Hot and cold

There was an eclectic bill at the House of Targ last week: Funk-meets-metal combo Criticull, sleaze rockers In Heat and art-rockers The Haig shared the stage for a varied musical experience. First up, The Haig, and some wide-angle action with Treawna, Dean and Richard!



Richard was experiencing a missed connection.



Chris hits!



Microphone-sharing action!



Treawna sings!



More Dean!



Rhythm section action!



On to critucull, who always put on a lively show. Here's some guest guitarist roof-raising.



Saxophonic action!



More guitar!



Cutter sings!



Hair-tossing action!



More hair-tossing action!



Masked action!



Singalong action!



Stripey action!



The crowd goes wild!



In Heat's set began with some birthday cake delivery for guitarist Tony.



Gripping action!



Classic rock appreciation action; they played a heavy covers set, alternating between their own tunes and such acts as Cheap Trick, Teenage Head, David Bowie, The Dead Kennedys and the like.



More guitar!



Track-suited action!



Singalong action!



It was an energetic evening!

Off on the right foot

I took a trip over to Pressed last week to check out their newly reconfigured space (patrons have gained a nook and bar space where there used to be counter); it was also a chance to check out Shoe Blog, a new-ish Ottawa band, and Long Branch, a combo made up of veteran Toronto musicians. Boonie Doon was also revealing some new tunes from their next album. Shoe Blog had already started when I arrived, and the place was pretty full, new nook or not. Local music fans will recognize indefatigable broadcaster and promoter Rachel from Debaser on cello.



Adam frets!



Percussive action!



More percussive action!



Long Branch have a sort of Neil Young style vibe, and features folks from such outfits as Adaptor 45, Chicken Milk, Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet and The Good Family. Let's start things off with Don Pyle, who's been on the scene since the gestation of punk rock in Toronto.



Laura sings and plays guitar.



Lisa , her bandmate from Adaptor 45, does the same.



Singalong action with bassist Sally!



D'arcy Good also plays the fiddle.



More singalong action!



Bonus Don!



More guitar!



Sally sings!



Boonie Doon brought the house down; they were rocking a denim theme this time around. Here's Madison!



Keltie hits!



Lesley sings!



More bass with Sara!



Rhythmic action!



Singalong action!



Fisheyed action!



Tambourine action!



They've also released one of their new recordings since this show.

Blanket coverage

Winter delivered a one-two punch a week ago - first, with a blast of Arctic air, and then a record-breaking snowfall. East Coasters New Love Underground managed to enjoy both highs, first in Quebec City on Valentine's, then in Ottawa a couple of days later for a show at Black Squirrel Books with locals Spell and Pith & The Parenchymas, who were one first. Here's Chris Love!



Andi frets!



Dual microphone action!



Andi multitasks!



Dial-twisting action!



New Love Underground is usually two people: Mike Fong and Eliza Niemi. For this gig they doubled their staff, recruiting Erin on keyboards and vocals and John Lake on drums. Here's Erin and Eliza!



And here's Mike and John!



Erin frets!



Erin works the keys!



John hits!



The whole lot!



Spell finished things off with their slacker krautrock.



Shelved action!



Rhythm section action!



Guitar action!



Tyrin hits!



Then it was time to fire up the sled dogs and head home.