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.

Alien boys

The Diableros are getting props all over these days - no small feat considering the glut of good bands coming out of Toronto right now. They're still touring behind You Can't Break the Strings of Our Olympic Hearts, which I was bright enough to grab a copy of for this show (unlike at their January performance). They sounded even sharper this time around (their cover of The Wipers' Telepathic Love included). They had Uncut's Ian Worang on bass for this gig.

Peter Carmichael in mid-shout. He's traded his Vox for one of those new Danelectros I see.



Mike Rubba on orange organ and Phoebe Lee on drums.



Ian Worang bends thataway, Ian Jackson bends thisaway.



Backward jumping from "Action" Jackson; not to mention my only half decent picture of Phoebe.



Diablerological action!





Good show, except for the turnout which was pretty average - but as I recall the weather was crap.

• Show reminder: The Brains, Lefty McRighty and the Boxcar Cadavers and Gunsmoke perform at Mavericks.

The whole thing

Toronto's Uncut mine the sound of alternative rock in Britain in the 1980s, before "alternative rock" meant "fifth-rate major label Pearl Jam clone." Like tourmates The Diableros they've got a bit of a Jesus and Mary Chain fixation. They cite Swervedriver as an influence; I hear that as well. They put on a good show. The band has three vocalists, which allows for a little more sonic diversity.

Sam Goldberg handled most of the vocals.



Drummer Jon Drew.



Ian Worang bends. He did this a few dozen times during the show.



Bassist Derek Tokar from low down.



Faceoff action!





Uncut action!





I'd say it was solid, but not great.

• Show reminder: Video Dead, Hellbros and International Maniac Institute perform at Cafe Dekcuf; Dead Letter Dept., The Nads, Good Night Knights play End Hits.

Olympic event

The Diableros return to town, and this time I was actually off work at the right time to catch them. They came to town with Uncut, who will be accompanying them on a tour of Ontario and out west. It's a natural match since bassist Ian Worang also plays guitar in Uncut. They also both mine that mid-to-late-80s British sound.

Uncut action! Laconic vocals and Sonic Youth guitars put me strongly in mind of Bailter Space.



And The Diableros - with Mike Rubba on organ for this outing.



Good show - unfortunately there was no sign of Sylvie.

• Show reminder: These Arms Are Snakes, Mouth of the Architect, Young Widows and more play an early show at Babylon, later that night Clothes Make The Man, The Love Machine and more perform; Canadian punk legends The Subhumans play Mavericks with The Riptides, four-stroke, International Maniac Institute as support. Mint recording artists The Awkward Stage perform at Irene's Pub.