Showing posts with label Caymans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Caymans. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Eyes and offenders

Last week I wandered over to Black Squirrel Books for some post-punkery and what-nottery. On the bill were locals Young Offenders and Montreal's Five Eyes. Young Offenders - or, at least, three-quarters of the bands, since guitarist Jacob couldn't make it - took the floor first with some tangled sounds. Here's singer-guitarist Kurt and bassist Simon.

Young Offenders at Black Squirrel Books

More Simon!

Young Offenders at Black Squirrel Books

Josh Duffenais hits!

Young Offenders at Black Squirrel Books

More Kurt!

Young Offenders at Black Squirrel Books

The whole lot!

Young Offenders at Black Squirrel Books

There was also some enthusiastic dancing in the crowd.

Young Offenders at Black Squirrel Books

Even more Simon!

Young Offenders at Black Squirrel Books

Late-set trumpet action!

Young Offenders at Black Squirrel Books

Five Eyes also played a very well-received set, they have a scrappy desperate sound, and feature Ottawa expat Joni from Caymans and Harsh Reality on drums. Here's guitarist Amy and Joni!

Five Eyes at Black Squirrel Books

And here's guitarist and singer Graham!

Five Eyes at Black Squirrel Books

More Joni!

Five Eyes at Black Squirrel Books

Brow-furrowing action!

Five Eyes at Black Squirrel Books

Extra Amy!

Five Eyes at Black Squirrel Books

Translucent action!

Five Eyes at Black Squirrel Books

Illuminated action!

Five Eyes at Black Squirrel Books

And even more Amy!

Five Eyes at Black Squirrel Books

A fine evening's entertainment.

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Ode to Joy

Montreal's No Joy are back on the road promoting their latest album, More Faithful. Technically, it came out two days ago, but they at the House of Targ last week, fuzzing things up with Blake Hargreaves (under his Black Hairgrease nom de noise). Local space crew Destroy Clocks opened things up with some shoegazing squall. Here's N. Hell on the traditional Fender Jaguar (and Jeff Willey on drums).

Destroy Clocks at the House of Targ

Nicole Lefebvre rocks the keys.

Destroy Clocks at the House of Targ

Nicole sings!

Destroy Clocks at the House of Targ

Quoth Jeff, "Nevermore."

Destroy Clocks at the House of Targ

I think my camera's focus must be ill, because it took me several shots to get this Hell close-up.

Destroy Clocks at the House of Targ

On to man of many bands, Blake Hargreaves. Best known in my corner of the blogosphere for fronting Caymans, but he's also popped up as Black Hairgrease, solo under his own name and as one-third of Cousins of Reggae.

Black Hair Grease at the House of Targ

The blue moods of Blake!

Black Hair Grease at the House of Targ

He sprinkled his act with some cornball jokes between songs.

Black Hair Grease at the House of Targ

Headbanging action!

Black Hair Grease at the House of Targ

And now for some pre-set mugging for the camera by No Joy.

No Joy at the House of Targ

Jasamine White-Gluz strums!

No Joy at the House of Targ

And sings a bit!

No Joy at the House of Targ

Stone-cold percussive action with Garland Hastings!

No Joy at the House of Targ

Guitar action with Laura Lloyd!

No Joy at the House of Targ

More Jasamine!

No Joy at the House of Targ

More Laura!

No Joy at the House of Targ

Michael Farsky works the low end.

No Joy at the House of Targ

Hair-shaking action!

No Joy at the House of Targ

Guitar action!

No Joy at the House of Targ

Rhythm section action!

No Joy at the House of Targ

Feedback action! Of course!

No Joy at the House of Targ

That was swell.

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Solo groups

Last Saturday I once again headed to Pressed to check out a diverse bill pulling sounds from the folk, experimental and post rock realms, among others. Black Hairgrease - a.k.a. one man diverse bill Blake Hargreaves of Caymans and others, opened things up with some crooning loops.

Black Hairgrease at Pressed

Blake slides!

Black Hairgrease at Pressed

Well, you get the idea, another intriguing musical outlet from Hargreaves.

Black Hairgrease at Pressed

Philadelphia's Hermit Thrushes have some unusual sounds of their own. The quartet sounded to me like they were making downbeat tunes for broken wind-up toys. They certainly like their songs brief, several of them started and stopped abruptly. Here's guitarist Yianni Kourmadas, violinist Andrew Keller and keyboardist Spencer Carew.

Hermit Thrushes at Pressed

Yianni also handled most of the singing.

Hermit Thrushes at Pressed

Taryn Jones rounds out the group.

Hermit Thrushes at Pressed

Andrew bows!

Hermit Thrushes at Pressed

Spencer hits a bit!

Hermit Thrushes at Pressed

Extra Taryn!

Hermit Thrushes at Pressed

Montreal's Maica Mia ended the evening with a first rate set. Playing as a duo with drummer Johnny Paradise, Mia's music put me slightly in mind of Heavy Mountain.

Maica Mia at Pressed

Maica sings!

Maica Mia at Pressed
Johnny hits!

Maica Mia at Pressed

The whole lot!

Maica Mia at Pressed

Hair-swirling action!

Maica Mia at Pressed

A great capper.