If it's the last Friday of the month - and it was, last night - a good place to be is the House of Targ, where you can both check out great bands and play pinball or old-style arcade games. There was an eclectic lineup last night. Local surf spies the Reverb Syndicate headlined, along with Montreal gypsy punks Bad Uncle and new instumental heavies Pseudo Vista.
This was Pseudo Vista's first show in front of a live audience, though you may recognize Boom Creek's Ian Vance under the wool hat. Sean Finkler and Trevor Costello handle the guitars. They've got a heavy, kind of groovy sound with a bit of a post-rock flavour to it.
Pseudo Vista at the House of Targ, February 22, 2013
Jay McConnery (of Nero and Elbeejay) handles the drums.
Pseudo Vista at the House of Targ, February 22, 2013
On to Bad Uncle, whio take chunks of balkan, baroque, circus stomp, punk and who knows what else into their crazy musical melange. I could well imagine them on a bill with Ukrainia and Ol' Savannah. And here they are! Santosh Lalonde plays accordion and sings, Ram Krishnan on drums, Hugo Joyal on guitar, Jean-Phillipe Demers Lelotte on standup bass and Eli Richards on trombone.
Bad Uncle at the House of Targ, February 22, 2013
Santosh's accordion didn't make the trip, so he used a replacement - one missing both straps.
Bad Uncle at the House of Targ, February 22, 2013
Reverb Syndicate finished things off with a brief set - they'll be playing a longer one at Zaphod's on March 14 with The Calrizians. Last time I saw them play, way back in August 2008, they were a four-piece, and about to embark on a tour of Britain. For this show they were down to three. Mike Sheridan of Golden Famile, et al. is their drummer nowadays.
Reverb Syndicate at the House of Targ, February 22, 2013
Mike hits!
Reverb Syndicate at the House of Targ, February 22, 2013
A fine time all around.
