Thursday, May 8, 2014
Seas – 8PM @ Adelaide Hall
We started the night off at Adelaide Hall to help celebrate the 10th anniversary of local record label Black Box Recording. Featuring many a Moneen alum, Toronto’s Seas got the night off to a low key start with their first song before really sinking into it. The band’s sublimely melodic poppy vocals and fuzzy, atmospheric yet somehow still heavy guitars dredged up memories of 90’s indie rock, such that you could almost feel time slipping backwards. In a good way. While it can be difficult to get past the visually astounding dread-locked hair flips of frontman Chris (Hippy) Hughes, once you do you realize their tunes rock out pretty hard as well.
You can check out last year’s Fade Out Into the Night over on Bandcamp. I’d recommend sending some money their way in order to own it!
The Provincial Archive – 9PM @ Adelaide Hall
Having literally been on the label for a mere 48 hours, Black Box’s newest signing The Provincial Archive was up next. Starting with “Daisy Garden,” the Edmonton four-piece introduced Toronto to songs both new and old. Frontman Craig Schram’s (vocals, guitar) nasally voice infused a full appreciated Weakerthans-vibe to their summery pop-folk essence that was lavished with whimsically orchestral instrumentals.
CMW was merely a quick pitstop for the band. Currently touring the UK, watch for their EP Hide Like a Secret, out June 10th and a full-length to follow later this summer. We surely will be keeping our ears on these guys!
catl – 11PM @ The Garrison
After a failed attempt to get into the Dakota to see Dine Alone Records’ Spencer Burton and Sleepy Sun, we decided to head across the street to the Garrison for Toronto’s catl. Comprised of Jamie Fleming (guitar, vocals) and Sarah Kirkpatrick (drums, vocals), this two-piece was fashioned from a simple drum kit set-up, with just a floor tom and snare drum. Playing stripped down blues, minimal they were NOT, but rather dizzyingly energetic, especially Kirkpatrick who pounded away on the drums with one drum stick and one maraca at times. She announced that as a “rock and roll dance band,” the crowd had better be ready to dance. Right from the get-go, opening song “Gateway Blues” emanated the dirty grit that bubbles up from the Bayou and oh, the place was soon shaking away to their new southern soul-filled record, This Shakin’ House.
Having heard rumours of what catl is capable of live, we were excited to finally see for ourselves. I can only imagine what it’s like to see them in the sweaty confines of the Horseshoe. Guess we’ll have to make it out to a future show!
The King Khan & BBQ Show – 12AM @ The Garrison
Seeing the King Khan & BBQ Show is an experience, one that you really have to see for yourself in order to believe. The two men graced the stage donning sparkly masquerade masks and immediately got down to some crazy antics involving butt waggles and duct taped instruments before playing a single note. Right from the start, the Montreal duo set the tone for the insanity that would extend throughout their set. As for the music, the chill summer vibes of 50’s garage rocking “I’ll Be Loving You” had doo-wop classic written all over it and encouraged the formation of a full-on shimmie-shimmie-shake-shake dance party on the floor. New song “Kiss My Sister’s Fist” had a bit more grit to it and their last song offered a whole lot of “fuck you’s” before their allotted time came to an end.
The two managed to have drinks purchased for them throughout their set, yet they still continued to bait the crowd with invitations to buy them more shots. While we chose not to rise to the occasion this time you never know what might happen next time around!
buying shots for bands 
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