Rocktober nights

Back in mid-October I headed over to House of Targ for a diverse night of music. Seventies rock fans Flesh Rag were headlining a night, joined by Montreal's Priors, 1980s synth rock fancier Vanity Phase and Ottawa's own Empty Nesters, who kicked things off (they're also playing today at Cafe DeKcuf and Saturday at Black Squirrel Books). Eric is the main brain behind the shoegazey project.



Bass action with Philip!



Robert hits!



More Eric!



More Philip!



A bit more Robert!



Vanity Phase was on next. Andrew was at Targ not so long ago as part of the Devo tribute, and here he is with more synth sounds, 1980s style (i.e. with fingerless gloves).



Gesticulating action!



And so on!



Moog action!



Priora played a really lively set. I thought they sounded quite a bit like Hamilton's TV Freaks. They're a supergroup of sorts, with folks from Sonic Avenues and Famines, among other bands, filling out the roster. Here's main brain Chance (last seen on the blog playing bass with the Sonic Avenues).



Guitar action with Stuart!



Bass action with Alan!



Shirtless action!



More guitar with Seb!



Drum action with Drew (also of The Famines)!



Adjusting action!



More Stuart and Chase!



Prior action!



Flesh Rag finished the night off with a tough-sounding set of proto-punkish rock- very Detroit sound style, to my ears. They have a new album out, Inside Your Mind. Here's bassist Eric and guitarist Matt testing the smoke machine (it worked).



Nathan of TV Freaks, Sweet Dave & The Shallow Graves (among others) mans the drums.



Caped action!



Smokey Eric action!



More guitar with (another) Matt!



Matt sings!



Ruffled action!



Drinking and shaking action!



Guitar action!



Fleshy action!



Feedback action!



The whole lot!



Keyboard action!



Good stuff all around!