From Never Plenty to Jonny Bones: last post for a bit

Photos from last night at the Rickshaw! I had just missed Maneater, coming in from Talesha's birthday. Hillsboro were doing kinda "Dinosaur Jr. meets Shoegaze" on my arrival. They are probably just starting out but are already really powerful and should keep going; they've got a good thing going. Video evidence here. 

And Never Plenty continue to impress me! They were playing without their usual drummer, who was in the audience with a bum flipper or something (= "injured hand," not a flipper on his bum). Shot video here and here; photos aren't so great though. They are pleasingly self-confident and don't really seem to have placed much stock in having gotten a Straight feature, which kind of amuses me (having done one). Was a time a young band would have been excited, but... anyhoo, I wanted to write about them and did... 

Apparently the sell for Emma Goldman is the incongruity between how they present and the fierceness of their shrieking -- take a listen before you see the photos (below). The singer sings with an intensity that reminds one of Eye in vintage Boredoms or Naked City. This is not how she appears; she's just this side of anime cosplay in her appearance. I enjoy this (and bet the Japanese would eat it up). The band will be playing at Trooperfest 2025, coming up next month. If you want to see what the young punk scene in Vancouver is like, these are the gigs to be at! 

Anyhow, I'm not so much into fierce shrieking these days, but there is definitely some cool songcraft in what Emma Goldman does and I could see them developing a loyal fanbase; they're committed and powerful and interesting. Also: not for me! But I can't listen to EVERYTHING. 

Contrary to rumour. I wonder if anyone in the band is actually named Emma?

Not only did Never Plenty not seem to really be all that impressed by having gotten in the Straight (which I'm not complaining about; like I say, I'm more amused) I'm not sure the article reached much beyond their existing fanbase, either. Last night was not, shall we say, well-attended! But it was real nice of Mo to give four young bands a chance to show their stuff en route to Sled Island 2025, and I enjoyed myself. Even danced a little (mostly to "Chatter Box," which is not a New York Dolls cover).  

There may be more writing in the upcoming week, but it likely won't be on the blog. There will be a few must-see gigs (two of them, alas, on the same night) next Friday-Saturday. The benefit for Jonny Bones now has a finalized lineup:  

Meanwhile, down the street, the Dan Scum return gig is happening at the Waldorf, the same night! Ouch! I will probably zip back and forth between shows. It's not optimal! 

Finally, there's the one year anniversary of Matterhorn Records. I get to give James his Godspeed! t-shirt! Plus I get to see Night Court again! (Johnny of Matterhorn will be at the End Times Garage Sale today, by the way, if you want to buy some records. ARGH!! will be there, too).

...but that's all I've got for you. Except: Happy Birthday, Talesha! You make me look like Ed Asner: