Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Screaming fist

Gabba Hey is really knocking it out of the park with their recent all ages shows. Last Friday they hosted Lethbridge's tremendous Fist City (who also played a memorable show at Pressed in August 2012), Milk Lines (the new-ish band from Jeffery Clarke, a.k.a. Lester Del Rey of Milk Lines), Tough Age and Ottawa's own Sailor Jupitor. It was a mighty fine show.

First up Sailor Jupiter busted out some shouty punk. They've also got a house show coming up May 16 at Funeral Home (212 Main St.).

Sailor Jupiter at House of Targ

Audrey sings!

Sailor Jupiter at House of Targ

Percussive action!

Sailor Jupiter at House of Targ

Cartoonish action!

Sailor Jupiter at House of Targ

More Rep'n'Audrey!

Sailor Jupiter at House of Targ

Rep frets!

Sailor Jupiter at House of Targ

Closeup action!

Sailor Jupiter at House of Targ

More drumming!

Sailor Jupiter at House of Targ

On to Milk Lines. Clark and his missus Emily (ex-Hiroshima Shadows) formed the band as an outlet for the druggy-country side of their musical muse. I heard a lot of Velvet Underground and Vaselines in their sound. Here's Jeff.

Milk Lines at Gabba Hey

And Emily (also Kyle Connolly of Wish fame on bass).

Milk Lines at Gabba Hey

Percussive action!

Milk Lines at Gabba Hey

Emily sings!

Milk Lines at Gabba Hey

Singalong action!

Milk Lines at Gabba Hey

Extra Emily!

Milk Lines at Gabba Hey

Husband-and-wife action!

Milk Lines at Gabba Hey

Audience reaction action!

Milk Lines at Gabba Hey

Tough Age played a particularly killer set. The band has a fine new record out on Mint Records, and has been touring all over; they're now back west and headed south.

Tough Age at Gabba Hey

Frontman Jarret (of too many West Coast bands to list) sings!

Tough Age at Gabba Hey

Penny Clark frets!

Tough Age at Gabba Hey

Jesse Locke hits! You'll likely recognize him (and Paul Lawton) as they've been through town before in other bands like Zebrassieres, Century Palm and The Ketamines. They fill out the band's East Coast formation.

Tough Age at Gabba Hey

Paul rocks the bass.

Tough Age at Gabba Hey

Singalong action!

Tough Age at Gabba Hey

Tough action!

Tough Age at Gabba Hey

Bonus Jesse!

Tough Age at Gabba Hey

Guitar action!

Tough Age at Gabba Hey

Fist City are another band doing quite well for themselves lately, and why not? Punchy songs about interesting stuff is always good. I suspect they're going to take a big jump in popularity when their next LP, Everything Is A Mess, comes out in July. Unfortunately they ran into some kind of hiccup after this show and ha to cancel dates in Winnipeg and Sudbury. Here's Evan Van Reekum rocking the Telecaster.

Fist City at Gabba Hey

And here's siblings Kier and Brittany Griffiths.

Fist City at Gabba Hey

Extra Brittany!

Fist City at Gabba Hey

Guitar action!

Fist City at Gabba Hey

The whole lot (including drummer Ryan Grieve)!

Fist City at Gabba Hey

Kiers sings!

Fist City at Gabba Hey

Ryan hits!

Fist City at Gabba Hey

Municipal action!

Fist City at Gabba Hey

A very solid evening.

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