2004-10-29, Schwaben Club - Kitchener, ON

Finally, a ska show in Waterloo. This is my 4th year attending the University of Waterloo (but am in 3rd year due to co-op work terms), and I have been to only 3 other ska shows since I started. This show was put on by ARC Cloathing Co. They are a clothing company that makes quality goods at a fair price. Help support them by buying a shirt if you go to one of their shows. When it is a great show for a good cause, you can't go wrong.

First up was Shoelace Paparazzi. I got to the show when these guys had about 4 songs left. I just couldn't stand the lead singer's voice, and it really turned me off for the band. It is unfortunate, as he had more energy than I have seen anyone else perform. I feel if more bands had the energy he does, it would make them a much better band.

Pink Belly then went on. I saw about 2 songs at the show in Guelph on the 15th. I must say I really enjoyed their set. Everyone in the band was there to play their heart out. The bass player reminded me of the bass player from Big Sugar with the way he was moving his body. Big Sugar's bass player would bop his head while performing, while Pink Belly's bass player moved his entire body to the beat of the song. It something that could really only be seen to appreciate. They played a really tight set, and I enjoyed the use of a harmonica on one of their songs. These guys usually play the 519 area code, but when they do return to Toronto, I recommend that you check them out. I know I'll definitely go see them again (hopefully on December 2).

Youthinasia went on third. Although they weren't entirely up to my tastes, I did enjoy their set. The crowd seemed to like them too, as they moved the most for them...if I remember correctly. I've heard a lot about this guys, and they seem to have a lot going for them nowadays. I wish them luck and hope it all turns out well.

Flashlight Brown finished off the night, and it made the show definitely worthwhile for attending. They played a great set, one of the best I have seen (of the 3 times I have seen them). They pulled out some of their older material, which has more ska elements to it than their punk sounding CD. I was disappointed with the lack of skanking going on for these guys. Maybe people in the 519 don't skank as much as the people from the 416. It was such a treat to see these guys again, and I can't wait to see them again.

Shoelace Paparazzi   Pink Belly   Youthinasia   Flashlight Brown  


Comments (7)

(Posted 2004-11-05)

2004-10-16, The 360 - Toronto, ON

This show review is long overdue, but hopefully it doesn't disappoint about the quality of the night I had.

I came in while the first band was just wrapping up. Ceremonial Snips played second. Probably one of the only good things to come out of Welland (well at least to my knowledge). I remember playing a baseball tournament there back in the day. Anyways, these guys were full of energy, which really got the crowd going for the rest of the night. A punk band with a strong brass section, where everyone is playing like it is crowd of 5000, instead of 500, you just can't go wrong. I talked with a few of the members after the show and they were extremely nice.

Up next was Toronto's own Cheap Suits. Probably one of the best sets I've heard them play. I know Chris was really into the set and enjoyed singing with a few members of the crowd. They even tempted the crowd of what they have in the works with a new song. Rumour has it, there is plenty of more where that came from, and we'll just have to wait to hear it. I just can't wait for this new EP, and will be the first one to buy it. The Cheap Suits finished right where Ceremonial Snips left off and took it a notch higher.

Next up was another Toronto band, the Heatskores. Although I'm not entirely a huge fan of these guys (even though they are packed with talented musicians), I was really digging them tonight. Maybe it was the energy in the room, or the crowd being into them, and skanking for every song; whatever it was, it made for an enjoyable set. Some guy threw a beer bottle at stage, and although Ed made a joke about his having sex with his mom, those momma jokes are so elementary school, that it was a surprise it entertained such a reaction. You can tell that these guys have fun while they play, and are in to each set they perform. Keep up the good work guys, and I hope I enjoy your future sets as much as I enjoyed this one.

Last up was the Flatliners, the reason why this show was put on. It was their CD release party, and I can tell you that the crowd and all the bands were definitely partying and having a good time. The Flatliners are also another band that packs in energy with each performance (I feel like a broken record here). I had a chance to skank for a bit of their set. I was surprised at the amount of people that just stood at the front and watched, versus them joining the rest of the crowd in the circle pit. Although there wasn't as many people skanking, it seemed like everyone was into the music that was being put on. A talented band with a tight sound, it is no wonder why so many people like them. After repeatedly listening to the CD over the past 2 weeks since attending the show, I highly recommend the CD if you don't have it. If you weren't at the show, BUY IT the next chance you get to see them.

On a personal note, I had the BEST TTC bus driver EVER on the way home. I live at the southeast corner of the TTC map, and when you have as good of a bus driver as I had, it is just icing on the cake for the type of night I had. I really should write the management of the TTC, as people like this man deserve a huge pay increase over the normal bus drivers I typically get.

Ceremonial Snips   Cheap Suits   The Heatskores   The Flatliners  


Comments (5)

(Posted 2004-10-20)

2004-10-15, Shadow - Guelph, ON

This was my first time going to a show in Guelph, but thanks to good timing I was able to attend this show.

Although there was 5 bands on the bill, I was here for only 2 bands, Ill Scarlett and The Next Big Thing. I had yet to see Ill Scarlett live, and couldn't wait any longer to see them. I had downloaded some MP3's off of their site, and really enjoyed the music. The lyrics to Ain't Suppose to Be, and NTF made me want to hear more. This Mississauga band sounds A LOT like Sublime. They are all very talented in their respective instruments, but I just found many times during the night wondering if I was listening to Sublime or to Ill Scarlett. Don't get me wrong, I REALLY enjoyed their set and would recommend seeing this band to anyone. One thing I enjoyed a lot was being able to clearly hear the lyrics of the song. The lead singer has a great voice, and being able to hear what he is singing is a huge advantage of any live performance.

The Inner City Surfers from Toronto played second and were decent. I had seen them once before, and sounded the exact same at that show as well. These guys have the best band van ever, it is a mini-school bus with their band name on the side.

The Next Big Thing was up third. I enjoyed their set as well. They pull from various different genres which makes for diverse sounding songs, and unique sounding ones when combining the different sounds. I saw this guys once before when they played with the Afterbeat. I liked them then and I think I like them even more now after seeing them a second time. I have yet to pick up their CD but aim planning to do so the next time I see them perform. I want to apologize for the lack of pictures but I was an idiot and forgot to charge my camera battery; leaving it dead 3 songs into the set. I'll be sure to get more pictures of them the next time I see them.

The only thing I can say I was disappointed with my first Guelph show is the lack of people skanking. I was hoping to see more people dancing, but at least the crowd was grooving to the music.

Ill Scarlett   The Next Best Thing  


Comments (2)

(Posted 2004-10-16)