Saturday, November 29, 2014

Sexy times

Perfect Pussy had an odd genesis. The core was collected to appear as a band in the John Cusack-starring film Adult World, then morphed into the real thing. As you'd expect from a combo born from the fires of the Syracuse punk scene, they're a noisy lot. Frontwoman Meredith Graves has gotten raves for her extroverted performance and the rest of the group make a suitably raucous clatter. Their debut LP Say Yes To Love has also won a lot of raves (also some lukewarm reviews, but nothing too negative). A big crowd showed up at Gabba Hey to see what the fuss was about, along with excellent sets from Blue Angel and Big Dick.

Angelic action!

Blue Angel at Gabba Hey

No, that's not Sam from Organ Eyes, but Joel from such combos as Asile.

Blue Angel at Gabba Hey

Shadowy action with Caylie!

Blue Angel at Gabba Hey

Blue action!

Blue Angel at Gabba Hey

The whole lot!

Blue Angel at Gabba Hey

Masked action!

Blue Angel at Gabba Hey

Extra Joel!

Blue Angel at Gabba Hey

Feather boa action!

Blue Angel at Gabba Hey

Big Dick's muscular post-punk also made for a good fit with the headliner. Without wanting to sound like too much of a homer, I thought they played a better-sounding set as well.

Big Dick at Gabba Hey

Johnny sings!

Big Dick at Gabba Hey

Dave sings!

Big Dick at Gabba Hey

Fisheye action!

Big Dick at Gabba Hey

Shadowy action!

Big Dick at Gabba Hey

Extra Dave!

Big Dick at Gabba Hey

The whole lot!

Big Dick at Gabba Hey

Perfect Pussy played a very short set, which seems appropriate for a band whose debut album only runs to about 24 minutes. There was some enthusiastic moshing and the whole thing wrapped up with the dazed crowd watching noisemaker in chief Shaun Sutkus work some distortion. Here's Emily and guitarist Ray McAndrew.

Perfect Pussy at Gabba Hey

I still have no idea what Sutkus looks like.

Perfect Pussy at Gabba Hey

Perfect action!

Perfect Pussy at Gabba Hey

Rhythm section action with drummer Garrett Koloski and bassist Greg Ambler!

Perfect Pussy at Gabba Hey

Garrett certainly kept things moving along.

Perfect Pussy at Gabba Hey

Corded action!

Perfect Pussy at Gabba Hey

And so on!

Perfect Pussy at Gabba Hey

The whole lot!

Perfect Pussy at Gabba Hey

They've been burdened with some excess hype, but I can definitely see the substance.

Friday, November 28, 2014

What's up, Pussycat?

Some shows you just know you have to attend; granted I missed a lot of that kind of those shows in the past year, but since I don't have to get up early now I can go and check out the Inimitable Quintron and Miss Pussycat last week. Opening was local lo-fi champ and 3-D monster maker Uncle Phil. He's released a bunch of recordings via Bandcamp, but I believe this is the first time he's hit the stage.

Phil sings!

Uncle Phil at the House of Targ

The firends of Phil included Keltie from Bonnie Doon.

Uncle Phil at the House of Targ

Also a couple of incognito pals (though we all know that's Brad from Year Zero making noise at left).

Uncle Phil at the House of Targ

Uncle action!

Uncle Phil at the House of Targ

The notorious Carruthers (a.k.a. Patric) from Fucked Corpse was also on hand.

Uncle Phil at the House of Targ

It's all about the foulards with this crowd.

Uncle Phil at the House of Targ

Brad frets!

Uncle Phil at the House of Targ

Phil adjusts.

Uncle Phil at the House of Targ

Bass action!

Uncle Phil at the House of Targ

On to Quintron (Mr. Quintron to you lot) and Miss Pussycat, who began their set with some bakery-oriented puppetry.

Quintron and Miss Pussycat at the House of Targ

Just add one cup of ultraviolet spectrum.

Quintron and Miss Pussycat at the House of Targ

Looks a bit like my last culinary attempt.

Quintron and Miss Pussycat at the House of Targ

After some cake-on-cake violence and a giant tongue, the dynamic duo took the stage!

Quintron and Miss Pussycat at the House of Targ

Organ action! I might add this is the first show at House of Targ I've been to where there were no people playing any of the games while the performance was going on.

Quintron and Miss Pussycat at the House of Targ

Shakin' action!

Quintron and Miss Pussycat at the House of Targ

Singalong action!

Quintron and Miss Pussycat at the House of Targ

Extra Pussycat!

Quintron and Miss Pussycat at the House of Targ

Shirtless action!

Quintron and Miss Pussycat at the House of Targ

The famous Drum Buddy!

Quintron and Miss Pussycat at the House of Targ

Light-activated action!

Quintron and Miss Pussycat at the House of Targ

Most entertaining!

Friday, November 21, 2014

Well grounded

On to Saturday night's Surf and Turf shenanigans. This was also a chance for host Patrick Shanks to show off his new outfit, The Sir John A. Macdonalds, in what might be their first and last show. Here's some birthday action (the birthday in question was bassist Chris Cook's wife, Devin's).

The Sir John A. Macdonalds at House of Targ

Chris Anderson, seen just a short while ago with Dead Wrestler at the Dominion Tavern.

The Sir John A. Macdonalds at House of Targ

Guitar action!

The Sir John A. Macdonalds at House of Targ

Chris sings!

The Sir John A. Macdonalds at House of Targ

The shouty bit!

The Sir John A. Macdonalds at House of Targ

Percussive action with Liam!

The Sir John A. Macdonalds at House of Targ

Prime ministerial action!

The Sir John A. Macdonalds at House of Targ

Singalong action!

The Sir John A. Macdonalds at House of Targ

More guitar!

The Sir John A. Macdonalds at House of Targ

Rhythm section action!

The Sir John A. Macdonalds at House of Targ

The Pow Wows really rocked the house with some garage rock power trio action. Here's some guitar action with Rocky Baudelaire!

The Pow Wows at House of Targ

Juarez Laredo handles the bass.

The Pow Wows at House of Targ

Rhythm section action with Legs Laredo on drums!

The Pow Wows at House of Targ

Bonus Rocky!

The Pow Wows at House of Targ

Juarez sings!

The Pow Wows at House of Targ

Extra Legs!

The Pow Wows at House of Targ

More Juarez!

The Pow Wows at House of Targ

The whole lot!

The Pow Wows at House of Targ

The shouty bit!

The Pow Wows at House of Targ

Rocky sings!

The Pow Wows at House of Targ

The end!

The Pow Wows at House of Targ

It's been a while since I saw Muck & The Mires. The Beantown bashers gyrated onto the Irene's stage back in September 2007. Then they were recent recipients of Little Steven's Underground Garage band battle trophy and Muck was looking a lot like Ian Hunter. He still does! Here's drummer Jesse!

Muck & The Mires at House of Targ

Muck (or Evan Shore, as Queers fans might recognize) sings!

Muck & The Mires at House of Targ

Pete Mire was in the Mires' first incarnation, and returned to resume his guitar throne.

Muck & The Mires at House of Targ

Extra Jesse!

Muck & The Mires at House of Targ

John Quincy Mire on the bassy end.

Muck & The Mires at House of Targ

Mucky action!

Muck & The Mires at House of Targ

Extra John!

Muck & The Mires at House of Targ

Harmonica action!

Muck & The Mires at House of Targ

Pete sings!

Muck & The Mires at House of Targ

More Jesse!

Muck & The Mires at House of Targ

Guitar action!

Muck & The Mires at House of Targ

Mired action!

Muck & The Mires at House of Targ

Singalong action!

Muck & The Mires at House of Targ

Closeup action!

Muck & The Mires at House of Targ

Swampy action!

Muck & The Mires at House of Targ

The whole lot!

Muck & The Mires at House of Targ

Extra Pete!

Muck & The Mires at House of Targ

The end!

Muck & The Mires at House of Targ

A fine end to this year's Surf and Turf shindig!