Good show at Sneaky Dee’s last night. Between Lake Holiday, Pine Music and Code Name Laurentians we were able to offer a solid and eclectic set of music to a surprisingly good turnout (there was a lot going on in town last night for a Thursday). Pine Music were up first and played a short but very nice set of folkish rock rooted somewhere between The Band and Royal City. Bonus points for incorporating the bowed saw. We were up next and were tighter than usual, which was a nice surprise. The new stuff sounded good though we botched the cover – that’s okay, it’s someone else’s song. I’m glad we had the opportunity to work the cello back into the arrangements. Finally, Code Name Laurentians brought some natty suits and a hip sound not unlike Scott Walker fronting Franz Ferdinand. Definitely some Psychedelic Furs/Echo & The Bunnymen mojo going on. If it was a dancing-type crowd, they’d probably have been dancing.

I had been more nervous than usual going into this one not just because it was us organizing the show, but because I was having ‘technical difficulties’ with my playing – which is a euphemistic way of saying that I was playing like shit lately. More accurately, there were a couple songs in the set that I seemed unable to play consistently and when I was off, BOY was I off. I was prepared to just roll my volume off when necessary and say that my gear was cutting out. Thankfully, that wasn’t necessary as I guess I got my swing back just in time. I was just trying to stay in key but I managed to make it tuneful as well, which was gravy. I was trying to channel Son Volt’s Dave Boquist but it was commented afterwards that I may have misdialed and gotten Poison’s C.C. DeVille. Um, okay. Next time, I play less notes. And leave the spandex and wig at home. Photos here, courtesy of Garry.

Tired today. Even though I didn’t have to haul gear back to the space afterwards, I still didn’t get to bed till after 2AM. Thank God for half day Fridays.

Pitchfork continues their love affair with Toronto bands, giving Controller.Controller’s debut record a very solid 8.3 rating.

Billboard has some info on the two forthcoming Elvis Costello albums on September 21.

The new Ted Leo joint has a title of Shake The Streets and will be out October 19. He will be in town shaking Queen St from the Horseshoe on Monday the 21st.

np – Heavenly / Operation Heavenly

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