As befitted a band that played its first show two months ago, Pale Lips started things up (after a terrifying trip from Montreal through the spring snowstorm). They seem to be the spiritual descendants of the B-Girls, and covered The Cramps New Kind of Kick and Nikki & The Corvettes' Backseat Love, along with originals about candy, pets and dreaming of killing one's boyfriend in his sleep.
I don't know who any of these folks are, barring of course Ilona from Dagger Eyes/Suppositories.
Pale action!
Percussive action!
Shadowy action!
Lippy action!
Backing vocal action!
And finally, some kazoo!
On to Astral Gunk. I was suitably impressed by the Gunk's Ottawa Explosion set in 2013 and they knocked it out of the park again with a frenzied set that got the moshing started.
Astral action!
Could this be Joe Charmondy of Kappa Chow? Yes, yes, it could. Joe was here at Pressed with his Chow cohorts along with Construction & Destruction in December.
Guitar action!
Vocal action!
Percussive action!
Bendy action!
More singing!
Headbanging action!
Instrument switching action!
Joe takes on some vocal duties.
And now for some Average Times. The crowdwent so crazy I was basically stuck by the PA speaker on the right for the whole set.
Curtis sings!
Stef hits!
Seiji sings one!
The crowd goes wild!
Allie's had a different set of musicians in tow just about every time I've seen her, but the revolving door doesn't seem to hurt any. This was a particularly sharp set from her current crew.
Allie sings!
Percussive action!
Peachy action!
Bass action!
There was plenty of crowdsurfing!
"You are beginning to scare me."
And they're off!
A most entertaining evening.
