From Blown Speakers

Thursday, August 10, 2006
"we've got one more, and then it's time for some super positive laptop hiphop"

I listened to a couple of recorded Ninja High School songs awhile back and, to be 100% honest, found them to be a bit ridiculous. After seeing them tonight - where they were, at the very least, pretty enjoyable - I could see how they've built up a rep in Torontopia as being the ultimate party band. If Video In had been about two and a half times as full with everyone cramped, sweaty and jumping around, it would've been a blast. In a half empty venue, even with the enthusiasm and energy that the band exuded, they weren't all that exciting though. If you're the type of person who has zero inhibitions about getting completely lost in sound and dancing spastically, I'm sure you would've had a blast, but for me the music's got to be absolutely mindblowing or the environment just has to be right. You know those house parties you've been to where everyone is crammed into the living room dancing up a storm? Ninja High School is the perfect band to play that party.

Hot Loins played before NHS. I definitely don't dislike them, but they don't excite me all that much either. I dig noisy guitars and keys and frenetic drumming, so if they open a show I'm attending, I'm happy to watch, but I don't think I'd ever go out of my way just to see them specifically.

I would definitely go out of my way to see Blue Grey Dots again. After much raving about a handful of mp3s I finally got around to catching them live, and I'm happy to say they didn't disappoint. They're a little messier and a little noisier in the flesh, but I definitely don't have a problem with that. It's strange, because Hot Loins and BGD both have that characteristic Vancouver "sound" (blippy keyboards, dancy beats, yelling, etc), and while Hot Loins are pretty good, Blue Grey Dots have a that extra something that makes them stand out from the rest of the no-wavers in the city. Nicola from Blue Grey Dots also gave me a couple of free buttons, and really, who doesn't like free buttons? What can I say, I'm easy to buy off. Seriously though, they're great, so go and check them out.

now playing: Mirah - The Garden

posted by Quinn @ 2:32 a.m. Comments:3

3 Comments:

I can't believe Lollapalooza didn't send you a press pass. Given that lots of blogs were given passes (Chromewaves got one) and with all the gigs you go to and review it amazes me they didn't send you one.

I check a bunch of blogs regularly and this one is consistently among the best. It knows what it is and sticks to it unlike blogs like Stereogum that stray into the Paris Hilton/K Fed territory too often.

Keep it up.

By Anonymous, at 10:13 a.m.

i believe the "extra something" of the BGD is the hot lead singer, no? come on buddy, be honest

By Anonymous, at 10:43 a.m.

g: thanks for the kind words, but I think Frank (from Chromewaves) had to request his... and even if I had been able to wrangle one, I still wasn't able to get to Chicago.

josh: well, she can sing/scream... actually... charisma, i think that might have been what i was looking for. Melissa Auf Der Maur is a looker, but her music is terrible. but thank you for that.

By Quinn, at 12:05 p.m.