Penetrating Insights

Pius

So I made it out to a couple of shows last week -- the first was last Tuesday, the début performance of sometime No No Zero chanteuse Siân Llewelyn's new band The Sphinxs (with Chris Cheeseman, also of No No Zero, on guitar), playing at Parts & Labour in Toronto. Less straight-up soul/garage than her previous band The Bang Bangs, The Sphinxs brought a walloping energy and diversity of style to their impressive set - one I was unexpectedly hooked into playing a bit of theremin for at the last minute, I might add.

I missed The Modern Superstitions because I was outside during their set, no offense to them. Headlining the bill was Chicago's The Hollows, who really blew me away with their loud old time RnR sound and three (four?) part vocals. I thoroughly dug them, what can I say? Fun live band. I will go see them again if I get the chance.

Friday night, blog favourites Catl opened for Detroit legends The Gories at Lee's Palace and, against all odds, I made it out to that one as well and a fun night out it was too. Catl charmed another crowd in their usual forthright manner, looking slightly odd actually being on a stage for a change. I was particularly struck by new song "Hold My Body Down" and Sarah K's standout performance on same.

The Gories played a great set: relaxed and loose but with groove and energy. Danny was the band mouthpiece and seemed like he was genuinely having a fun time. It was The Gories' first-ever Toronto show and the crowd was fully into it. They played all my faves, did an encore of "Hidden Charms" and "Nitroglycerine", and I left feeling exhausted and happy.

Good photo of Sian and Chris by Ivy Lovell; good photo of Sphinxs by Christina Wozniak; crappy Catl & Gories photos by me.

Pius

If you weren't lucky enough to score a ticket to tonight's sold-out Catl / Bradley Boy New Years Eve show at The Dakota Tavern, you may want to make a note of their upcoming record release, January 15th at the Silver Dollar. The bill includes the always-awesome Anagram (who should have a new record of their own out very soon), the legendary John Borra & Sam Ferrara, and the 100% guaranteed good vibes of DJ Anousheh.

The new Catl record - their second - is entitled "With The Lord For Cowards You Will Find No Place", and it's being released in the same fashion as their first record - as a 12" vinyl LP with CD version included inside. This is Sarah K's first record with Catl, the first Catl-as-a-trio album, and comes on the heels of much playing of shows - I can't wait to check it out.

Both posters here by the fantastic Fort Polio. Live shot by Michael Helmer.

Pius

My rocking weekend continued Saturday evening as I made my way to the Trash Palace to see former Exploders bandmate 'Classy' Craig Daniels' new outfit The Bon release their début recording, a very sharp 7" (in stereophonic sound!) on Tim Hanna's Boppa Do Down Records.

The two songs featured on this slab o' wax - "Stupid Question" b/w "Ancient Times" - are garage rock pop of the highest order, and the sort of thing Craig does as well or better than anyone, as far as I'm concerned. Much respect to this rapscallion of riffs!

First up were Catl, who you will no doubt be familiar with if you follow this blog. The trio have been playing a lot lately and it showed; their set was smooth like silk and raw like bad language. Some of these new Catl tunes are pretty crazy too, so be sure and see them live to catch the extended dance breakdowns and all that.

Between sets, I explored Stacey Case's merch table and was treated to a complimentary copy of his new "Sonics Live In Toronto" boot by the man himself. Thanks, Stacey! It sounds great, by the way.

The Bon are a tight, fun band with great players, a varied set and a diverse sound. It'll be interesting to see what surprises a full-length by the band might contain -- I will say that "Penny Candy" is one of my Bon faves, and the brand-new "The Whammy" kicked all kinds of ass. Visual accompaniment by vintage Six Million Dollar Man vs. Andre the Giant in a Bigfoot costume? A perfect choice. And the ascot was in full effect...

Classy!

The Bon's next show is with none other than No No Zero, along with Filthy Rich and The Ultimatemost High, at Mitzi's Sister on October 10th.

Pius

Big ups to my brethren in Toronto blues mavericks CATL, for yesterday against all odds they won the Toronto Blues Society's Talent Search Finals, held at Nathan Philips Square.

This must have been especially nice as it followed a trip down to Detroit to do some recording (their first as a trio) for the follow-up to their debut "¿Adónde Vas? A Ningún Lado" LP. 2009 is shaping up to be the year of the CATL.

Congratulations.

Pius

Just got back from a great show at the Silver Dollar.

The Speaking Tongues, $100, and headliner Catl, marking the record release for Catl's "¿Adónde vas? A ningún lado" debut LP (with bonus CD, natch). The place was packed and hot and refreshingly wide-ranging in age; was this due to Tim Perlich's you-don't-know-what-you're-missing-stodgy-Toronto-blues-scene piece in Now?

Whatever the reason, and whatever their age, people were grooving to the juke joint groove and a wide-ranging set that really showed you what Catl are capable of. New addition to the team, Sarah K (ex Shitt Hott) provided backing vocals, organ and maracas - and I hope this is a line-up that lasts because it sure sounds fantastic to me.

As if that weren't enough, Leslie Wormworth (who sang and did handclaps on the record) joined the band at the end of the set, and Catl got the Silver Dollar floorboards bouncing up and down like kids on a bed. The fun continues tonight at Isabella's in Oshawa.

Here's some crappy pictures I took at the show.

Pius

A couple of posts back, I mentioned that Catl would be playing some release shows later in January to celebrate the release of their debut LP, "¿Adónde vas? A ningún lado" - the artwork for which was done by none other than rising comics star Jeff Lemire.

Without further ado then, here is that new Catl artwork --

Skeletacular!

Mr. Lemire, as you'll recall, also did the viciously awesome cover art for No No Zero's "Rough Stuff" record (a nice fat scan of which appears in this recent post). But what else has Jeff done?

Primarily, Lemire is known for his work in the graphic novel form, and it was his debut in this medium, 2005's Lost Dogs, which first made his name, winning him a Xeric in the process.

His follow-up was ambitious and has won him unambiguous accolades: a trilogy of graphic novels spanning nearly a century in the part of Ontario Lemire hails from, Essex County (which gives the trilogy its name).

The first two books - Tales From The Farm and Ghost Stories - were released in 2007, and the final installment The Country Nurse in 2008 - just listed as one of New York Magazine's Top Ten Graphic Novels for 2008, in fact. All three books (already nominated for a couple of Eisners) will be issued in one ginormous compilation edition later this year, with the addition of some 40 bonus pages. Wow.

So 2009 is shaping up to be the year of Lemire. Not only is a compiled Essex County Trilogy sure to have media milling to praise his skills, but he will also be releasing a new graphic novel for DC/Vertigo entitled The Nobody. There are some pages available online from this latest work in progress, and I must say it promises to be great stuff, decidedly different in tone from Essex County and more of a traditional 'superhero book' by the looks of things.

If superheroes are your bag, be sure to drop by Lemire's blog, where he regularly posts watercolour superhero pics and his own unique spin on any number of cult favourites, as well as a goodly number of his own links and suggestions to Jeff's faves.

Comic art collectors may wish to note that the Catl LP is limited to a vinyl run of only 300 copies, and those LP release shows are coming up shortly: January 23rd at the Silver Dollar in Toronto, and January 24th at Isabella's in Oshawa.

I close with some more examples of Jeff Lemire's art, which I have pilfered from his blog.

Pius

No No Zero alumni Catl release their debut juke blues boogie record "¿Adónde vas? A ningún lado" (translates as "where are you going? Nowhere") next month, and this very blog played a (very) small part in it all.

You see, the fantastic poster just above these words - designed by the reliably awesome Fort Polio, who we have featured here before - is based on a certain photograph that appeared here back in June, after I caught a Catl show at The Boat in Toronto.

Mr. Catl and Mr. Johnny LaRue will be playing three shows next month: their residency at the Dakota Tavern continues January 3rd, and then the duo play a couple of release shows, first at the Silver Dollar in Toronto (Jan. 23), and then at Isabella's in Oshawa the following night.

The new record is being issued as a limited edition vinyl LP with a CD version of the record (avec extra tracks) included. It's about half scalding originals and half toasty classics, including faves by such luminaries as Leadbelly, Memphis Minnie, Fred McDowell, and Buh-Buh-Bob Dylan. You can listen to three tracks from Catl on the band's MySpace page.

The cover art is by Jeff Lemire, who you may recall also did the cover art for No No Zero's Rough Stuff album. Keep watching this space for more on Mr. Lemire and his great Catl sleevework.