Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Heavy and heavenly

On Thursday I headed over to Byward Market for some heavy psychedelic sounds. I wasn't just interested in the bands - I wanted to see what had happened to the space once inhabited by Zaphod's following its takeover by The 27 Club. They've gotten ride of the elevated portions, which means it's just a straight view from back to front, and expanded the stage by a couple of feet - both good improvements.

The 27 Club

As for the bands, things started with a standout performance by the Heavy Medicine Band. Here's Keturah!

Heavy Medicine Band at The 27 Club

Robert frets!

Heavy Medicine Band at The 27 Club

Candlelit action with Chris!

Heavy Medicine Band at The 27 Club

More Keturah!

Heavy Medicine Band at The 27 Club

Bass action with Sean!

Heavy Medicine Band at The 27 Club

More guitar!

Heavy Medicine Band at The 27 Club

Heavy action!

Heavy Medicine Band at The 27 Club

More Chris!

Heavy Medicine Band at The 27 Club

More Sean!

Heavy Medicine Band at The 27 Club

Onionface followed them with some heavy sounds of their own. Here's Calvin!

Onionface at The 27 Club

Guitar action with Stefan!

Onionface at The 27 Club

More Calvin!

Onionface at The 27 Club

Stefan sings!

Onionface at The 27 Club

Jon hits!

Onionface at The 27 Club

Hair-tossing action!

Onionface at The 27 Club

More Stefan!

Onionface at The 27 Club

Even more Calvin!

Onionface at The 27 Club

Singalong action!

Onionface at The 27 Club

Bonus Stefan!

Onionface at The 27 Club

The whole hairy lot!

Onionface at The 27 Club

Dead Heavens formed in 2014 out of Gorilla Biscuits and Quicksand guitarist Walter Schreifel's live band, and features a bunch of NYC scene players. Here's Nathan, former live bassist for Cults.

Dead Heavens at The 27 Club

Walter sings!

Dead Heavens at The 27 Club

Guitar action with Paul (of White Zombie, among others).

Dead Heavens at The 27 Club

Deadly action!

Dead Heavens at The 27 Club

Heavenly action!

Dead Heavens at The 27 Club

Bendy action!

Dead Heavens at The 27 Club

Drew (formerly of Youth of Today) hits!

Dead Heavens at The 27 Club

Feedback action!

Dead Heavens at The 27 Club

Feedback action!

Dead Heavens at The 27 Club

And so on!

Dead Heavens at The 27 Club

Solid sets from everyone, but I confess I found the local combos more entertaining.

Sunday, October 29, 2017

Pure Nun-sense

Vancouver fuzzoids The Courtneys are on tour with Seattle squall squad Versing, and paid a visit to House of Targ Wednesday to unleash a variety of melodic noise on the audience. Locals Sparklesaurus played a dynamite set to start things off. Here's Felicity!

Sparklesaurus at House of Targ

Colleen sings!

Sparklesaurus at House of Targ

Keyboard action with Shamisa!

Sparklesaurus at House of Targ

Felicity frets, Brad hits!

Sparklesaurus at House of Targ

More Colleen!

Sparklesaurus at House of Targ

Extra Brad!

Sparklesaurus at House of Targ

More Shamisa!

Sparklesaurus at House of Targ

Singalong action!

Sparklesaurus at House of Targ

Sparkling action!

Sparklesaurus at House of Targ

Versing turned up the volume a bit (after tactfully offering the audience some free earplugs) and headed straight into My Bloody Valentine territory. Here's some guitar action with Daniel and Graham!

Versing at House of Targ

Kirby sings!

Versing at House of Targ

More Daniel!

Versing at House of Targ

More Graham!

Versing at House of Targ

Max hits!

Versing at House of Targ

Even more Daniel!

Versing at House of Targ

Bonus Graham!

Versing at House of Targ

Extra Kirby!

Versing at House of Targ

The Courtneys sound is so indebted to the New Zealand pop wave that they're actually signed to the fame Flying Nun label. Here's Sydney on bass!

The Courtneys at House of Targ

Courtney on bass!

The Courtneys at House of Targ

Jen sings, likes Teenage Fanclub!

The Courtneys at House of Targ

Sydney sings!

The Courtneys at House of Targ

Courtney sings!

The Courtneys at House of Targ

Jen is amused!

The Courtneys at House of Targ

Extra Sydney!

The Courtneys at House of Targ

More Courtney!

The Courtneys at House of Targ

The whole lot!

The Courtneys at House of Targ

Standout performances from all three bands.