Thursday, March 22, 2012
Reversing Falls – 8:00PM @ Silver Dollar (NeXT & The Untold City)
While previously playing along to a drum machine, Reversing Falls recently added a drummer, with Jamie Thompson (formerly of Unicorns/Islands) playing his first show with them on Thursday night. They launched right into the boisterous “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things,” and didn’t let up for the length of their set. With distorted guitar, hilarious lyrics, and the addition of Thompson on drums, their grungy pop-rock sound is in a category unto its own.
Engaging the ever growing crowd, frontman Tyler Crawford asked if anyone knew where Slash was staying. Besides covering Hole’s “Malibu,” their set also included the track “Is This Thing On” off their upcoming record that Crawford claimed to have penned when he was 6. Their explosive rocking ways and crazy leg kicks were ultimately too much for the mic stand as it came crashing down before their set ended in a headbanging haze of pounding drums and shaking guitars being lifted right up to the ceiling. | CD
HUDDLE – 9:00PM @ Silver Dollar (NeXT & The Untold City)
Five-piece local band HUDDLE were up next. Playing fast-paced rock and roll with a dreamy essence that is provided by Eric Shwindt on keys, their set was energetic and entertaining. They played many songs off release All These Fires, including the spacey “Sleepwalker,” folky “Sirens” and piano-heavy “Islands.” There was jovial banter between band members, and when drummer Teddy Wilson encountered cymbal issues, they thanked “the cymbal heroes” for coming to his aid. While their last song started off slow, it then burst into full-out rock to close out their set.
If you have a couple minutes, be sure to also check out the animated video made by Drue Langlois for “Islands.” | CD
Half Moon Run – 10:00PM @ El Mocambo Downstairs (La Belle Province Night)
With some time to kill, I took a last minute recommendation and headed to the El Mocambo early to catch 3-piece Montreal band Half Moon Run downstairs. Having met at Fanshawe, Half Moon Run are artistically experimental and their reverb-laden electronica songs all take on an epic quality. The staccato beat of the tom drum on the lilting “Call Me In the Afternoon” kept it light and summery whereas the swelling passion of “Full Circle” took on a grandiosity not experienced often. With the lyrics “if you breathe in, then I breathe in,” ballad “Need It” bordered on overly cheesy, however the gorgeous arrangements kept it from being pushed too far over the edge.
Their album Dark Eyes dropped this past Tuesday to a lot of buzz, and it’s one that I will be hitting “repeat” on for the next little while. | CD
Waterbodies – 10:30PM @ El Mocambo Upstairs (Galaxie Presents)
I ran upstairs to catch Waterbodies, a four-piece band out of St. Catharines. Aggressively ambient, they tore up the stage with unyielding passion. Each track is a carefully crafted masterpiece that approaches epic status. Bordering on screaming vocals all the way over to something melodically beautiful, often with the same song, the depth of talent that resides in each member allows them to really let loose on stage. Their set included material off their soon-to-be-released new album, and if the live performance is any indication, this next record has the potential to be a real game-changer within the ambient music scene. They ended with a cover of Jimmy Eat World’s “Bleed American” that had singer Mike McGean out in the center of the crowd and the upstairs floor of the El Mocambo shaking. | CD
Last Year’s Men – 11:00PM @ Silver Dollar (NeXT & The Untold City)
Hailing from Chapel Hill, NC, this 4-piece garage band was the headliner for the 3 nights at the Silver Dollar. The fellas hardly look like men, as their youth is quite obvious, but any band that references Leonard Cohen for their bandname is good in my books. Given that it was the first night of their CMW Silver Dollar takeover, it didn’t surprise me that there wasn’t much of a turnout. The buzz wasn’t quite there yet, but I hope it got better the next couple nights.
The band is comprised of Ben Carr (vocals, guitar), Geoff Schilling (guitar), Montgomery Morris (bass) and Ian Rose (drums). With youthful energy on their set, the relatively small turnout didn’t seem the phase them. If I had more time, I would’ve come back to see these garage rockers at it again, but instead I’ll settle for listening to Sunny Down Stuff, which was released on Churchkey Records in 2010. You can stream the whole album on their Bandcamp and, given the band debuted some new material at the festival, I hope to see a new recording in the near future. | CL
Wildlife – 12:00AM @ Lee’s Palace (Buzz Factor Series)
My next stop was Lee’s Palace for Wildlife, as part of the Buzz Factor Showcase. With some of the most extensive intros around, Wildlife’s set was instrumental epicness from the very first notes played. Beginning with the beat of the tom, Tim Daugulis then switched to the keys, Graham Plant picked up the mandolin and it was headfirst into the chest thumping “Stand in the Water” that had drummer Dwayne Christie on his feet and pounding away on the walls. With unrelenting energy, they play every song like it’s their last. The crowd really fed off their sweat and energy, screaming along to the riotous “When I Get Home” without even being asked to; friend Brendan McCarney also ran and joined them on stage, clapping away on the tambourine.
What I consistently find to be the most incredible aspect of this band is their ability to then seamlessly transition from the intense high-powered energy right into the soft and slow “Drunken Heart.” Their set also featured a brand new never-heard-before song that was perhaps even louder than their current record, before ending on “Killing For Fun.” With Daugulis on the xylophone, took on this beautiful epic lullaby-esque quality. There was a truly beautiful moment with just their voices “whoa-oh-ing,” before bringing back the intense heaviness, culminating in a dramatic thrashing of the drum kit.
Having typically seen Wildlife on tiny cramped stages, it was a nice change for them to be on one that could adequately hold them. They filled it and made it their own, proving that this is where they belong. They are only going to get bigger from here on out. | CD
HONHEEHONHEE – 12:00AM @ Rancho Relaxo (Two Way Monologues & Green Shades)
Is there a band that’s more fun than Honheehonhee? If there is, I haven’t found them yet. The fervent energy of Greg Halpin (vocals, guitar, keys) and Matthew Raudsepp (bass, guitar, vocals), in particular, is infectious. Combine their energy with group yelps and dance-able pop rock and their live show is undeniably fun.
Technically speaking, this set wasn’t their best. When Raudsepp broke a bass string, Charles Tilden of Parks & Rec brought the band a bass, but Stefan F.-Gow was having trouble hearing it when there was some musical chairs. Raudsepp later told me they were terribly embarrassed with all the difficulties. Despite their seemingly haphazard style, the musicians pride themselves on their abilities.
However, I’d say it’s safe to say that no one in the crowd cared. Feeding off of the band’s contagious energy, the crowd yelped along with the band for songs like “We Never Sleep” and “We Only Go” and as soon as the synths for “A. Is For Animal” were heard, there were cheers from the crowd. Check them out when you get the chance because, slowly but surely, people are discovering Honheehonhee is one of Montreal’s finest new bands. | CL
Modernboys Moderngirls – 1:00AM @ Rancho Relaxo (Two Way Monologues & Green Shades)
Most known as a power trio comprised of Akira Alemany (vocals, guitar), Juan Carlos Rivas (bass) and Brett Millius (drums, vocals), Modernboys Moderngirls is now 4-piece with the recent addition of Milan Schramek (guitar, vocals). Alemany is arguably the perfect frontman, full of an undeniable swagger. With repetitive lyrics and great energy on stage, Alemany easily had the crowd around the stage in the palm of his hand, singing along and some even dancing. It got a little rowdy up front, as these rockers are well known in the Toronto scene.
The band finished recording Let’s Do It!, which is set for release sometime this year. Do they have another insanely catchy “My Baby Says Boy, Don’t You Ever Go”? I guess we’ll all find out soon enough, but “Hot Blaze of Happiness” is certainly a contender. | CL
The Archives – 1:00AM @ Silver Dollar (NeXT & The Untold City)
After Wildlife finished up, I headed back to the Silver Dollar for Toronto band The Archives. Fronted by bassist/singer Anthony Menecola, their garage rock sound is polished yet dirty. The banger “Tiger Hugs” and single “Sheep’s Clothing” had the crowd head-banging at 1am. Having released an EP last November, we were also treated to some brand new never-been-heard-yet tracks. If these two were any indication of what’s to come, the next record is sure to be a doozy. | CD
Sandman Viper Command – 2:00AM @ Silver Dollar (NeXT & The Untold City)
Closing out my night was Sandman Viper Command. If there’s ever a band you want playing at your venue at 2am, it’s this one. With fuzzed out guitars and a 70’s style, almost loungy rock sound to them, there is a precision in each member’s level of skill that has come with the shear amount of playing they’ve done in the past couple of years. Having relocated to Toronto from Burlington, this 4-piece just gets tighter and tighter each time I see them.
Their set included tracks off both their full-length and 7” releases and the catchy “New Fast” turned the Silver Dollar into a late-night dance party. It was a great way to cap off the night. | CD
The Gay Nineties – 2:00AM @ Rancho Relaxo (Two Way Monologues & Green Shades)
I didn’t know it at the time, but when I got to the venue there was a buzz about The Gay Nineties, mainly that a member or members were affiliated with Hot Hot Heat. It turns out that frontman Parker Bossley (vocals, guitar) played bass for Hot Hot Heat at some point. However, it wasn’t long before I was completely over this news and focused on this tight-sounding psych-inspired rock band. Rounding out the Vancouver trio is Daniel Knowlton (bass, vocals) and Malcolm Holt (drums). As the set continued, I was transfixed on Holt, who was so engaging behind the kit, constantly twirling his sticks and even throwing them up in the air just to catch them on cue. The band delivered a rockin’ set with tons of energy, and at 2am, no less.
The band released an EP titled Coming Together in September 2011, which was produced, engineered and mixed by Hot Hot Heat’s Steve Bays and released on First Love Records. The EP is currently available for free download on their Bandcamp. Check out “Favourite Game,” which was a highlight of the set. | CL
Large, LIVE n’ Direct – 3:00AM @ Rancho Relaxo (Two Way Monologues & Green Shades)
Hip hop group Large, LIVE n’ Direct, accompanied by a live band, followed rockers The Gay Nineties, and I think I was just happy to be hearing good music at 3am that I hardly noticed the bump in the flow. I was immediately taken aback by the smooth vocals from Andrew Lahey, who is joined by Matt Murphy and Jamie Piercey. The set got a whole new level when the freestyle came around. As words were yelled out from the crowd, Piercey showed off his freestyle skills, which was all the more impressive at 3am. A particular highlight of the set was a D’Angelo cover of “Shit, Damn, Motherfucker”.
The guys brought along their newly released EP, Halfway There. You can stream and purchase the EP on their Bandcamp, but if you “like” their Facebook and post their music, you can download the EP for free. | CL
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