Hated by the nation

Back to The Daily Grimd for more metal; this time courtesy of Toronto's Vilipend. Last time I saw them was at Mavericks on a bill with Black Faxes, Alaskan and The Great Sabatini. It was a shouty affair. I was wondering how singer Chris Gramlich would manage the somewhat confined space of The Daily Grind, since the space of the cafe is not much larger than the entirety of Mavericks' stage, but amazingly no one was bowled over ....

Hair-tossing action!



Chris gets a grip, Mike Crossley sings along.



Adam McGillivray hits!



Downstroking action with Derek J. Del Vecchio!



Mike jumps around near the merch station ... you know you have a tiny venue when there isn't space for a table.



More Mike and merch action!



Extra Adam!



Derek sings!



The whole lot!



Audience-grabbing action!



Mike sings some!



The end!



They have a Montreal and Toronto show coming up next weekend ... no Ottawa that I can see, though.

Daily Grindcore

Last night I went off to a new venue to check out some metal acts. Daily Grind is not a regular shows spot, but it has held a few (that I'm aware of), and is just large enough to hold a quartet of metal bands, their amplification (granted, not all at the same time) and two-dozen or so head-bangers. In addition to the musical entertainment, you also got to see the expressions on the faces of people passing by, which was amusing in itself.

First up, Klovenhoofs. The last photos I took, of Pregnancy Scares, also happen to feature Davey Quesnelle ... he gets around!


Klovenhoofs at Daily Grind, November 15, 2012

And here's some fisheye action with Adam, eric and Scott.


Klovenhoofs at Daily Grind, November 15, 2012

Next up, Vilipend. I saw them rocking the Mavericks stage back in September 2010 with the Great Sabatini and Black Faxes. They put on an active show; the Daily Grind doesn't have quite the space for jumping about ... you've got about two feet to spare and the ceiling isn't high, either.


Vilipend at Daily Grind, November 15, 2012

Singalong action!


Vilipend at Daily Grind, November 15, 2012

Biipiigwan have a new EP, Nibaak, some God's Hooks vinyl and are about to set out on a tour that will take them to Southern Ontario and Chicago. Musky is the guy who put the show together.


Biipiigwan at Daily Grind, November 15, 2012

They've had a few lineup changes, with Mike moving to bass, Steve from The Great Sabatini on drums and a new guitarist (Matt Fleming, says Musky).


Biipiigwan at Daily Grind, November 15, 2012

KEN Mode ripped things up for the finale. I'm not sure what I think about a Juno-award winning band playing live in a coffee shop ... here's some headbanging action with the brothers Matthewson.


KEN Mode at Daily Grind, November 15, 2012

And regulation bassist Chad Tremblay, if I'm not mistaken.


KEN Mode at Daily Grind, November 15, 2012

Great sets from everyone, and a nice place to see a show, too.

Act of contempt

Up next at Mavericks, the lovable sounds of Toronto's Vilipend. As you'd expect of a band whose name shares a root with vilification, they are full of happy thoughts for the world at large.

From left to right we have bassist Michael J. Crossley, drummer Adam W. McGillivray and Christopher J. Gramlich on main howling (you can just make out a sliver of axeman Derek J. Del Vecchio behind him).



Gramlich works the hair.



Crossley sings some.



More hair-shaking!



Del Vecchio frets.



Crossley bends.



Shirt-removing action!



Jumping action!



Headbanging action!



McGillivray hits!



Snuggling action!



And so on!



Looming action!



The end!



A full-length is apparently in the works.

• Show reminder: The Architects reunite for some reason ... Bad Ideas? Yes they're on the bill for this show too at Zaphod's. Andrea Ramolo and John Carroll are at the Elmdale House. The Fake Boys, Dead Weights and Winslow get punky at the Avant-Garde Bar.

Rainy day music

Thursday was a great day to stay inside, but nonetheless I headed over to Mavericks to catch four different bands get metal in their hardcore (or vice versa). About 30 like-minded souls braved the cruddy weather to do the same.

First up were Black Faxes. I think I liked them the best; frontman Graham spent a fair amount of the set running around in front of the stage.


Black Faxes at Mavericks, September 16, 2010

Vilipend, another band from Toronto, were up next with some very throaty singing, extra-fuzzy bass and some free-ranging guitar.


Vilipend at Mavericks, September 16, 2010

Last time I saw Alaskan was in a basement with a bunch of moshing punks, and they were a quartet. This time there's three of them, but they're just as pummelling.



Alaskan at Mavericks, September 16, 2010

Great Sabatini finished things off. The Montreal band slips in the occasional quiet passage, and makes good use of the baritone guitar.


The Great Sabatini at Mavericks, September 16, 2010

All four are now off to Montreal to play Absinthe tonight.

• Show reminder: Subhumans, Four-Stroke, Snatchback and Whiskeyshits are at Mavericks; Life in 2D, RGB, Musk Ox, and Erik Jorgensen play the Avant-Garde; Forest City Lovers and Loon Choir perform at Raw Sugar Cafe; Stef Lang, Keek and The Nathan Day Project play Zaphod's; Ball & Chain and The Wreckers throw their annual Hank Williams birthday bash at Irene's; the Elmdale House hosts The Dave Tough Band , Dave Norris and Local Ivan and Jessie Dangerously. Lady Daisey and Jessica Kaya are at the Rainbow.