Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Eyes and offenders

Last week I wandered over to Black Squirrel Books for some post-punkery and what-nottery. On the bill were locals Young Offenders and Montreal's Five Eyes. Young Offenders - or, at least, three-quarters of the bands, since guitarist Jacob couldn't make it - took the floor first with some tangled sounds. Here's singer-guitarist Kurt and bassist Simon.

Young Offenders at Black Squirrel Books

More Simon!

Young Offenders at Black Squirrel Books

Josh Duffenais hits!

Young Offenders at Black Squirrel Books

More Kurt!

Young Offenders at Black Squirrel Books

The whole lot!

Young Offenders at Black Squirrel Books

There was also some enthusiastic dancing in the crowd.

Young Offenders at Black Squirrel Books

Even more Simon!

Young Offenders at Black Squirrel Books

Late-set trumpet action!

Young Offenders at Black Squirrel Books

Five Eyes also played a very well-received set, they have a scrappy desperate sound, and feature Ottawa expat Joni from Caymans and Harsh Reality on drums. Here's guitarist Amy and Joni!

Five Eyes at Black Squirrel Books

And here's guitarist and singer Graham!

Five Eyes at Black Squirrel Books

More Joni!

Five Eyes at Black Squirrel Books

Brow-furrowing action!

Five Eyes at Black Squirrel Books

Extra Amy!

Five Eyes at Black Squirrel Books

Translucent action!

Five Eyes at Black Squirrel Books

Illuminated action!

Five Eyes at Black Squirrel Books

And even more Amy!

Five Eyes at Black Squirrel Books

A fine evening's entertainment.

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Still thrashing

We seem to be living through a bit of a thrash renaissance right now, with many bands either directly following the lead of the pioneers of the 1980s or at least stealing a trick or two. Perhaps it's because the form was a bridge between punk and metal. For a good example, just look at last Saturday's show with Montreal's Dead Brain Cells. The band formed in 1985, went into suspension in the mid-1990s, then started up again the new millennium. For this gig they were joined by Entrenched, Ominous Eclipse and Wacken fest winners Mutank. I had hoped to catch Entenched again since they impressed me at the Daily Grind benefit back in December but I arrived too late to catch them, so local death-tech-thrashers Ominous Eclipse were the first act in front of the lens. Here's guitarist and singer Graham Murphy (and a blurry Andrew Poskus on drums).

Ominous Eclipse at House of Targ

A shouty bit, with James Close at Left.

Ominous Eclipse at House of Targ

Rhythm section action with Ryan Clements!

Ominous Eclipse at House of Targ

Tippy tappy action!

Ominous Eclipse at House of Targ

Andrew hits!

Ominous Eclipse at House of Targ

James sings a bit!

Ominous Eclipse at House of Targ

Vocal action with Graham!

Ominous Eclipse at House of Targ

More James!

Ominous Eclipse at House of Targ

Face-making action!

Ominous Eclipse at House of Targ

Faceoff action!

Ominous Eclipse at House of Targ

Montreal's Mutank put on a really good show, their thrash sounds take a punkier turn.Here's Stephen Reynolds pointing out a bit of guitarwork.

Mutank at House of Targ

And singing a bit!

Mutank at House of Targ

Steven Breen riffs away.

Mutank at House of Targ

Faceoff action with Lee Whiskey!

Mutank at House of Targ

More Lee!

Mutank at House of Targ

Ahmed Saad hits!

Mutank at House of Targ

Mutated action!

Mutank at House of Targ

Dead Brain Cells wrapped things up; there was a lot of moshing and audience singing along. Here's bassist Phil Dakin!

DBC at House of Targ

Guitar action with Bill Thompson!

DBC at House of Targ

Percussive action with Mark Prevost!

DBC at House of Targ

Phil sings!

DBC at House of Targ

And so on!

DBC at House of Targ

More guitar with Eddie Shahini!

DBC at House of Targ

And er, that's it, since there was a bit too much of a crush to get in for more photos.

Saturday, January 23, 2016

The young and the twisted

Things seem to be warming up again on the music scene; I headed over to Pressed last week to see a Debaser-promoted show featuring Locals trails and tourmates Twist and So Young. Allie was on stage and like her set opening for Michael Swann at Raw Sugar back in July put on a knockout show.

Trails at Pressed

Allie sings!

Trails at Pressed

Closeup action!

Trails at Pressed

London's So Young play some fuzzy indie rock that's in the same orbit as Best Coast and Dum Dum Girls. A very solid set despite some wonky pedal issues. Here's frontwoman Paterson Hodgson!

So Young at Pressed

Drummer Dave Lunman hits!

So Young at Pressed

Adam Gilkes plays some guitar!

So Young at Pressed

Pedal-stepping action!

So Young at Pressed

Laurie McColeman handles the low end.

So Young at Pressed

The shouty bit!

So Young at Pressed

Extra Dave!

So Young at Pressed

Singalong action!

So Young at Pressed

The view from the other side of the room.

Twist at Pressed

Twist is fronted by Laura Hermiston of Toronto's BB Guns and produces some more of that grungy and fuzzy pop, with perhaps a bit more of a dreamy feel than So Young.

Twist at Pressed

 I'm not sure who's in the band beside Laura, but here's the chap on drums to start with.

Twist at Pressed

Guitar action!

Twist at Pressed

Laura sings!

Twist at Pressed

More guitar!

Twist at Pressed

Rhythm section action!

Twist at Pressed

Backing vocal action!

Twist at Pressed

Drum pad action!

Twist at Pressed

More Laura!

Twist at Pressed

And so on!

Twist at Pressed

Even more guitar!

Twist at Pressed

A great show for a packed house.