Saturday, February 25, 2017

Up, out and down

I had a bunch of busy nights last week, so my only musical outing was to the House of Targ to catch some party-hard hard rock with local lights Thunderkok and Hellbros, opening for Montreal's Dig It Up. Thunderkok were on first, and as usual things got messy, fast. Here's Garrett - let there be fluid!

Thunderkok at House of Targ

Sparkler action with David!

Thunderkok at House of Targ

Hamish sings, Kelso hits!

Thunderkok at House of Targ

Garrett sings!

Thunderkok at House of Targ

Back-to-back guitar action!

Thunderkok at House of Targ

Back-to-back drinking action!

Thunderkok at House of Targ

Inflated rhythm section action with Travis

Thunderkok at House of Targ

Extra pouring!

Thunderkok at House of Targ

Travis sings!

Thunderkok at House of Targ

Kelso hits!

Thunderkok at House of Targ

Fisheyed action!

Thunderkok at House of Targ

More guitar!

Thunderkok at House of Targ

Extra Hamish!

Thunderkok at House of Targ

Bloody action!

Thunderkok at House of Targ

More Garrett!

Thunderkok at House of Targ

David-spraying action!

Thunderkok at House of Targ

Hellbros have a smaller splash-zone than Thunderkok, but a similar rocking attitude. Here's guitarist Christian!

Hellbros at House of Targ

More guitar with Peter!

Hellbros at House of Targ

Matt sings!

Hellbros at House of Targ

Peter sings!

Hellbros at House of Targ

Josh hits!

Hellbros at House of Targ

More Matt!

Hellbros at House of Targ

Extra Josh!

Hellbros at House of Targ

More guitar!

Hellbros at House of Targ

Even more Matt!

Hellbros at House of Targ

Hellish action!

Hellbros at House of Targ

Singalong action!

Hellbros at House of Targ

Josh sings!

Hellbros at House of Targ

More Christian!

Hellbros at House of Targ

Dig It Up finished things off with a punkier sound; I don't know who anyone in the band is, so on to the pictures...

Dig It Up at House of Targ

Gripping action!

Dig It Up at House of Targ

Guitar action!

Dig It Up at House of Targ

More guitar action!

Dig It Up at House of Targ

Bendy action!

Dig It Up at House of Targ

Bass action!

Dig It Up at House of Targ

And so on!

Dig It Up at House of Targ

More singing!

Dig It Up at House of Targ

Percussive action!

Dig It Up at House of Targ

The whole lot!

Dig It Up at House of Targ

Upward action!

Dig It Up at House of Targ

Fun for almost the whole family.

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Just the voice

I had quite a few options last Friday, but I decided to head over to Bar Robo for something a bit different from my usual guitar-rock, a show without any guitars, or any musical instrument beyond the human voice. Heather Sita Black was headlining, with local throat-singing duo Silla in support. Here's Charlotte and Cynthia starting things off.

Silla at Bar Robo

And so on! Their collaboration with Rise Ashen has been nominated for a JUno.

Silla at Bar Robo

They included a competition song, and there was quite a bit of giggling.

Silla at Bar Robo

Heather Sita Black did a fantastic job singing with The Visit at their Pressed show about a year ago. Her solo improv vocal work was also quite impressive.

Heather Sita Black at Bar 
Robo

Gesticulating action!

Heather Sita Black at Bar Robo

And so on!

Heather Sita Black at Bar Robo

She does know how to work a stage.

Heather Sita Black at Bar Robo

She brought Silla back on for a couple of shorter works.

Heather Sita Black with Silla at Bar 
Robo

A lovely evening of music.

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Horsing around

Thursday I trudged through the bitter cold to House of Targ to warm my ears with some indie-rocking. The bill featured local Velvets fans Telecomo, West Enders The Stringers and Toronto's Pony. Things started off with Telecomo, who I thought were sounding even more like Japan's Les Rallizes Denudes. Here's Adam Saikaley!

Telecomo at House of Targ

And here's the other side of a blurry Adam, with Pat and Gary!

Telecomo at House of Targ

And so on!

Telecomo at House of Targ

Pat hits!

Telecomo at House of Targ

More Gary!

Telecomo at House of Targ

Faceoff action!

Telecomo at House of Targ

Gary works the crowd!

Telecomo at House of Targ

Rhythm section action!

Telecomo at House of Targ

Jumping about!

Telecomo at House of Targ

More rhythm!

Telecomo at House of Targ

On to The Stringers! Here's guitarist Kyle!

The Stringers at House of Targ

Vocal action with Marco!

The Stringers at House of Targ

Percussive action with Nick!

The Stringers at House of Targ

Clapping action!
The Stringers at House of Targ

Rhythm section action with bassist Jordan!

The Stringers at House of Targ

More guitar!

The Stringers at House of Targ

Extra Jordan!

The Stringers at House of Targ

Bonus Kyle!

The Stringers at House of Targ

Stringy action!

The Stringers at House of Targ

Singalong action!

The Stringers at House of Targ

Kyle sings!

The Stringers at House of Targ

And so on!

The Stringers at House of Targ

Extra Nick!

The Stringers at House of Targ

Pony finished things off with some bouncy guitar pop. Here's guitarist Stephen!

Pony at House of Targ

Sam sings! There was a lot of pre-show hair-braiding going on, apparently.

Pony at House of Targ

Matt hits!

Pony at House of Targ

Singalong action with Eva!

Pony at House of Targ

Extra Matt!

Pony at House of Targ

More Stephen!

Pony at House of Targ

More Sam!

Pony at House of Targ

Sam sings some more!

Pony at House of Targ

Rhythm section action!

Pony at House of Targ

Equine action!

Pony at House of Targ

The whole lot!

Pony at House of Targ

The shouty bit!

Pony at House of Targ

And finally a bit more Eva and Matt!

Pony at House of Targ

A good way to spend a chilly night.