Show #25 - February 11, 2010: Wavelength 500 - Night 2 ft. Holy Fuck @ Steam Whistle Brewery w. The Russian Futurists, Diamond Rings, FemBots

Brian Borcherdt of Holy Fuck talks about Wavelengths.

Since 1999, Wavelengths have been supporting local musicians with their "open format" concerts and zine. Thursday was the second night of 5 nights, with 25 bands to celebrate the 10th year and 500th itteration of their weekly series which over the years has seen performances from the likes of Broken Social Scene, Feist, Hidden Cameras, Owen Pallett, Junior Boys, Great Lake Swimmers, Tokyo Police Club and a myriad of others.

As we came through the entrance way at the Steam Whistle Brewery, FemBots were just finishing their set. Paul Aucoin was transfixed, zen-like, as his four mallets hammered the vibraphone, Dave MacKinnon and Brian Poirier trading pop vocals. By the time we settled in to the tight crowd, their set was done. That's the second time I've missed FemBots opening a show.

If you ever walk in to a venue, look at the stage and see a tall, skinny blond with a vaguely Hitler-youth haircut, Grace Jones makeup, acid-wash jean jacket, zebra tights, a MacBook, a Strat and dance moves honed with pursed lips in front of a bedroom mirror... you're seeing Diamond Rings (D'Uberville's John O'Regan). He was fun, people sang along, large novelty rings were held high by two die-hards at the front of the stage. Just wish he had kept the Steam Whistle hard hat going strong.

"We've been away a while and were going to do the Pearl Jam thing where we get up and play all the new stuff that you've never heard before. Which is cool, but you just wanted to hear fucking Jeremy." The Russian Futurists made me move. With a new album Weight On Wheels due this summer, this was their first live performance in a while and first with the new live lineup (now with 50% of Shout Out Out Out's drummers!). Cadence Weapon jumped on stage in a Cosby sweater and added a slow-rhyme finish to a song near the end of the set. I am impatient for the album and another show already.

Holy Fuck... 'nuff said. Easily in the top 3 shows of the Live Music Project, the night closed as a tangle of cables, synths, pedals and film reels screamed go. Before 1:30 am, I was sweating, eyes closed, moving in the undulations, flowing waveforms, snapping, clipping synth and unrelenting beats. Thursday night yields early departures of course, but the pre-encore crowd urged forward and pressed against each other. It's not just a clever name and you need to see them live.


http://myspace.com/holyfuck
http://myspace.com/therussianfuturists
http://myspace.com/diamondringsmusic
http://myspace.com/fembots

For more info on Wavelengths...

http://wavelengthtoronto.com