mavericks

Crazed tambourine action!

Parlovr at Mavericks

The whole lot!

Parlovr at Mavericks

Jumping about!

Parlovr at Mavericks

Faceoff action!

Parlovr at Mavericks

The bendy end!

Parlovr at Mavericks

There next show is Dec. 4 at the Cafe du Mile-End in Montreal with Hollerado. I'm sure it will be a very sedate event ...
  • Show reminder: The Darcys, The Ticket and In Antarctica perform at The Rainbow.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Siren calls

Next in line were East Coasters-via-Toronto Gramercy Riffs. The band is notable (at least to local music fans) for including Daniel Banoub, brother of The Centretown Cripplers/Allrights/Mnemonics Dave. To those who don't care about the relative Banoubiness of bands, it should also be noted that they've got two excellent vocalists in Lee Hanlon and Mara Pellerin, who bring a sort of 1970s vibe to their solid jangle. If their was one local band I think they'd fit a bill to a tee with it would be The Polytones.

From left to right we've got Lee, Mara, Daniel and a mystery guitarist who is not Adrian Collins, unless Collins has undergone a major makeover. Not shown, drummer James March who's lurking somewhere in back.

Gramercy Riffs at Mavericks

Mara close up!

Gramercy Riffs at Mavericks

Lee sings!

Gramercy Riffs at Mavericks

I am of course joking about mystery guitarists ... though Jimmy Rose has changed a bit from when I saw him in May 2007 with Jetset Motel -  what, no Gibson Bluebird?!? - his hair has remained the same. 

Gramercy Riffs at Mavericks

James hits!

Gramercy Riffs at Mavericks

Mara blues, Daniel bends.

Gramercy Riffs at Mavericks

Lee goes acoustic!

Gramercy Riffs at Mavericks

Mara works the keys!

Gramercy Riffs at Mavericks

Hair-shaking action!

Gramercy Riffs at Mavericks

Last minute Mara, Daniel and Jimmy!

Gramercy Riffs at Mavericks

A really fine outfit, and their latest release It's Heartbreak is one of the year's best.
  • Show reminder: The Mahones and Continental are at Zaphod's; The Five Georges - that's a lot of Georges - perform at The Rainbow.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Larger than life

 Up next, Kirk Ramsay - a.k.a. Giant Hand - takes the guitar noise noise down a notch. Giant Hand has gathered a lot of notice since he first listened to Daniel Johnston and said "Hey, I could that." I took these photos sans flash - one the advantage of the new LED lights the clubs are starting to use is they're quite a bit brighter.

The front view of Kirk!

Giant Hand at Mavericks

One side of Kirk!

Giant Hand at Mavericks

The other side of Kirk!

Giant Hand at Mavericks

Close-up action.

Giant Hand at Mavericks

He's not a man to stand still.

Giant Hand at Mavericks

Giant action!

Giant Hand at Mavericks

And finally some knob-twirling action!

Giant Hand at Mavericks

He's got a January tour coming up with Winchester Warm.
  • Show reminder: There's more fundraising at the Elmdale House, this time for John Allaire, who had a bit of heart trouble a few weeks ago and could use some help until he's fit enough to get on stage again - The X Town Cryers, The Campistas, Ray Harris, Tara Holloway, Pat Moore, Lost Colt and Lefty McRighty are among the performers. Difference and Explosion and Adam's Rib are at the Rainbow; The Valveenus and Go Long! play the Avant-Garde.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Crippling end

After the Paul Collins Beat show I split for British Columbia for a family get-together. The first show I saw upon returning was also the last for Centretown Cripplers. The slightly amorphous band of guitar slingers and drum-bangers have since fostered The Johnnies (who recently had their debut show) and The Mnemonics.

On the right side of the stage, going from left to right, Dave, Matt, Devin and Brendan.

Centretown Cripplers at Mavericks

On the left, Mel, Dave again and Chris Cook.

Centretown Cripplers at Mavericks

And at the back, drummer Jamie.

Centretown Cripplers at Mavericks

If Chris's shirt says they're dead, they must really be goners.

Centretown Cripplers at Mavericks

Twisting action!

Centretown Cripplers at Mavericks

Singalong action!

Centretown Cripplers at Mavericks

Shouty Matt! He's currently performing in The Middens.

Centretown Cripplers at Mavericks

The whole lot, plus jumping action!

Centretown Cripplers at Mavericks

Jamie vs. UFOs!

Centretown Cripplers at Mavericks

Rhythm section action!

Centretown Cripplers at Mavericks

Guitar action!

Centretown Cripplers at Mavericks

There was much string-breaking from Chris.

Centretown Cripplers at Mavericks

Tambourine action!

Centretown Cripplers at Mavericks

Matt sings!

Centretown Cripplers at Mavericks

Dance party!

Centretown Cripplers at Mavericks

Jumps, kicks, shouts!

Centretown Cripplers at Mavericks

Guest-bass action from Colin Majid of Garaga!

Centretown Cripplers at Mavericks

And some last minute Cook action!

Centretown Cripplers at Mavericks

The end! Really! If you're so inclined you can actually see some of these folks performing tonight in The Allrights at Irene's, allong with Remi Royale and the ever-entertaining B.A. Johnston.
  • Show reminder: Right By Midnight, Orchard Thieves and Beware The Leopard are at Zaphod's; J-W Jones Blues Band holds forth at The Rainbow; there's fundraising action at the Elmdale House for the fight against prostate cancer with Quicksand. Mannequin is at the Avant-Garde Bar.