Friday, May 19, 2017

Still screaming

It's always a good show when The Screaming Females come to town (as they seem to do with admirable frequency). Punkish duo No Fuss and countrified singer-songwriter Ommie Jane (and her musical partner Buddy Smiles) opened things up. Here's Ommie Jane!

Ommie Jane at House of Targ

Buddy hits!

Ommie Jane at House of Targ

Ommie sings!

Ommie Jane at House of Targ

More Buddy!

Ommie Jane at House of Targ

Keyboard action!

Ommie Jane at House of Targ

Closeup action!

Ommie Jane at House of Targ

Even more Buddy!

Ommie Jane at House of Targ

On to No Fuss, and some gripping action with Chris!

No Fuss at House of Targ

Mark hits!

No Fuss at House of Targ

More Chris!

No Fuss at House of Targ

Close-up action!

No Fuss at House of Targ

Extra Mark!

No Fuss at House of Targ

The whole lot!

No Fuss at House of Targ

I first saw Screaming Females opening for Ted Leo at Zaphod's (RIP) seven years ago. They ripped things up then, and they haven't turned it down since then. Here's Marissa preparing to rock out!

Screaming Females at House of Targ

Bass action with Mike!

Screaming Females at House of Targ

Jarrett hits!

Screaming Females at House of Targ

More Marissa!

Screaming Females at House of Targ

Screaming action!

Screaming Females at House of Targ

Even more Marissa!

Screaming Females at House of Targ

Extra Jarrett!

Screaming Females at House of Targ

The shouty bit!

Screaming Females at House of Targ

And so on!

Screaming Females at House of Targ

Always a great show.

Friday, May 12, 2017

April showers

On the last night of April I went to Pressed for some spectral sounds. Toronto's Tasseomancy headed the bill, alongside Brooklyn's entirely intriguing Mega Bog, with RAAS starting things off with some electronica. They were up and running when I walked in the door. Here's Michael!

RAAS at Pressed

The whole lot! (It was pretty dark and somewhat smokey, but you can just make out Kerry there on the right.

RAAS at Pressed

Flashy action!

RAAS at Pressed

Mega Bog - a.k.a. Erin Birgy - performed a solo set, so things sounded quite a bit less eclectic than what you'd expect from her recordings. Still good though.

Mega Bog at Pressed

Erin sings!

Mega Bog at Pressed

Even more Erin!

Mega Bog at Pressed

The last (and also first) time I saw Tasseomancy was at Ritual, opening for and accompanying Austra. It was a lovely show and I quite enjoyed the Lightman sisters Kate Bush-influenced sounds. For this set they had a drummer on hand. I believe it's Sari on bass and Romy singing, but I could be wrong ...

Tasseomancy at Pressed

Sari multi-tasks!

Tasseomancy at Pressed

Romy sings!

Tasseomancy at Pressed

Button-pressing action!

Tasseomancy at Pressed

Sisterly action!

Tasseomancy at Pressed

A lovely evening.

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Come from away

You know how I can tell Canadian Music Week was on during the end of April? By all the bands from far-distant lands playing in town after doing their showcases and whatnot down in the Big Smoke - and when it comes to a far distance, it's hard to beat Hobart, Tasmania, home to popsters Heart Beach and Quivers. They shared the floor at Black Squirrel Books along with local combos How Far To Mexico and Valois, who were on first. Here's Charlie and Shannon!

Valois at Black Squirrel Books

The whole lot, with Megan and Don!

Valois at Black Squirrel Books

Extra Charlie and Shannon!

Valois at Black Squirrel Books

More Megan and Don!

Valois at Black Squirrel Books

A bit more Don!

Valois at Black Squirrel Books

Megan sings!

Valois at Black Squirrel Books

Shannon steps up!

Valois at Black Squirrel Books

Quivers played next. Here's some singalong action with mainman Sam and Angela!

Quivers at Black Squirrel Books

Percussive action with Jo!

Quivers at Black Squirrel Books

Extra Sam!

Quivers at Black Squirrel Books

Guitar action with Michael!

Quivers at Black Squirrel Books

Jo sings!

Quivers at Black Squirrel Books

More Sam!

Quivers at Black Squirrel Books

More Angela!

Quivers at Black Squirrel Books

They were followed by fellow Hobartians Heart Beach, who aren't quite done with Canada yet - they're playing at Bar Robo this Saturday with Galapagos. Here's Claire, Jaq and Jonathon!

Heart Beach at Black Squirrel Books

Claire sings!

Heart Beach at Black Squirrel Books

Jaq hits!

Heart Beach at Black Squirrel Books

Even more Claire!

Heart Beach at Black Squirrel Books

Jonathon sings!

Heart Beach at Black Squirrel Books

More Jaq!

Heart Beach at Black Squirrel Books

How Far To Mexico brought the evening to a close with their "jingle-jangle". Here's drummer Brian!

How Far To Mexico at Black Squirrel Books

Jamieson (also of Shadowhand) sings!

How Far To Mexico at Black Squirrel Books

Bass action with Brandon (also of Shadowhand, I saw them play at Pressed just a short while later).

How Far To Mexico at Black Squirrel Books

Guitar action with Valois's Charlie and Jamieson!

How Far To Mexico at Black Squirrel Books

The whole lot!

How Far To Mexico at Black Squirrel Books

And that's it!