Across the DMZ

Toronto's Two Koreas would probably fit well enough on a bill with fellow Torontonians controller.controller (assuming the latter weren't defunct, of course) or the sundry other bands pursuing the spikier side of New Wave and art punk. They cite Wire, Fall and Swell Maps, who are a personal fave of mine ... they did a creditable cover of Helicopter Spies.

Vocalist Stuart Berman in blue.



Guitarist Kieran Grant steps on it.



Jason Anderson on keyboard duties.



Ian Worang was last in town pulling double duty with Uncut and The Diableros.



Motorik drummer David Gee.



The whole lot!



Dual Korean action!



Somewhat smokey rhythm section action!



Singalong action!



Stuart jumps onto the dancefloor for one of two runarounds that evening.



Well, there was space.



Big finish!



Entertaining, if not revelatory.

• Show reminder: Handsome Furs, Hank & Lily and Apples perform at Zaphod Beeblebrox.

Doggone it!

I headed off to Zaphod's yesterday under the firm impression that I was going to see The Golden Dogs and Two Koreas. This is because my brain only works about 25% of the time. In fact as the first act took the stage I realized the opener was, in fact, Golden Bulldozer. Not that there's anything wrong with that: I saw them a while ago at Zaphod's and I liked 'em them. I liked 'em now, too - hearty, full-throated Canrock.



At least I got the Two Koreas bit right. I think they sound a bit like Jonathan Richman, had the Modern Lovers only listened to krautrock back in 1972.



A very solid evening's entertainment.

• Show reminder: The Bicycles and The Hi Lo Trons perform at Zaphod's.