Sunday, March 23, 2014

Girls Vs. Boys

Another Saturday, another trip to Gabba Hey to check out a quartet of bands - some power pop, some sugar pop and some noisy freakers. Ottawa exile Allie Hanlon was back in town with her Peach Kelli Pop combo and they headlined the gig, also featuring locals Average Times, easterners Astral Gunk and new Montreal outfit Pale Lips.

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.

Pale Lips at Gabba Hey

I don't know who any of these folks are, barring of course Ilona from Dagger Eyes/Suppositories.

Pale Lips at Gabba Hey

Pale action!

Pale Lips at Gabba Hey

Percussive action!

Pale Lips at Gabba Hey

Shadowy action!

Pale Lips at Gabba Hey

Lippy action!

Pale Lips at Gabba Hey

Backing vocal action!

Pale Lips at Gabba Hey

And finally, some kazoo!

Pale Lips at Gabba Hey

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 Gunk at Gabba Hey

Astral action!

Astral Gunk at Gabba Hey

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.

Astral Gunk at Gabba Hey

Guitar action!

Astral Gunk at Gabba Hey

Vocal action!

Astral Gunk at Gabba Hey

Percussive action!

Astral Gunk at Gabba Hey

Bendy action!

Astral Gunk at Gabba Hey

More singing!

Astral Gunk at Gabba Hey

Headbanging action!

Astral Gunk at Gabba Hey

Instrument switching action!

Astral Gunk at Gabba Hey

Joe takes on some vocal duties.

Astral Gunk at Gabba Hey

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.

Average Times at Gabba Hey

Curtis sings!

Average Times at Gabba Hey

Stef hits!

Average Times at Gabba Hey

Seiji sings one!

Average Times at Gabba Hey

The crowd goes wild!

Average Times at Gabba Hey

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.

Peach Kelli Pop at Gabba Hey

Allie sings!

Peach Kelli Pop at Gabba Hey

Percussive action!

Peach Kelli Pop at Gabba Hey

Peachy action!

Peach Kelli Pop at Gabba Hey

Bass action!

Peach Kelli Pop at Gabba Hey

There was plenty of crowdsurfing!

Peach Kelli Pop at Gabba Hey

"You are beginning to scare me."

Peach Kelli Pop at Gabba Hey

And they're off!

Peach Kelli Pop at Gabba Hey

A most entertaining evening.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Hollow hills

Saturday night I headed off to Gabba Hey to check out a couple of bands I've seen and enjoyed, and a crew from Hamilton new to my ears. Unfortunately I had to do some stuff on Sunday so this post, much like the show itself, features a lot of delay ...

Scattered Clouds were the first band up and were stellar as usual. Here's some fashion coordination with Pierre-Luc and Jamie.

Scattered Clouds at Gabba Hey

Close-up action with Phillipe!

Scattered Clouds at Gabba Hey

Extra Jamie!

Scattered Clouds at Gabba Hey

Bonus Pierre-Luc!

Scattered Clouds at Gabba Hey

Grippping action!

Scattered Clouds at Gabba Hey

Grimacing action!

Scattered Clouds at Gabba Hey

Keyboard action!

Scattered Clouds at Gabba Hey

Hamilton's WTCHS have been making a name for themselves with some postpunky hardcore sounds and yes, they like the reverb too! Now for some soundchecking ...

WTCHS at Gabba Hey

Percussive action!

WTCHS at Gabba Hey

Non-verbal action!

WTCHS at Gabba Hey

And so on!

WTCHS at Gabba Hey

More hitting!

WTCHS at Gabba Hey

WTCHy action!

WTCHS at Gabba Hey

Gripping action!

WTCHS at Gabba Hey

Strange Attractor wrapped things up with a slightly more straight-ahead sound, taken straight from the pages of first-wave punk rock.

Horn-rimmed action!

Strange Attractor at Gabba Hey

Mitch hits!

Strange Attractor at Gabba Hey

Jeff sings!

Strange Attractor at Gabba Hey

Jumping about!

Strange Attractor at Gabba Hey

Extra Eric!

Strange Attractor at Gabba Hey

Fist-pumping action!

Strange Attractor at Gabba Hey

The huge crowd was well-entertained.