Sunday, April 30, 2017

Past and Present

It looks like the early week is the new end of the week: After my Monday visit to Targ, on Tuesday I went over to Zaphod's to check out long-running British pop combo The Wedding Present. I didn't pay them much attention back in their early-1990s heyday (I've got an ancient copy of Seamonsters lurking somewhere in a closet), but after Gedges restarted the project in 2004 and I got some review copies I began to check them out more thoroughly. A small and sensibly shod crowd turned out for their set and for a fine performance from Colleen Green, who has gone full band since I saw her last at Ottawa Explosion. (You can check my Flickr stream for photos of those aforementioned band members; for some reason at publication time I can't get them to appear as they should in the post.)

Colleen Green at Zaphod Beeblebrox

More Colleen, plus some rhythm section action!

Colleen Green at Zaphod Beeblebrox

Bass action!

Colleen Green at Zaphod Beeblebrox

Percussive action!

Colleen Green at Zaphod Beeblebrox

Even more Colleen!

Colleen Green at Zaphod Beeblebrox

Even more extra Colleen!

Colleen Green at Zaphod Beeblebrox

On to the Weddoes; they played a fine selection of tunes from their extensive back catalogue as well as stuff from their latest, Going, Going ... Here's David and bassist Danielle!

The Wedding Present at Zaphod Beeblebrox

Guitar action with Marcus!

The Wedding Present at Zaphod Beeblebrox

More David!

The Wedding Present at Zaphod Beeblebrox

Percussive action with Charles!

The Wedding Present at Zaphod Beeblebrox

Wedding action!

The Wedding Present at Zaphod Beeblebrox

Rhythm section action with Danielle!

The Wedding Present at Zaphod Beeblebrox

More guitar!

The Wedding Present at Zaphod Beeblebrox

Danielle sings! And also provides the traditional Wedding Present fact of the day.

The Wedding Present at Zaphod Beeblebrox

Crowded action!

The Wedding Present at Zaphod Beeblebrox

Dual percussive action!

The Wedding Present at Zaphod Beeblebrox

And finally some more gripping action!

The Wedding Present at Zaphod Beeblebrox

Great tunes, new and old.

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Targ the Third

Monday isn't a regular night for shows, but the House of Targ was celebrating its third birthday, so off I went to catch performances by spikey pogo crew Pok Gai, old school Peterborough metallurgists Mokomokai and Japan's crazy boogiemasters Zoobombs. First up, the spikey ones. Here's Wil!

Pok Gai at House of Targ

Tim sings!

Pok Gai at House of Targ

Trasha hits!

Pok Gai at House of Targ

Guitar action with Matt!

Pok Gai at House of Targ

More Tim!

Pok Gai at House of Targ

More Will!

Pok Gai at House of Targ

Matt sings!

Pok Gai at House of Targ

Gripping action!

Pok Gai at House of Targ

Rhythm section action!

Pok Gai at House of Targ

More Trasha!

Pok Gai at House of Targ

There was some between-set DJing from various New Swears (who also have a pair of record release show at Targ on June 23 and 24.

DJ New Swears at House of Targ

The Zoobombs played a great set; frontman Don Matsuo seemed to be in a particularly cheery mood.

Zoobombs at House of Targ

Don sings!

Zoobombs at House of Targ

Matta sings!

Zoobombs at House of Targ

Rhythm section action with Bukka Billy and Machiko!

Zoobombs at House of Targ

More Billy!

Zoobombs at House of Targ

Machiko sings!

Zoobombs at House of Targ

More Don!

Zoobombs at House of Targ

Extra Billy!

Zoobombs at House of Targ

Gesticulating action!

Zoobombs at House of Targ

It's not a third anniversary without a quick motorcycle run through the club!

Motorcycling at House of Targ

Mokomokai ended the night with some smokey action! Here's bassist Jeremy!

Mokomokai at House of Targ

John sings!

Mokomokai at House of Targ

Flying V action with Bobby!

Mokomokai at House of Targ

A shouty bit!

Mokomokai at House of Targ

Headbanging action!

Mokomokai at House of Targ

J.J. hits!

Mokomokai at House of Targ

Jeremy sings!

Mokomokai at House of Targ

Gather-on-the-riser action!

Mokomokai at House of Targ

More John'n'Jeremy!

Mokomokai at House of Targ

And finally Alex from New Swears lets us know this show was brought to us by the Number 3.

Sign humpage at House of Targ

Goodnight kids!

Saturday, April 22, 2017

Get out!

Another trip to Targ, another triple dose from the outer limits of the musical brain. Headliner U.S. Out Of Vietnam is the latest project from national musical treasure Johnathan Cummins of Bionic, with local instrumental heavyweights The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol and new combo Butterscotch Palace starting things off. Of course, when I say "new," I mean a bunch of folks you've seen in other bands going back many years, starting with Ian of Boom Creek, Four Frames and sundry other combos.

Butterscotch Palace at House of Targ

Rhythm section action with Albert (of The Four Frames and Capital Grass and The No-Men) and Todd!

Butterscotch Palace at House of Targ

Guitar action with Wayne, brother of Albert and veteran of the aforementioned bands!

Butterscotch Palace at House of Targ

Buttery action!

Butterscotch Palace at House of Targ

Projected action!

Butterscotch Palace at House of Targ

Silhouetted action!

Butterscotch Palace at House of Targ

The end!

Butterscotch Palace at House of Targ

There was more projection going on during The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol's set. Here's drummer John in the kaleidoscopic spotlight!

The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol at House of Targ

Adjusting action with Jason!

The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol at House of Targ

Sisterly action with Bill (and also Dave and Scott there in the back)!

The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol at House of Targ

Bass action with Nate!

The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol at House of Targ

John hits!

The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol at House of Targ

More Dave and Scott - unfortunately things were a bit darker on stage so most of my photos came out on the grainy side.

The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol at House of Targ

Even more Scott!

The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol at House of Targ

 U.S.A. Out Of Vietnam finished things off with their heavy rock'n'harmonies sound. Here's onetime Doughboy and Bionic man Jonathan!

U.S. Out Of Vietnam at House of Targ

Percussive action with El Tigre!

U.S.A. Out Of Vietnam at House of Targ

More guitar!

U.S.A. Out Of Vietnam at House of Targ

Bass action! The band are a pseudonymous lot, so I'm only guessing when I say this is Rockhard.

U.S.A. Out Of Vietnam at House of Targ

More singalong action!

U.S.A. Out Of Vietnam at House of Targ

Rockhard sings! They do like their harmonies.

U.S.A. Out Of Vietnam at House of Targ

Theremin action!

U.S.A. Out Of Vietnam at House of Targ

Extra El Tigre!

U.S.A. Out Of Vietnam at House of Targ

The audience had a bit of a sit-down for the last tune.

U.S.A. Out Of Vietnam at House of Targ

An excellent show!