Class action

My bout with the common cold not only stopped me from going to shows, but it also has apparently fried my brain because I just remembered this show from two weeks ago at House of Targ. Toronto duo Bond Girls came to play a set alongside Neon Wave, with whom they've just released a split single, and local outfit Stay Classy (who are also playing this Friday as part of Junofest, at the Dominion). Here's Classy frontman P.J. (also of The Gallop), and subbing drummer Tyler.



Bass action with Gavin (of Black Dogs)!



Singalong action with Love Machinist Allan!



Tyler hits!



Close-up action!



Extra Gavin!



More Tyler!



Extra Allan!



Neon Wave took things in a slightly more atmospheric direction; here's singer-guitarist Norm and a fuzzy drummer Ryan!



More Norm!



Extra Ryan!



More guitar with Derek!



Ear-scratching action!



More Derek!



Singalong action!



Bond Girls sounded a bit like a stripped-down Queens Of The Stone Age to me; unfortunately the lights were down so low for their set I only took a couple of photos. Here they are in all their grainy glory! Guitar action with Sam Seguin (once of Soviet States, I think?)



And here's The Balconies' Mike Laing.



Fun, but dark.

Element of risk

Back on March 9 I headed over to House of Targ to catch some heavy instrumental action from local groups Death Cake, Monobrow and Species at Risk (I'm just getting around to posting it now because I've had a horrible cold for the last week). Things started off with duo Death Cake, the duo of Bobbie Vanilla and Jean Michel du Chocolat (possibly not their real names, as the Wig would say). Here's Jean-Michel!



Guitar action with Bobbie!



The whole lot!



More Bobbie!



Caked action!



More Jean-Michel!



Monobrow once again demonstrated why their one of the heaviest bands around - they can certainly hold their own against any doom band out their. They played some stuff from their next album, which has been delayed by the closing of the pressing plant that was doing up the vinyl. Hate April-May is the new due-by date. Here's Brian!



Adjusting action with Paul!



Sam handles the low end.



More Paul!



Wah-wah action!



Extra Sam!



Heavy action!



Rhythm section action!



Species at Risk finished the night off; they'll be back at the House of Targ April 19, opening for Big Knife Little Knife. Here's guitarist Simon and drummer Brendan!



More guitar with Sean and Simon!



Rhythm section action with Brendan and bassist Mike!



Extra Sean!



Fretful action!



Brendan hits!



Power Gloved action!



Even more Sean!



And finally some extra Brendan.



A fun time on a frosty night.

What's in store

Back at the start of March I headed over to Pressed to check out some pop, psych and punk action courtesy of local heads Slow Dawn, Peterborough fuzzoids Prime Junk and Toronto punks WLMRT.  First up were Prime Junk; the band was founded by Natalie of Watershed Hour and is filled out by other musos from the vibrant Peterborough scene. Here's some rhythm section action!



Guitar action with Natalie!



Primal action!



Percussive action!



Natalie sings!



Bass action!



Extra percussion!



More Natalie!



More bassist!



I switched on the flash for Slow Dawn ... here's some bass action with Jesse!



Guitar action with Dan!



More guitar with Sean!



Chris hits!



The whole lot!



More Sean and Jesse!



Feedback action with Chris and Dan!



Gripping action!



WLMRT are a shouty quintet with a lot of energy, Here's singer Shelby (and out-of-focus guitarist Adam).



Bassist Kat sings!



Alex hits!



Close-up synth action with Ryan!



A shouty bit!



Extra guitar action with Adam!



Rhythm section action!



Extra Shelby!



A fun evening.