Losing for winning

Wednesday night I headed over to Pressed to check out Hamilton's foremost cultural export, B.A. Johnston. Johnston always puts on a great show, and despite his sad-sack persona seems to have won over enough fans for some serious singalong efforts from the crowd.

Openig up was Davey Quesnelle, a.k.a. Male Nurse, with his usual fine set of heartfelt solo indie rock.


Male Nurse at Pressed, January 16, 2013

There was a cover of Billy Bragg's Levi Stubb's Tears in there somewhere as well.


Male Nurse at Pressed, January 16, 2013

Next up were Toledo, a Toronto band with a good tangled indie rock guitar sound and a fondness for the Replacements, whose Can't Hardly Wait they covered.


Toledo at Pressed, January 16, 2013

All told a pretty rocking set, with some good slow burn stuff as well.


Toledo at Pressed, January 16, 2013

B.A. Johnston was sounding a bit gravelly but still put on a fine show of low humour, insult comedy and down-and-out balladry about good bars (with aliens) and bad bars (with douchebags). Not to forget the novelty sweatshirts ...


B.A. Johnston at Pressed, January 16, 2013

Of course they didn't last forever.


B.A. Johnston at Pressed, January 16, 2013

He played his encore in the street.


B.A. Johnston at Pressed, January 16, 2013

It was time for the last chorus as the cop car pulled up ...