It’s infrequently that I go to a show where I know hardly anything about the bands who’re playing, but this weekend, for Hallowe’en, I went as someone just like that and hit up The Thermals’ show at the Horseshoe.

What I did know going in was that this was the first-ever Toronto appearance for the Portland trio and that they were still working last year’s highly-regarded The Body, The Blood, The Machine. And what I knew coming out was that they put on a pretty terrific show. A no frills show to be sure, but a loud and sweaty one that packed a lot into an hour, including reminding what a shame it is that the descriptor “pop-punk” has come to imply suburban skate punks with lip rings rather than the wordy, hook-filled, anthemic intensity that Hutch Harris and his bandmates delivered. Think John Darnielle fronting The Pharmacists. I couldn’t really make out any of the words but rest assured the next time they’re back – and judging from the enthusiasm of the audience they’ve got good cause to return – I’ll have played catch-up and will be singing along.

Support was locals Marvelous Darlings who were even more of a blank slate to me than the headliners and also impressed. They could have taught the Thermals a thing or two about set economy, packing their blend of ’50s-vintage rock’n’roll and ’70s-grade punk attitude into an impressive and ultra-compact 20 minutes. Always leave them wanting more, right? They could have played a whole half hour and I’d not have complained.

Chart talked to The Thermals about the concept behind The Body, The Blood, The Machine. Concept?

Photos: The Thermals, Marvelous Darlings @ The Horseshoe – October 27, 2007
MP3: The Thermals – “Pillar Of Salt”
MP3: The Thermals – “Here’s Your Future”
Video: The Thermals – “Pillar Of Salt” (MOV)
MySpace: The Thermals
MySpace: Marvelous Darlings

Harp delves into the secrets of Okkervil River’s Stage Names and reveals how a third of the band thought they were “awful” and “the worst thing” they ever heard but joined anyways. Which is actually consistent with me, who thought they were terrible the first time I heard them and now I love them like kittens.

The Star-Telegram asks five questions of Spoon’s Britt Daniel while NPR has both an interview and their recent show in DC available to stream.

Express meet the freewheelin’ Yo La Tengo, as does the The Grand Rapids Press.

Mark Eitzel talks to Billboard about the looser, more upbeat American Music Club that recorded The Golden Age, due out on Feburary 19 of next year.

Incendiary gets literary with Ramesh from Voxtrot.

New Zealanders Goldenhorse, whom I wrote about here and whom many of you seemed to take to as much as I did, have a new album, Reporter out today. The press release for the album features singer Kirsten Morrell talking about the record which I suspect I’m going have a devil of a time tracking down.

Sonic Boom (Bloor/Bathurst) will be hosting an in-store from The Sadies this Saturday, November 3, at 1PM 4:30PM – for those who who can’t make either their Friday night show at Lee’s Palace or their Saturday night show at the Horseshoe or who can and are making both but just need a little more Sadies in their lives.

Jonathan Bree of The Brunettes talks to Aversion.

New videos! Finally, a proper clip from St Vincent – just as strange and wonderful as you’d hope – and a new one from Great Lake Swimmers’ Ongiara.

Video: St Vincent – “Jesus Saves I Spend” (YouTube)
Video: Great Lake Swimmers – “Your Rocky Spine” (YouTube)

The Scotsman gets to know Asobi Seksu frontwoman Yuki Chikudate.

Filter has details on Dirty On Purpose’s forthcoming Like Bees EP, due out on January 15. Some of the new songs are streaming on their MySpace.