Holidazed

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas; now it's time to gear up for the New year's Eve shows, and where better to get a little practice than at the House of Targ? Criminally under-recorded Torontonians First Base finally headed into the studio (with Targ supremo Yogi) to lay down the tracks for their debut long-player earlier this year. It was released in October on Hozac, and they returned to the Meatlocker for some album-release action with some locals and local exiles.

First up, a mystery band ... who turned out to be Average Times! They're also playing at Babylon's Dark & Stormy night a week from now.



Curtis frets!



Seiji sings!



The bands' performance space stretched out into the back, so drummer photos will be few and distant this post ...



Singalong action!



Rhythm section action!



The whole lo!



The shouty bit!



Nervous System, Voicemail and First Base after the jump ...

Bread and water

As I walked through the rain Friday night, I comforted myself with the thought that when I reached the House of Targ, things might be dry. Not really: The big crowd meant things were pretty sweaty. Since I arrived late I was also afraid I'd be watching the show from the back of the room. Fortunately some nice people let me squeeze through so I could crouch at the front and take some shots of House of Targ proprietor Paul "Yogi" Granger's newest outfit, Black Bread.

It's a heavy quartet with Ian Vance from The Mere Humans (et al), Adam Fraser of Klovenhoofs and Megan Dean on keyboards and vocals. Think Mongrels and Public Animal and you've got the idea.


BlackBread at the House of Targ, August 30, 2013

Yogi and Adam bring the thunder and lightning!


BlackBread at the House of Targ, August 30, 2013

Next on the bill were PUP. They're an offshoot of energetic Toronto rockers Topanga. They pledged to finish off a 26 oz. bottle of Jagermeister during their 26-minute set. And they're off!


PUP at the House of Targ, August 30, 2013

Puppish action!


PUP at the House of Targ, August 30, 2013

They finished things off with a cover of The Dead Kennedy's Too Drunk to Fuck.


PUP at the House of Targ, August 30, 2013

The Dirty Nil also rocked out in fine style, kicking things off with Thin Lizzy's The Boys Are Back In Town.


The Dirty Nil at the House of Targ, August 30, 2013

Rhythm section action!


The Dirty Nil at the House of Targ, August 30, 2013

The crowd goes wild!


The Dirty Nil at the House of Targ, August 30, 2013

They wrapped things up with some Replacements.

Pony express

From Raw Raw Riot we go to the ever-crazy antics of Party Knives.



Pat hits!



Lee handles the low end.



Owen climbs on stuff!



But what does the audience think?



Drumming action! Note the pony, soon to be used and abused.



Owen takes a leap from the top of Lethal Enforcers.



Sammy mosies along.



Who knows when theyll strike again?

Riot squad

Now that OXW 2013 is out of the way and Bluesfest intends, Heathers have gone back to Ireland, there are no major National celebrations for at least a day and the House of Targ is quiet (well, except for high volume band practices), it is time to head back to the dying days of 2012. And the House of Targ. Because apparently I can't stay away. These photos hail from not only the last Friday of the month, but the last Friday of the year. Featured are Party Knives and Mother's Children, both well known to me and likely you, and a more recent combo, Raw Raw Riot. The four women in the band say they provide fast, in your face punk, and who am I to argue?

The front line, with guitarist Sarah Destruction, Jamie Thee Catastrophee and bassist Sarah Danger.



Catastrophic action!



Destructive action!



Audience participation action!



Singalong action!



D.D. Riot hits!



Faceoff action!



They're playing at Cafe Luneta on June 5.

Good buzz

I walked over to the House of Targ to feed a toonie to the Monopoly machine and watch some sounds being made Friday - last of the month, of course! - and generally get back into the post Ottawa Explosion groove.

First on the floor was e-tron connected duo H. de Heutz, last seen performing at mugshots a few months ago.


H. de Heutz at the House of Targ, June 28, 2013

Bass action!


H. de Heutz at the House of Targ, June 28, 2013

Then it was on to RAAS, with some electronic noise generation and matching visuals. It's been a while since I've seen Michael and Kerry (a.k.a. DJ Daisy) on stage - of course I saw quite a bit of him at the Ottawa Explosion since he was doing most of the outside sound.


RAAS at House of Targ, June 28, 2013

Projected action!


RAAS at House of Targ, June 28, 2013

Roberta Bondar finished things off with a sensationally noisy set.


Roberta Bondar at the House of Targ, June 28, 2013

It was an orgy of feedback, I tell you ...


Roberta Bondar at the House of Targ, June 28, 2013

Roberta Bondar will be playing the main stage on July 13 at the Bluesfest.

World of Werbo

I was mighty tempted by the Skeletonwitch/Collider show last night at Mavericks, but when I heard that the mighty Werbo was reconvening, I knew I had to head off to the House of Targ Friday night to check them ut live for what my crumbling memory tells me was the second time (I seem to recall them opening for Guided By Voices at Barrymore's back in 2000). There was a who's who of local musicians in the crowd (not atypical for the shows I go to, but it seemed to be the case more so than usual this time around).

First up, Camp Radio, who were sounding particularly on.



Pushing and shoving action!



On to Werbo. They brought the sandwiches and pickled eggs (no takers for either) and the awesome indie rock. It was the original trio of Jeff Kainz, Colin Majid and Tom Werbowetski.




They also had Scott Terry up to play on one of the tunes. Here he is with the Marshall stake used t provide all the guitar volume.
 


They finished things off by massacring Loving Clowns Loving Kittens with some help from Chris Page, Dave Draves and Jim Bryson.



They play tonight in Wakefield at Kaffe 1870.

Peaks and Valleys

There were a few good show on Friday night, but I trotted over to the House of Targ to ctch the debut performance of Bonnie Doon, a typically swell set from Voicemail and the first Ottawa appearance of Valley Boys, a band featuring a Brutal Knight, a School Jerk and a Vapid.

First up, Bonnie Doon, an all-woman group with a penchant for post-punk. They have two bass players who switch off on vocal duties. The guitar player also sang a tune, which meant two basses going at once; I liked that part quite a bit. Covered: The Misfits' Hollywood Babylon.


Bonnie Doon at House of Targ, April 26, 2013

And on the other side of the House of Targ's floor ...


Bonnie Doon at House of Targ, April 26, 2013

Next up, Voicemail. They appeared here recently playing with Peach Kelli Pop, and soon shall again opening for Deniz Tek of Radio Birdman fame, May 18 at the Dominion. They're keeping busy!


Voicemail at House of Targ, April 26, 2013

Singalong action! They introduced Rose Tattoo's Magnum Maid to the setlist for this outing.


Voicemail at House of Targ, April 26, 2013
 
Valley Boys finished things off with a killer set. You've seen a couple of these folks on the blog before: Matt Hitch with School Jerks and Chattering Class and Jon Sharron with Brutal Knights. Bassist Jimmy Vapid hails from his namesake band. Of drummer Kalle Malloy I know nothing.


Valley Boys at House of Targ, April 26, 2013

Boyish action!


Valley Boys at House of Targ, April 26, 2013

Their LPs were going fast after the show.

Sleeping underground

One good thing about being gainfully unemployed - my evenings are now free and I can toodle off to the House of Targ on the last Friday of the month to see fine performers of the high volume persuasion. Last night was an excellent example, with Quebec metallurgists Cauchemar joining local black and thrashy outfits Barrow Wight and Occult Burial.

Occult Burial is new on the scene, have just laid down their five-song demo, and sounded mighty fine. They also covered both Celtic Frost and Bathory with throat-gargling intensity. 


Occult Burial at the House of Targ, January 25, 2013

Guitarist Daniel definitely has the metal hair, and the bullet belt to go with it.


Occult Burial at the House of Targ, January 25, 2013

Barrow Wight are now down to a trio, and really ripped things up.


Barrow Wight at the House of Targ, January 25, 2013

Shady action behind the traps.


Barrow Wight at the House of Targ, January 25, 2013

Cauchemar are in town recording their next album with House of Targ overlord Paul "Yogi" Granger (familiar to many from his work with Ukrainia and The Double Pumpers) and showed off a bunch of smashing new tunes, a few of which were getting their first airing before a live crowd.


Cauchemar at the House of Targ, January 25, 2013

Patrick from Asile and Bastardator keeps the beat.


Cauchemar at the House of Targ, January 25, 2013

By the time they were done, the crowd was really throwing itself about.