Heart to heart

I can't recall ever seeing Change of Heart during its heyday, but I've certainly seen enough of Ian Blurton in C'mon, his acclaimed power trio. With that's band's conclusion in 2011 and CoH's 30th anniversary of conception in 2012, it was time for some anniversary release and reunion touring.

Ian! Also Rob Higgins of Dearly Beloved and drummer Damon Richardson.



Extra Rob, plus a somewhat obscured Bernard Maiezza.



Damon hits!



Ian frets!



Bernard works the Moog.



Rob sings!



Ian and Rob jump about!



Alarming action!



The end!



As for what Change of Heart and Mr. Blurton are up to now, I know not. Rob was just in town with Dearly Beloved a few days ago.

To be a lover

Back near the beginning of September I went over to Cafe DeKcuf to see Julie Doiron. I've seen her play solo and sensitive, and loud with a group. This show was definitely on the loud side. Toronto combo Dearly Beloved opened things up. They too err on the side of volume, with plenty of that Detroit rock in the formula. Not such a surprise when you consider Rob Higgins of Change of Heart is one of the driving forces.

Here's vocalist Niva Chow and some shadowy bandmates.



Close-up action!



Rob sings!



Dave Kiner likes that MC5. And Wonder Woman!



Pushy action!



Tristan Avakian sings!



The shouty bit!



And so on!



The end!



Dunno what they're up to right now.

Hearts and hoofs

Last year brought the sad news that Ian Blurton's mighty trio C'mon were calling it a day. Off course Blurton has a long musical pedigree, including Change of Heart, a band that started up 30 years ago. To celebrate this dubious anniversary and give a little push to their new double-LP comp on Sonic Unyon, Change of Heart have reunited and are playing hither and yon. Last night they played hither, bu which I mean Pressed, and I was on hand to capture the momentous occasion.

First up, Klovenhoofs. This was my first chance to see them with their new full lineup, including Eric Larock (ex-Tricky Woo, etc.). Their set was entirely killer, man!


Klovenhoofs at Pressed, September 28, 2012

And also 75% checkered.


Klovenhoofs at Pressed, September 28, 2012

Change of Heart were pretty wicked too. They kicked things off with a great spacey intro. This particular iteration of Change of Heart also featured Dearly Beloved mainstay Rob Higgins and drummer Damon Richardson, who's swung the sticks for Danko Jones, and is also in the revived Cookie Duster with CoH's keyboardist Bernard Maiezza.


Change of Heart at Pressed, September 28, 2012

Translucent action!


Change of Heart at Pressed, September 28, 2012

Good show and a good crowd too (plus one old drunk guy who really got into it).

Let there be rock

The last time I saw Julie Doiron, in February 2011, she departed from her usual shy singer-songwriter persona for some serious rocking out, accompanied by Will Kidman of Wooly Leaves and Constantines fame. Perhaps residing in Toronto puts her in greater contact with the rocking kind of person, because for this outing she's recruited the Wrong Guys - Jaye Swarzer and Mike Peters of Cancer Bats and Eamon McGrath. Needless to say, a mighty noise is produced. They've also been recording a bit, with Rob Higgins, whose band Dearly Beloved did the opening honours at Cafe DeKcuf Friday night.

Leaning action! Dearly Beloved have a pretty hard rock edge; I hear flashes of Stooges/MC5 Detroit-style ramalama, among other things.


Dearly Beloved at Cafe DeKcuf, September 7, 2012

They even have the tattoo! (Or at least Dave Kiner does.)


Dearly Beloved at Cafe DeKcuf, September 7, 2012

On to Julie and Co., whose performance featured a lot of tangled guitar, plus jumping (and only occasional tipping over) from Eamon. There was some show-length videorecording as well, so perhaps a Wrong Guys rockumentary looms!


Julie Doiron & The Wrong Guys at Cafe DeKcuf, September 7, 2012

Batty action!


Julie Doiron & The Wrong Guys at Cafe DeKcuf, September 7, 2012

Julie finished things off with a brief solo set; there was also a cover of Neil Young's Don't Cry in there somewhere.