In the House

After a week's delay, I've finally made it out to the new House of Targ (a previous effort was stymied by a huge lineup). It's not, strictly speaking, the first time I've been there. Once upon a time it was the site of the New Bayou, where I caught unlikely appearances by French black metallers Peste Noir and Belgium's legendary punks The Kids (also my first White Wires show, if memory serves). Well. the New Bayou is now old news, and local recording engineer, pinball enthusiast and perogie tycoon Paul "Yogi" Granger has claimed it for his own. It's quite spacious, so the capacity crowd of around 180 can look a little thin at times, but then as now it's a nice place to catch a band. On offer for this Saturday show were Montreal's Solids, locals big Dick and Waterloo's Life in Vaccum, who have a nice, tensile post-puk sound.

And they're off! With Dylan Bravener on bass!



Ross Chornyy hits!



Sasha Chornyy sings!



Double Dragon does not stop for music!



Pedal board action!



Fisheye action!



Dylan sings!



On to Big Dick, who have made frequent appearances on the blog, so on to the photos.



Dave sings!



Johnny sings!



Extra Dave!



Solids finished the evening - I confess I was feeling pretty damn sleepy by the time midnight rolled around (my schedule is waaaay earlier now than a month ago, and soon I'll be getting up at 5:30 in the morning - yikes!), so I didn't stay for more than a few songs, but as always they put on a heavy set of that mid-80s-meets-the-90s indie rock sound. Ready, set ...



Go!



Louis sings!



Xavier sings!



Okay, time to bust out some flash.



Extra Xavier!



The end!



A fine sort-of introduction to the new House of Targ!

In the thick of things

I hit up Pressed two nights in a row early in March, first for the New Swears/Cold Warps shindig, and then for a Solids/Crusades show. Great bands all around, and good crows too.

Singalong action!



Singing drummer action with Louis!



Xavier rocks the Jazzmaster!



Solid action!



A shouty bit!



More Louis!



Their new album is imminent ... can a visit to Ottawa be far behind?!?

Oh, behave!

I was expecting much in the way of shenanigans last night at Pressed, but apparently everyone worked out their circle pit urges on Thursday - not to mention the Crusades/Solids crowd, despite a lot of familiar faces, was a little bit older. Thus, all the action was on stage, with hot sets from Solids and Crusades.

I thought Xavier and Louis were sounding particularly Husker Du-ish on this occasion.



Louis sings!



As for Crusades, I'm losing track of the number of times I've seen them (opening for Fucked Up in January was the last time, if memory serves), and that's a good thing. And now for some bendy action!



Dave sings!



Fun times all 'round, and another very full house.

So, so solid sounds

The VEO's National Gallery show wasn't the only music on offer that Thursday in July; there was also some punk to be had at Cafe DeKcuf, starting with Solids. They came back to town about a month after their corking set at Ottawa Explosion. Suffice to say they enjoyed performing in the Cafe's air-conditioned environs more than the sweltering heat outside the SAW Gallery.

Xavier rocks the Jazzmaster.



A shadowy Louis shows the Alaskan love.



Fisheye action!



More Louis.



Allright, time to bust out the flash.



Xavier sings!



The end!



And it won't be too long before they're back in town: Pressed is the venue, March 8 is the date. (Edited on Jan. 30, as I fail at reading comprehension: it's Crusades that is also on the bill, not Pregnancy Scares).

Got it together

We're almost at the end of our Ottawa Explosion run-through: Here's Montreal's solids. As you'll see they're a two-man outfit, drums and guitar. They reminded me of Dinosaur Jr. on this occasion. I saw them a bit more than a month later when they played Cafe DeKcuf with Pregnancy Scares and Milk Music.

Louis Guillemette plays the drums.



And Xavier Germain Poitras plays guitar.



Singalong action!



Extra Xavier!



The whole lot!



Louis hits!



Yet more Xavier!



The end!



They were definitely feeling the heat by set's end.They've recently graced a comp put out by the ForChristSake label.

Solids and liquids

A couple of days ago I was record-shopping at Birdman Sound (note: I can say this most days of the week) and ran into Dave Reford of Castor and The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol. He told me that the Valiha Experimental Orchestra - Castor's less-electric twin, let's say - was putting on a show at the National Gallery of Canada Thursday. They don't play often, in fact I don't think I've ever seen them live, so this was obviously a don't miss for me. Also, who could ask for a nicer day for an outdoors show?


Valiha Experimental Orchestra at the National Gallery of Canada, July 19, 2012

There were plenty of youngsters on hand to chip in on the visual side with some interactive chalk drawing. Also, a very tiny saxophone.


Valiha Experimental Orchestra at the National Gallery of Canada, July 19, 2012

I'd guess there were a good 70 or 80 people there to enjoy the mellow sounds and Malagasayfied blues tunes.


Valiha Experimental Orchestra at the National Gallery of Canada, July 19, 2012

For those into less mellow sounds, there was a show at Cafe DeKcuf, featuring sets from Solids - back in town after their fine Ottawa Explosion set last night, Pregnancy Scares (they didn't leave town, but they also played at the Explosion) and Milk Music. First up, Solids, whose rhythmic churn sounded a lot more postpunk to my ears this time around.


Solids at Cafe DeKcuf, July 19, 2012

It was a pretty powerful set.


Solids at Cafe DeKcuf, July 19, 2012 

Next up, Pregnancy Scares. This set wasn't as wild as their Explosion performance, but it was still pretty hot.


Pregnancy Scares at Cafe DeKcuf, July 19, 2012

Craig sings!


Pregnancy Scares at Cafe DeKcuf, July 19, 2012 

Milk Music wrapped things up. Their noodling lead guitars made me think of a punkier Ladyhawke., with some Mudhoney thrown in.There was also much shaking of hair.


Milk Music at Cafe DeKcuf, July 19, 2012

More guitar!


Milk Music at Cafe DeKcuf, July 19, 2012 

If they hadn't already sold out of their merch, I would have bought a record.

• Show reminder: Corey Isenor and Winchester Warm perform at Raw Sugar; Dead Weights, Benevenstanciano, Landslider, and a "Mystery Band" (or maybe that's their name?) play 558 Gladstone Ave. Cetascean, Lost Youth, Spilt Guts, Stuck In A Hole perform at Assholehaus (a.k.a. 297 Powell); Skullians, Brain Damage, Iq32, The Machetes and Murder State play Cafe Dekcuf; downstairs, Skeletonwitch, Barn Burner, Loviatar and Rainbow Pony Power destroy Mavericks; Moira Darling, The Revenge of Johnny Skyline, Thought Project, Brainhunter are at the Daily Grind on Somerset; Daylight For Deadeyes are at Zaphod's; The Sinners get sinnin' at Irene's; the Elmdale hosts hotly tipped combo The Bruitals and The Powergoats.