Thursday, May 24, 2018

Back for the first time

You'd think by now I'd be smart enough not to be surprised when a performer I never thought I'd see live breezes through town, but I'll admit my eyebrows bounced when I heard that Lydia Lunch was going to be playing Mavericks. Even better, it would be with her top-notch Retrovirus band. I bought my ticket early, and showed up early too in order to catch most of Doctor MoM's set. The Ottawa trio have a heavy grunge sound - those Soundgarden and Screaming Trees shirts tell no lies. Here's Bud on bass!

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Guitar action with Jay!

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Jay sings!

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More Bud!

Doctor MoM at Mavericks

Kev hits!

Doctor MoM at Mavericks

Even more Bud!

Doctor MoM at Mavericks

Extra Jay and Kev!

Doctor MoM at Mavericks

Bonus Kev!

Doctor MoM at Mavericks

Bud sings!

Doctor MoM at Mavericks

Next up, a punchy punk set from Omerta! Here's Pat (also of Asile and Durs Couers) on drums!

Omerta at Mavericks

Sierra sings!

Omerta at Mavericks

Bass action with Aaron from Alcohol Fueled!

Omerta at Mavericks

Guitar action with Rick from Chloroform!

Omerta at Mavericks

Even more Sierra!

Omerta at Mavericks

Even more Rick!

Omerta at Mavericks

More Aaron!

Omerta at Mavericks

Rick and Sierra!

Omerta at Mavericks

Pat hits!

Omerta at Mavericks

Backlit action!

Omerta at Mavericks

Feedback action!

Omerta at Mavericks

The Lindbergh Babies rolled out some more punk sounds. Here's Ken, also of four-stroke!

Lindbergh Babies at Mavericks

Guitar action with Greg!

Lindbergh Babies at Mavericks

Tara sings!

Lindbergh Babies at Mavericks

Buttoned-up action!

Lindbergh Babies at Mavericks

More guitar and more Tara!

Lindbergh Babies at Mavericks

Even more Tara!

Lindbergh Babies at Mavericks

Jon sings!

Lindbergh Babies at Mavericks

Extra Greg!

Lindbergh Babies at Mavericks

Babied action!

Lindbergh Babies at Mavericks

More Jon!

Lindbergh Babies at Mavericks

Singalong action!

Lindbergh Babies at Mavericks

Extra Tara!

Lindbergh Babies at Mavericks

More Kris!

Lindbergh Babies at Mavericks

Extra, extra Tara!

Lindbergh Babies at Mavericks

Shadowy action!

Lindbergh Babies at Mavericks

Lydia Lunch and her Retrovirus band ended the evening with a killer set. It helps that the band itself is an all-star affair, with bassist Tim Dahl, drummer Bob Bert (Sonic Youth, Knoxville Girls, and others) and Weasel Walter (Flying Luttenbachers) on guitar. Hereès Walter, rocking the jodhpurs.

Lydia Lynch Retrovirus at Mavericks

Bob hits!

Lydia Lynch Retrovirus at Mavericks

Lydia sings!

Lydia Lynch Retrovirus at Mavericks

And so on!

Lydia Lynch Retrovirus at Mavericks

More Walter!

Lydia Lynch Retrovirus at Mavericks

More Lydia!

Lydia Lynch Retrovirus at Mavericks

Bonus Bert!

Lydia Lynch Retrovirus at Mavericks

Bass action with Tim!

Lydia Lynch Retrovirus at Mavericks

Even more Lydia!

Lydia Lynch Retrovirus at Mavericks

Retroviral action!

Lydia Lynch Retrovirus at Mavericks

Walter certainly likes jumping around.

Lydia Lynch Retrovirus at Mavericks

"We like all your drugs!"

Lydia Lynch Retrovirus at Mavericks

Wicked sets all around.

Saturday, May 19, 2018

Dress code

I made my usual trip down Bank St. last week for another edition of Switched On Synths at House of Targ. The headliner was Parallels - who I've caught before, with opening sets from techno man pH and the debut of ex-Dead Astronaut Mecha Maiko. First up, pH, creating some fist-pumping techo, sans shirt.

pH at House of Targ

He's an active chap, thus the dozens of blurry photos where he's only half in the frame on my Flickr feed.

pH at House of Targ

Adjusting action!

pH at House of Targ

And so on!

pH at House of Targ

Reaching action!

pH at House of Targ

Mecha Maiko likes her anime, dreamy synth pop and adorable frocks. This was her live debut. Here she is!

Mecha Maiko at House of Targ

Hayley adjusts!

Mecha Maiko at House of Targ

Gripping action!

Mecha Maiko at House of Targ

Vocal action!

Mecha Maiko at House of Targ

Animated action!

Mecha Maiko at House of Targ

The lights were down so low for Parallels' set that I busted out the flash. They played as a duo this time around, with Holly accompanied by another keyboardist.

Parallels at House of Targ

Keyboard action!

Parallels at House of Targ

Fingerless gloved action!

Parallels at House of Targ

Parallel action!

Parallels at House of Targ

More keyboard!

Parallels at House of Targ

Always an entertaining night out.