Summertime synths

The House of Targ had a double-header of Switched On Synths in August; first Rational Youth headlined a show in the first week; last week Brooklyn's Steve Summers came through town, Violence and Automelodi made repeat appearances and to start things off, all the way from Denmark, queer feminist migrant synthwave combo Prison offered up some Joy Division-styled sounds. Here's singer Zosia and bassist Anika!



And on the left, guitarist Ale and keyboardist Cecilia!



Gripping action!



Extra Cecilia!



Bass action with Anika!



More Zosia!



The whole lot!



Automelodi put on a great show; Xavier had a guitarist along with him to add some oomf to his spot-on new romantic sounds. Also on hand, a whole lot of smoke, which is why some of these photos are on the murky side.



Keyboard action!



Guitar action!



The whole lot!



Faceoff action!



More guitar!



Tambourine action!



Violence set was just as dark and murky as far as photographs go, and a little more freeform than their last set at Targ to my ears. Here's Julie and Eric!



Eric puts the pressure on!



Violent action!



Julie hits!



Singalong action!



Steve Summers is one of the pseudonyms of New Yorker Jason Letkiewicz, who produces a variety of electronic music under various names; Summers is his house-oriented outlet. Here he is among a sea of machines!



Vocal action!



Another fine outing.