They blinded me ... with science!

Oh, those Giants of Science! I was taken back to my first post-college live show - Swervedriver and All Systems Go! at Barrymore's - by their guitar heavy but pop-sensible sound. As you can see, most of the folks on stage also appeared for the Gin Club's set, so the only real introduction is for drummer Steven Lynagh.

Here's Lynagh with Adrian Stoyles (who doesn't appear on the album, but thickened the sound nicely on stage).



Ben P. Salter rocks out. Stoyles realizes he's been using a lemon slice as a pick (and larger).





Matt Tanner at right: "I'm pissed tonight!"



And singing a bit ...



Some bending and twisting from Ben. P. Salter.



Singalong action with Benjamin Tuite!



Giant action!



Scientific action!



I picked up their new CD, Here Is The Punishment, after their excellent set (along with a T-shirt) and it's a catchy beast.

Gin city

The first week in March is Canadian Music Week; vast hordes of bands assemble in Toronto. Some of these bands come from quite a distance, and like other big music weekends across the continent, try to fit in a spot of touring. Brisbane record label Plus One Records sent four of the groups on their label all the way from Australia, and as part of their trip they landed at Zaphod's on a Sunday.
The first band on stage was The Gin Club, a rootsy pop band with several vocalists, a fluctuating lineup and a nautically themed website. They got up to seven people, including a cellist. They've reached double digits on other occasions, I hear - Brisbane's answer to The Golden Famile, perhaps? The music was flavoured further with accordion, electric piano and harmonica.

Ben P. Salter might be loosely described as the leader of this crew.



Ben Tuite is his second-in-not-exactly-command



That's vocalist and occasional harmonica player Conor J. MacDonald behind Tuite. He made a particularly good impression, inviting a Sparklehorse comparison with both the appropriate T-shirt and fragile fleeting songs.



In addition to the accordion, Adrian Stoyles plays guitar, keyboards and sings, and is the band's official multi-instrumentalist.



The first song was actually sung by a ringer from Sweden, Ola Karlsonn.



Cellist Brigid Lewis.



Ola hits the keys, Matt Tanner makes a brief appearance on bass.



Lots of instrument switching in this group!



Extra crooning action from MacDonald.



Here's a bit more (and more of more).



The band kept things moving despite several instrument changes, and would undoubtedly find favour with fans of earlier Wilco or Scud Mountain Boys.

• Show reminder: As mentioned yesterday, Banditas play The Aloha tonight. At Zaphod Beeblebrox, Daiquiri engages in a dance party death match vs. Books on Tape with Nick Flanagan as arbiter.