Showing posts with label Century Palm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Century Palm. Show all posts

Friday, November 02, 2018

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.

Empty Nesters at House of Targ

Bass action with Philip!

Empty Nesters at House of Targ

Robert hits!

Empty Nesters at House of Targ

More Eric!

Empty Nesters at House of Targ

More Philip!

Empty Nesters at House of Targ

A bit more Robert!

Empty Nesters at House of Targ

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).

Vanity Phase at House of Targ

Gesticulating action!

Vanity Phase at House of Targ

And so on!

Vanity Phase at House of Targ

Moog action!

Vanity Phase at House of Targ

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).

Priors at House of Targ

Guitar action with Stuart!

Priors at House of Targ

Bass action with Alan!

Priors at House of Targ

Shirtless action!

Priors at House of Targ

More guitar with Seb!

Priors at House of Targ

Drum action with Drew (also of The Famines)!

Priors at House of Targ

Adjusting action!

Priors at House of Targ

More Stuart and Chase!

Priors at House of Targ

Prior action!

Priors at House of Targ

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).

Flesh Rag at House of Targ

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

Flesh Rag at House of Targ

Caped action!

Flesh Rag at House of Targ

Smokey Eric action!

Flesh Rag at House of Targ

More guitar with (another) Matt!

Flesh Rag at House of Targ

Matt sings!

Flesh Rag at House of Targ

Ruffled action!

Flesh Rag at House of Targ

Drinking and shaking action!

Flesh Rag at House of Targ

Guitar action!

Flesh Rag at House of Targ

Fleshy action!

Flesh Rag at House of Targ

Feedback action!

Flesh Rag at House of Targ

The whole lot!

Flesh Rag at House of Targ

Keyboard action!

Flesh Rag at House of Targ

Good stuff all around!

Thursday, September 06, 2018

Are they not men?

August 28 is a day that shall live in history - mostly because jumping from the 27th to the 29th would be really confusing. But it's also the 40th anniversary of the release of Devo's debut album Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! To celebrate the occasion a bunch of Toronto Devo fans got together to pay tribute. They played a gig at House of Targ on the preceding Saturday with support from Douce Angoisse, Man Made Hill and opening things up, Expanda Fuzz. Here's Leila!

Expanda Fuzz at House of Targ

Chris sings!

Expanda Fuzz at House of Targ

More Leila!

Expanda Fuzz at House of Targ

Singalong action!

Expanda Fuzz at House of Targ

Last i heard Douce Angoisse had decamped for her homeland, so either she hasn't left yet, or she came back for a bit> Either way, here she is with a guitar and a Fifth Element themed outfit.

Douce Angoisse at House of Targ

Vocal action!

Douce Angoisse at House of Targ

And so on!

Douce Angoisse at House of Targ

Gripping action!

Douce Angoisse at House of Targ

Grounded action!

Douce Angoisse at House of Targ

And finally a bit more guitar!

Douce Angoisse at House of Targ

Man Made Hill followed with one of his trademark bonkers sets, featuring some touch-activated noise triggers on his suit.

Man Made Hill at House of Targ

Hilly movement action!

Man Made Hill at House of Targ

Self-activating action!

Man Made Hill at House of Targ

Keyboard action!

Man Made Hill at House of Targ

Man Made action!

Man Made Hill at House of Targ

And so on!

Man Made Hill at House of Targ

"Play me! Play me!"

Man Made Hill at House of Targ

On to the act know as Are We Not Devo? We Are Not!, doing a remarkably true to form run through of the weirdo icons' debut. Here's Mike from First Base on, er, bass!

Are We Not Devo? We Are Not! at House of Targ

And his fellow First Baser Fraser on guitar and vocals!

Are We Not Devo? We Are Not! at House of Targ

Singalong action with a couple of Century Palm-ists, Alex and Andrew!

Are We Not Devo? We Are Not! at House of Targ

Mike sings!

Are We Not Devo? We Are Not! at House of Targ

Simply Saucer author and man of many bands Jesse on drums!

Are We Not Devo? We Are Not! at House of Targ

Devolutionary action!

Are We Not Devo? We Are Not! at House of Targ

More Alex!

Are We Not Devo? We Are Not! at House of Targ

Extra Fraser!

Are We Not Devo? We Are Not! at House of Targ

Half-a-costume-change action!

Are We Not Devo? We Are Not! at House of Targ

T-shirted action!

Are We Not Devo? We Are Not! at House of Targ

Short action!

Are We Not Devo? We Are Not! at House of Targ

There was a guest appearance by Booji Boy!

Are We Not Devo? We Are Not! at House of Targ

And of course the classic "flowerpot" look.

Are We Not Devo? We Are Not! at House of Targ

A fun night out!