Saturday, June 12, 2010

Flour power

Day 2 of the Gaga Weekend settled down at Ritual at Bored To Death, the monthly Friday DJ night dedicated to punk rock and the like. I must say I really like Ritual's setup ... a good-sized room with the stage at just the right height, and there's no poles to interfere with the sightlines. If Thursday's show was punk, then Friday was powerpop - though not every band the bill, starting with openers The Girlfriends.

But first, Steve Adamyk spins the hits!

Gaga Weekend at Ritual
DJ Steve at Ritual, June 11, 2010

You never know what's going to when The Girlfriends play ... in this case there were grass skirts, an angry letter from Nigel's mom, drinking beer from a shoe, Sammy riding an audience member, implied homoeroticism and flying confetti. Also The Girlfriends' usually bashed out rock.

The Girlfriends at Ritual
The Girlfriends at Ritual, June 11, 2010.

Davey Quesnelle is interviewed by Luke Nuclear.

Gaga Weekend at Ritual
Davey and Luke at Ritual, June 11, 2010

Peach Kelli Pop were up next ... we decorated the stage," said Allie, "Then The Girlfriends redecorated it with strange fluids" (or something like that). Matt Oxley was on drums for this occasion, since Ian was understandably busy, while Davey Quesnelle was on his second set of the night, since he was also playing as Male Nurse over at Mavericks, opening up for Joey Cape.

Peach Kelli Pop at Ritual
Peach Kelli Pop at Ritual, June 11, 2010.

Toronto trio First Base played an awesomely tight set of melodic punk-pop - including covers of The Beach Boys' Hawaii and Motorhead's The Chase Is Better Than The Catch (there's one you don't hear too often ...) I wish they'd brought some of their 7-inches with them, I'd have bought 'em on the spot.

First Base at Ritual
First Base at Ritual, June 11, 2010.

Mike minds the door. "By entering the show tonight you agree to be on film for a doc about Gaga Weekend. Any questions, ask a guy with a video camera."

Gaga Weekend at Ritual
Mike Hadad at Ritual, June 11, 2010

I was thinking First Base were going to be hard to top, but Mothr's Children played a knockout set, including a heap of new songs that augur very well indeed for their upcoming record. They were really on fire, and everybody was playing and singing great.

Mother's Children at Ritual
Mother's Children at Ritual, June 11, 2010.

Johnny O. minds the store.

Gaga Weekend at Ritual
Johnny O. at the merch table, Ritual, June 11, 2010

Ian not only organizes Gaga, he also sweeps up all the broken glass!

Gaga Weekend at Ritual
Ian Manhire at Gaga Weekend, June 11, 2010

Strange Attractor grabbed everyone by the scruff of their neck and yanked them back to 1977 with a hot set of old school snotty punk. Three of the members are actually Sudbury's Statues, so you know they have the pop-punk thing hands down ... but with all the spraying beer and breaking glass you'd have sworn you were in some grimy London hole during the first wave when these guys were on stage.

Strange Attractor at Ritual
Strange Attractor at Ritual, June 11, 2010.

Finally Zebrassieres played what could be "their last show ever!" (said Ian Manhire). Maybe not though, they did have a new song to roll out ... because the event was so special they went and dusted themselves with Robin Hood flour.

Zebrassieres at Ritual
Zebrassieres at Ritual, June 11, 2010

Luca from Enuie has been recording everything for this year's Gaga doc - last year's is on sale for $10 - he got carried away too.

Luca gets carried away at Gaga Weekend
Luca at Gaga Weekend, June 11, 2010.

Today's the biggest day of the weekend, with bands galore at Yogi's Meatlocker and a late-night Babylon blowout ... too many bands to mention - and I've got to eat and run if I want to make it to the Meatlocker in time for Thunderuncle.

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