I love this band. I feel about them the way I think people felt about Bruce Springsteen in the 70s (I don't know I wasn't there.) They just make good rock. And they fucking feel it live. D who was rolling with us for their set at The Boat totally wasn't into it. That's cool.
But then the sax kicks in, they wear face paint, they all spazz out...I don't know. They just give me the feelings, ok?
GODS @ Parts and Labour
It's too bad their set was such a gong show because what I could hear of them actually sounded good (also, all professionalism aside, I feel like the sound guy might have been a little out of his element.) They had numerous amp problems, broke the kick pedal on the bass drum (twice) and had to re-start no fewer than 3 songs. But they kept it light, and they're SUPER young and they were very friendly. And the singer dude was like "You know, Toronto, we've been through a lot together tonight, and I think at first you were all 'I don't know' but now, I think you're starting to feel it so lets all chug our beers!" (chugs beer)
Plus we ran into their drummer Adam(?) the next night at the 'Shoe for White Lung and he gave us free beer.
Nu Sensae @ Parts and Labour
How I love Nu Sensae. They make me want to be in a shittier mood, but I can't because I love them so much.
You know, one of the cooler things about how tiny the Shop at Part and Labour is is that when the singer goes "How does it sound?" and you go "MORE VOCALS" you don't actually have to yell because you're standing right next to the sound guy. One of the shittier things about that though is their wedding reception sound system prevents the more-ing of the vocals. Honestly, for how much dosh Now Magazine tells me the owners spent on this place you'd think they'd get a better system. It doesn't have to be the Grateful Dead, it just needs to be louder.
And yes, I love Nu Sensae. They are my spirit animal. Loud, fast, and just so fucking angry. Seriously. What do these guys do, just hang out all day at the Ministry of Transportation to get amped up for a set? Fuck I'm gonna try that for my next show (CHAMPION LOVER, July 11th, Handlebar in Kensington!)
Actually, the implosion of GODS' set kinda sucked the wind out of the room a little (seeing this, I joked with Nu Sensae's drummer "Good luck up there" as he was heading on stage. He laughed. Win.) Plus they had played a 2am secret show at the Garrison the night before (fuck me) and maybe were tired. That, with the no vocals sound system left the show a little flat. Not for the lack of trying though, they rocked it out, but the crowd also kinda sucked.
Odonis Odonis @ The Garrison
Caught 'em in support of Metz at Lee's a couple months back. Was really into their sound and their nice-ass projection show. Loved them again. Sort of punky/no-wave but kind of harsh and metallic sounding with drum triggers. Rad.
Although it should be noted (L7 alert) that my enjoyment of the show was diminished very slightly by the slowly encroaching moshing drunk guys who instead of moshing forward towards the stage were actually drifting backwards in their moshing (until some big dudes started really throwing down near the front, and then the drunk guys went thataways.) And the girl in front of me who wore her giant-ass backpack the whole time. SRSLY??? What is in that fucking hump that is SOOOO important that you can't take it off? And if it's that important (I don't know, gold bars?) then WHY OH WHY DID YOU FUCKING BRING IT TO A SHOW?!?
Odonis Odonis. Buy their record. See them live. Don't wear your backpack or I'll set it on fire.
Nicholas Doubleyou and The B Squad @ The Boat
Yeah I saw them twice. Fuck you. They were just as good this time, but the sound was better at the Dollar.
Saturday
White Lung @ The Legendary Horsehoe Tavern (really? Every time?)
There is simply no WAY that this show wasn't over-capacity. But then when you stick White Lung, Iceage and Fucked Up on the same night at the (trumpet fanfare) LEGENDARY HORSEHOE TAVERN thats what you get. Whatevs.
Anyway, the way I feel about White Lung is the way I feel about Nu Sensae in that they give me the feelings and make me want to break all the furniture in my house at the same time.
That being said their sound was shit.
Mish's vocals were buried in the mix (no mean feat if you're familiar with their work) and so was Kenneth's EPIC GUITAR. The two elements of this band which MUST be heard and they were virtually non-existent. I don't want to get on a rager about sound guys (some are good, some are bad, just like everything else) but it really ate shit not being able to hear the vocals and guitars. I'm actually not totally over it yet. Note to White Lung: on your next trip through Toronto please stay away from the Horseshoe. Sniff.
Dear Iceage,
Your music is so, SO rad and you're all cool and detached and shit. But you look kind of miserable up there. I don't think you actually ARE since you're totally vibing to the music and all but your facial expressions don't exactly scream "Stoked to be playing live music for a living."
Love,
Me
Fucked Up @ The Legendary Horsehoe Tavern
I did not stay to see Fucked Up. I booked it to go see Lower.
Lower @ Cherry Cola's
Dear Lower,
Your music is so, SO rad and you're all cool and hey, maybe you guys should tour with Iceage and some of your stage presence and charisma and general joyful approach might rub off on them a little. You are? Oh. Well either way, you guys were mind blowingly good. Like how I imagine Black Flag was.
Love,
Me
ps. Tell Iceage they were really great too. Especially "Morals." Maybe that will cheer them up?
pps. Please put out more music, like, now. SERIOUSLY.
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