Big Rock Finish… reviews of independent music

So first band of the night that I saw there was The Cherry Bluestorms. Go me for being early, since I was invited by the Drop Joys to take their photo and “make them look pretty.” But that’s for another review.

I knew bands generally started late, but seeing as how this was a pretty packed set (5 or 6 bands in all) and it was organized by someone who was not any of the bands I figured best thing to do was secure a good spot up front by being early. I was able to walk in for the last half of this band.

The band is pretty fun, the songs are catchy easy to listen to and while I couldn’t really hear much of the lyrics wearing earplugs, I did enjoy much of my night. They were great to watch on stage, very interactive with each other and looked like they were having a great time. Judging by their myspace page they enjoyed it as well.

Seeing as how my camera has been acting difficult lately I wanted to run through some basics with it to make sure it would do it’s job for the band that invited me out, and snapped a bunch of shots. I learn over and over that once there is a camera in my face it’s hard to take it away. I didn’t mean to take so many photos but I’ve never heard a band complain about that. The Cherry Bluestorms are actually a very photogenic band. Interesting look, interesting outfits, and all sorts of ways to perform while still making it fun on stage.

I think my favorite was the bassist who stuck a pick to his forehead.

I did greatly enjoy a band I had no intension of seeing. Chatted with them after, they were greatly appreciative of the photos I took and we would exchange contact information. Didn’t exactly happen, seeing as how they found me on myspace before I could even think about contacting them. Pretty cool. Actually, now that I think of it, the organizer of the IPO somehow saw my pictures, then found my contact, and messaged me too.

But yes, I do wish great success upon this band all the way out from LA, for them braving the Canadian weather, and our Canadian dollar. Haha.

Oh The Kathedral. How I love you so. This particular Sunday night would be a treat because I was going to, for the first time, go out on an excursion with someone from work. Well, other than a going away dinner we had for someone who was able to leave the hell-hole I call work.

But yes, tickets were purchased during working hours, and we were all set to go. The bus station was confusing, and we were getting there much later than anticipated. No matter, Dissident Saint were the last band playing anyways to close off the night so we had time to show up.

I also invited my friend Dan along because he’s a musician and likes metal music and overall is someone who wants to hang out with lots of people so it’s nice safe place to hang out… for a recovering alcoholic who is now stuck in a bar. Heh.

Anyways, the show was pretty awesome. I promised Ilya (my co-worker, and one of the guitar players) that I would bring my camera to make him look like a rock star. He believed me, and loved the pictures. Actually everyone loved the pictures.

The music live reminded me very much of the music on their CD. Proof of one thing, they are the real deal. I’ve had bands send me CD’s before and then invite me to their show and they sound nothing alike. And Dissident Saint sounds as good on stage as they do in the studio. It was pretty awesome.

The crowd was amusing and hilarious and surprising for me. I’ve not really gone to a whole lot of metal shows or progressive rock shows. I’m much more into the punk rock and the punk pop and the pop rock… that’s about all the combinations that come out of that. I’m into that more and there’s a whole lot of girls screaming and jumping up and down. This show kept opening up mosh pits and people running in circles and into each other.

I feared for the safety of my camera.

Although these mosh-pitters were kind enough to try and keep it to themselves and not involve the non-interested as much as possible. There was also some stage-diving, which wasn’t completely encouraged, but not discouraged either. A week before I had been at the same venue for the Matadors show and security interrupted the set to announce stage-diving was not allowed. So I must admit I was surprised.

Other than good music and energetic crowds, I think the only thing I can really say is there was a LOT of hair on stage. And I haven’t really been able to think about Ilya, my co-worker, quite the same since then.

One awesome thing that came out of it is my friend Dan is a pretty big fan of Dissident Saint now. He’s gone to other shows they’ve had in Toronto and continues to go, and for one musician to be impressed by another musical group… it’s unheard of in my world.

Name: Top Crime
Album: Monster Love
Released: 2006
Members: ??? It’s not on their myspace and I can’t remember if I had a physical copy of their CD!

Website: http://www.myspace.com/toppcrime
Favourite Song: Fallen for Before (Track 5)

Topp Crime is from Milton Ontario! Old Milton apparently. I don’t care. I love Milton. It’s such a cute little city. I frequently unicycle in their Christmas parade. Hey Topp Crime! If you see a handful of unicycles riding through, wave! Because I will probably be in the pack!

Myspace: Rock, Acoustic, Alternative. iTunes: Other. I should start making a category for “Other” just because of this. I would find that hilarious. There’s always a rock sound to almost everything I listen to so I don’t even think that should be a category anymore. But they’ve got a nice sound, I definitely like listening to their tracks. Even their myspace tracks, and I hate listening to things on myspace.

I love the mix of the electric rock sounds that is common throughout much of the music industry, and the acoustic instruments that is also common throughout the music industry, but rarely do the two meet. I found the songs on Monster Love to be a bunch of fun-loving songs. Nothing too serious and just a good time with a bunch of guys writing some songs. Hopefully that’s how it all happened.

Just stick it on random. Random it at a party with drinking. With a title like Monster love, maybe a Halloween party is in order. Why not. Anything goes!

Name: Wensday Album: Torch Rock Released: 2006 Members: Wensday, Dick Wagner, Bobby Flores, Randy Reinhard, Fred Mandel, Jim Kalson, Alex Cyrell, Raul Yanez, Dan Tomlinson, Susan Michelson, Diana Lee, Jessica Cyrell… and others. (Sorry to everyone whom I’ve missed!) Website: www.wensdaymusic.com Record Label: Desert Dreams Records Favourite Song: Bulldog Blues (track

When I opened my package in the mail from Wensday… or her publicist (to be honest I can’t remember by now) the first thing I noticed was the art work. I’m pretty “into” the tattooing scene & piercing scene, and it struck me as being pretty obvious the logo for Wensday on the main cover was a tattooist’s drawing. There’s just a style there. It therefore no longer surprised me as much, that Wensday has also worked as a professional body piercer in big cities in the States.

iTunes listed Wensday as Blues, while Myspace listed Wensday as Indie, Alternative & Rock. I wouldn’t know what to classify Wensday’s music either to be honest. It’s kind of bluesy, kind of jazzy, depends on the song to be honest. Showing great range and dynamics is rare, considering how many radio pop hits are all cookie cutter songs with a simple change in lyrics. Ed the Sock (Canadian celebrity of sorts) said it best once when he claimed a band just bought a thesaurus to write their latest hit.

Songs on Torch Rock are diverse as the jobs Wensday has carried in the past. Every song kind of sucks you into the story the lyrics unfold, and I love story-telling songs. The more slow ballad songs sit and make you think. The up-tempo songs are all uplifting and make you happy. The inspirational songs tell stories about overcoming all sorts of things.

I don’t know where I could listen to Torch Rock in full, other than on the computer or in the car. Select songs I would play during parties of a drinking & dancing & having a good time theme, and other songs I would play during parties of a sit-down dinner and conversation setting. It’s very debatable about a full album experience.

P.S. to all the North Americans, turn your clock back one hour Saturday Night! Whoo! Go-go sleeping in!