Friday, October 28, 2016

Flashed, chilled and thrilled

There was a rare Tuesday show at House of Targ this week; White Lung are on tour (mostly done now, just a few U.S. dates to go), and they drew a good crowd. Also on stage: Local lights Chiller and Kings Quest and Washington D.C. post-punks Flasher. Chiller were on first and played a hard-hitting set. Here's Tim!

Chiller at House of Targ

Eric sings!

Chiller at House of Targ

Bass action with Erin!

Chiller at House of Targ

Ilisha sings!

Chiller at House of Targ

The whole lot!

Chiller at House of Targ

More bass action!

Chiller at House of Targ

Extra Eric!

Chiller at House of Targ

Extra Tim!

Chiller at House of Targ

More Ilisha!

Chiller at House of Targ

On to Flasher, a trio formed by Washington music scene veterans (singer Taylor comes from Priests, drummer Emma from Big Hush and bassist Daniel from Bless). They've got a bit of a Smiths sound going on, and some really top-notch vocal work. Here's Daniel!

Flasher at House of Targ

Taylor sings!

Flasher at House of Targ

Daniel sings!

Flasher at House of Targ

Emma hits!

Flasher at House of Targ

Emma sings!

Flasher at House of Targ

The whole lot!

Flasher at House of Targ

Guitar action!

Flasher at House of Targ

Singalong action!

Flasher at House of Targ

Kings Quest played a fantastic set; I've enjoyed them before, but they really knocked it out of the park this time. Here's Anna!

Kings Quest at House of Targ

Bass action with Liam!

Kings Quest at House of Targ

Percussive action with Owen!

Kings Quest at House of Targ

Hairy action with Eric!

Kings Quest at House of Targ

More Jenna!

Kings Quest at House of Targ

And so on!

Kings Quest at House of Targ

Questing action!

Kings Quest at House of Targ

Rhythm section action!

Kings Quest at House of Targ

Singalong action!

Kings Quest at House of Targ

White Lung ended the night in killer style; unfortunately the lights were really down too low for photgraphy and I didn't feel like using a lot of flash so I only took a handful of photos. That said, Here's Mish!

White Lung at House of Targ

Guitar action with Kenneth!

White Lung at House of Targ

Anne-Marie hits!

White Lung at House of Targ

Gripping action, plus a bassist whose name I know not!

White Lung at House of Targ

More bassist!

White Lung at House of Targ

Extra Mish!

White Lung at House of Targ

A top-notch night.

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

The beep from the east

Back in mid-September I headed over to House of Targ for another edition of Switched On Synths. The headliners this time were Colour Domes, with Ruth Grader and East Coast Low Noise production artists Paranerd and Anome. Ruth Grader started things off.

Ruth Grader at House of Targ

Lightshow action!

Ruth Grader at House of Targ

Fisheye action!

Ruth Grader at House of Targ

On to Anome, who comes from Moncton.

Anome at House of Targ

Extra Anome!

Anome at House of Targ

Fellow Monctonite Paranerd put on a set that was a little more dance-oriented to my ears.

Paranerd at House of Targ

Adjusting action!

Paranerd at House of Targ

Colour Domes started as the solo project of Lars, with Taipei resident Fang joining this year. Here's Lars!

Colour Domes at House of Targ

Fang adjusts!

Colour Domes at House of Targ

Lars sings!

Colour Domes at House of Targ

Fang sings!

Colour Domes at House of Targ

Singalong action!

Colour Domes at House of Targ

Always a fun evening; the next edition of Switched On Synths will be Dec. 3.

Monday, October 17, 2016

Standing Rock and roll

On Tuesday I went to Targ to eat some perogies, listen to some music and - most important of all - support a good cause: The Standing Rock Sioux's fight against the Dakota Access pipeline. The benefit was organized by Targ staffer Jeff - seen most recently on the blog playing bass with DOXX. Melodic punk rockers Fresh Hell were on stage first, but I was busy eating and only took a few photos during their last two songs. Here's some guitar action with Steve and Cory!

Fresh Hell at House of Targ

Bass action with Devin!

Fresh Hell at House of Targ

More guitar!

Fresh Hell at House of Targ

More Vance and Devin!

Fresh Hell at House of Targ

And er, that's all that's fit for publication (sorry Vance); on to Gurm, a trio featuring Felix and Connor from Toxic Thoughts alongside vocalist Keefer. Here's Felix on guitar!

Gurm at House of Targ

Connor hits!

Gurm at House of Targ

Keefer sings!

Gurm at House of Targ

More Felix!

Gurm at House of Targ

Extra Keefer!

Gurm at House of Targ

Bonus Connor!

Gurm at House of Targ

Gurmish action!

Gurm at House of Targ

Closeup action!

Gurm at House of Targ

More Connor and Felix!

Gurm at House of Targ

And so on!

Gurm at House of Targ

Then it was on to some indigenous hip-hop from Cody Coyote, who was joined by hoop dancer Theland Kicksnoway and singer David White Deer Charette. Here's Cody!

Cody Coyote at House of Targ

David sings!

David White Deer Charette at House of Targ

Theland jumps!

Theland Kicksnoway at House of Targ

Closeup action!

Cody Coyote at House of Targ

"I say courage, you say freedom!"

Cody Coyote at House of Targ

And so on!

Cody Coyote at House of Targ

Cody and David teamed up for a song.

Cody Coyote at House of Targ

Their was a brief interlude for poet and activist Neal Shannacoppa to discuss the situation at Standing Rock and read a poem.

Neal Shannacappo at House of Targ

Next, some crusty punk-metal action from Entrenched! Here's bassist Crusty!

Entrenched at House of Targ

Jay hits!

Entrenched at House of Targ

Chris sings!

Entrenched at House of Targ

Extra Jay!

Entrenched at House of Targ

And so on!

Entrenched at House of Targ

Staring action with Chris!

Entrenched at House of Targ

Guitar action!

Entrenched at House of Targ

Rhythm section action!

Entrenched at House of Targ

Glorious Moonrockets finished things off around midnight - they seem to be busy lately, this was the second time I'd caught them in a matter of weeks. Here's Chris!

Glorious Moonrockets at House of Targ

Bass action with Roscoe!

Glorious Moonrockets at House of Targ

More Chris!

Glorious Moonrockets at House of Targ

Shawn hits!

Glorious Moonrockets at House of Targ

Hair-tossing action!

Glorious Moonrockets at House of Targ

Shawn sings!

Glorious Moonrockets at House of Targ

The whole lot!

Glorious Moonrockets at House of Targ

Shawn steps out!

Glorious Moonrockets at House of Targ

A great night for a a worthy cause.