Monday, July 28, 2014

Solo, with company

On Friday I went off to Pressed to catch some indie-rocking and singer-songwriting acts. The occasion was the release of Jon Hynes' new CD, Watchful Creatures.

Another Jon, Jonathan Pearce of Winchester Warm, started things off with some stuff from his regular band, performed solo style. Here he is, conveniently backlit by the street light outside.

Jonathan Pearce at Pressed

Profile action!

Jonathan Pearce at Pressed

The man in full, plus lighting.

Jonathan Pearce at Pressed

Callum Runciman of Grime Kings and Boyhood notoriety was going to perform solo, but decided to recruit bandmate Jimmy before showtime. Thus, he sung and drummed.

Callum Runciman at Pressed

Jimmy!

Callum Runciman at Pressed

Glowing whatsit action!

Callum Runciman at Pressed

Callum sings!

Callum Runciman at Pressed

Extra Jimmy!

Callum Runciman at Pressed

The whole lot!

Callum Runciman at Pressed

On to the headliner. The first time Jon showed up on the blog was helping some Centretown Recording Alliance pals cover the Replacements back in 2012, around the start of his Ottawa residency. He's played with The Hidden Cameras, among other acts. For his CD release he recruited Rolk Klausener (The Acorn, etc.), Sarah from Fevers, CRA pal Dave Banoub, and Army of Saint Joan vet Pat Johnson (Also of many other bands). Here's Jon!

Jon Hynes at Pressed

Pat and Sarah ...

Jon Hynes at Pressed

Rolf! Dave! Jon sings!

Jon Hynes at Pressed

Backlit action!

Jon Hynes at Pressed

More Sarah!

Jon Hynes at Pressed

The shouty bit!

Jon Hynes at Pressed

Dave strums.

Jon Hynes at Pressed

Pat counts in!

Jon Hynes at Pressed

More Jon!

Jon Hynes at Pressed

Rolf sings!

Jon Hynes at Pressed

They finished things off with a cover of Guided By Voices' Game of Pricks.

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Black and brown

Last Saturday I dragged myself over to Cafe DeKcuf (it's been a while) to check out Gnarly Brown, a new band featuring Ty Black of Pretty Little Death Machine, along with Black Market Candy, and East Coast travellers Verse The Sun (Monsun was also on the bill, but I had to split early).

Black Market Candy were on first; this was also the debut performance from new bassist Robert.

Black Market Candy at Cafe DeKcuf

Geoff Hiscock sings!

Black Market Candy at Cafe DeKcuf

Ty McKim hits!

Black Market Candy at Cafe DeKcuf

Guitar action!

Black Market Candy at Cafe DeKcuf

The whole lot!

Black Market Candy at Cafe DeKcuf

Extra Geoff!

Black Market Candy at Cafe DeKcuf

On to the premiere of Gnarly Brown, who were sounding very solid out of the gate.

Gnarly Brown at Cafe DeKcuf

Faceoff action!

Gnarly Brown at Cafe DeKcuf

Extra Ty!

Gnarly Brown at Cafe DeKcuf

Guitar action with Tricky!

Gnarly Brown at Cafe DeKcuf

Cymbal-gripping action with Jamie!

Gnarly Brown at Cafe DeKcuf

The whole lot!

Gnarly Brown at Cafe DeKcuf

More Jamie!

Gnarly Brown at Cafe DeKcuf

More Guitar!

Gnarly Brown at Cafe DeKcuf

Rhythm section action!

Gnarly Brown at Cafe DeKcuf

More faceoff action!

Gnarly Brown at Cafe DeKcuf

Verse The Sun was the end of the evening for me; I was dead tired by the time they were have a dozen songs into their set. They've got a more moder metal sound than Gnarly Brown and Black Market Candy, with some good crunchy guitar sounds.

Verse The Sun at Cafe DeKcuf

Fretful action with Jack Leonard!

Verse The Sun at Cafe DeKcuf

From left, Cody Hicks, vocalist Pat Smears and bassist Brad Small.

Verse The Sun at Cafe DeKcuf

Hair-shaking action!

Verse The Sun at Cafe DeKcuf

Gripping action!

Verse The Sun at Cafe DeKcuf

More hair!

Verse The Sun at Cafe DeKcuf

The whole headbanging lot, including drummer John Morrison!

Verse The Sun at Cafe DeKcuf

John hits!

Verse The Sun at Cafe DeKcuf

Extra Pat and Brad!

Verse The Sun at Cafe DeKcuf

Blurry action!

Verse The Sun at Cafe DeKcuf

Then back home for blessed sleeeeeeeeeep.

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Swoop and hover

Friday night I headed over to Pressed on Gladstone to hear some My Bloody Valentine-styled noise and high-volume shoegaze from Halifax's Kestrels and one of several bands named Harsh Reality (this was the Montreal one).

The Mnemonics opened; the Twin/Tone-loving folks from the Centretown Recording Alliance are on a slightly different tip then the other acts of the bill, being fonder of The Replacement than, say, Medicine. Here's singing Colin and bending Dave.

Mnemonics at Pressed

Singalong action with Chris!

Mnemonics at Pressed

Jon hits!

Mnemonics at Pressed

More Chris!

Mnemonics at Pressed

Dave frets!

Mnemonics at Pressed

In the most Canadian act of charity possible, Larry gave Jon his beer after some accidental spillage.

Mnemonics at Pressed

Rhythm section action!

Mnemonics at Pressed

The whole lot!

Mnemonics at Pressed

On to the mighty fuzz of Harsh Reality, which features Joni Sadler (also of Caymans and Lungbutter), Kaity Zozula (also of Lungbutter) Eamon Quinn of Alcrete et al., and Sebastien, of whom I know nothing.

Harsh Reality at Pressed

Guitar action with Eamon!

Harsh Reality at Pressed

Joni hits!

Harsh Reality at Pressed

Rhythm section action!

Harsh Reality at Pressed

Kestrels finished things off with a brisk set (they had about a half-hour to fill) of songs from their new EP and future record (expected in February). Maybe it's the East Coast connection, but they had me thinking of Eric's Trip.

Kestrels at Pressed

Percussive action with Paul Brown!

Kestrels at Pressed

Devin Peck handles the low end.

Kestrels at Pressed

Chad Peck sings!

Kestrels at Pressed

The whole lot!

Kestrels at Pressed

Rhythm section action!

Kestrels at Pressed

Bendy action!

Kestrels at Pressed

The end!

Kestrels at Pressed

Fine sets from everyone.