Roman Photos, Lyonnais, and Pocahaunted at The Earl, Atlanta, 20/06/10

I didn't use flash for this show either. I'd like to say it's because I wanted to see if I could still get alright shots without it, but the truth is that I didn't have any AA batteries (the ones I had seem to have died prematurely at the Useless Eaters show. Or maybe I just broke my flash.. I recall dropping it at some stage. Mystery continues). I also found fun new settings and filters that I never knew were there (no doubt as a result of never picking up the manual and pretending like I know what I'm doing) so that's why the photos are a bit all over the place. I'm not sure that I really like the super grainy thing, I should have probably just taken photos with my film camera.

ANYWAY. Roman Photos were shit and sounded like an LCD Soundsystem covers band. And looked so awfully bored and were awfully boring. Lyonnais were really really enjoyable and played kind of electronic drone/noise both with vocals and without, both of which were equally grand. Pocahaunted only played for about 30-40 minutes which felt way too short and were much more energetic and less drone-y almost than I expected, but it was wonderful (and wonderful) to finally see them (and for only $8 too!)















http://www.myspace.com/romanphotos
http://www.myspace.com/teamlyonnais
http://www.myspace.com/pocahaunted

?, Slang and World Burns to Death at the Hi Ho Lounge, New Orleans 19/06/10

I used no flash for this so these photos aren't very sharp. I know nothing about hardcore either as I don't listen to too much of it (some of this seemed a little more like metal to me, something I can't say I'm too familiar with), but I didn't really like the first or last band. Slang, who are from Japan and were in the middle were pretty cool though. Bastard Noise were supposed to be the opening slot but I either missed them or they didn't play? Either way, my searches are futile and I can't find the name of the band that did play. Shmeh!











http://www.myspace.com/slangjpn
http://www.myspace.com/worldburnstodeathofficial

Superdestroyers, Young Mammals and Useless Eaters at the Saturn Bar, New Orleans, 17/06/10

I want to say that New Orleans is really cool but that would be a lie because it's actually sweltering fuckin' hot. BUT is it a very good city. And I went to this little bar in the middle of I don't know where because I've only been here a night, and it's kitschy and dingy and there's no stage which is a bit of fun. And Superdestroyers played who are locals and had a rollicking good time but I probably had a bit less fun than them during their set because it was kind of straight-up punk with no twists. And then Young Mammals from Houston played and they were really swell, wonderful powerpop and I'm not really sure how anyone stood still at all. Useless Eaters finished and that was real fun too, and tomorrow night I'm going to a hardcore show because why not!












http://www.myspace.com/wedontneedastinkingurl (Superdestroyers)
http://www.myspace.com/youngmammals
http://www.myspace.com/uselesseatersmemphis

Obey Convention IV Day 4: Charles Blazevic, Long Long Long, Omon Ra II, and Play Guitar at the Bus Stop Theatre, 30/05/10

The very final show of what was possibly the greatest festival I've attended in a spectacularly long time - given that I didn't know who a large majority of the bands were, didn't know anybody there etc etc. What success! My highlights were Pierre Bastien, Meat Curtains, Fuck Montreal and Long Long Long who played this final show. Who cares about the other bands. Long Long Long were sweet sweet sweet. Such grand song writing! Such good hooks! So much pigeon-toe stance! I couldn't even get any real shots of them as I was right behind the drummer who had his back to me (and it was impossible to move). Anyway, enough gush. Charles Blazevic played before them with some weird looking thing that reminded me of that game minesweepers or something. It was good stuff though.
I was looking forward to seeing Omon Ra II prior to this show and was a little bit disappointed to be honest, maybe it had something to do with the Ramones cover they did which was shit (second of the festival, it just seems that nobody can cover the Ramones well). I also expected it to be more surfy and tambouriney. But it got there in the end. Play Guitar pretty much encountered every single problem that they could: leads not working, amps not working, pedals not working, strings breaking, I'll bet there was more. Lead singer looked pissed off. It wasn't great (what could be after Long Long Long), I'm a snob.. Many a merci to the festival organisers and participants. Wish I could make it back next year, but alas, continents apart and all that.










http://www.myspace.com/accentblue
http://www.myspace.com/longlonglonggg
http://www.myspace.com/theyproject
http://www.myspace.com/playguitarplayguitar

Obey Convention IV Day 4: Campaign for Infinity Showcase + Weird Canada BBQ at Lost and Found Gallery, 30/05/10

Final day of glory. Afternoon BBQ action and record spinning from that guy who runs that excellent website for Canadian happenings http://weirdcanada.com/ as well as some real live music. A feast for all senses! Playing this little event was Pierre Richardson (I think going under the name Self Surgery? Also half of Bruised Tongue Records and the one usually taking the photos) on a bunch of pedals and sampling things and making good noise, The Ether who I really really dug even though their singer broke his ankle and had to sit down (to not sit down music), and The Friendly Dimension who were also great and full of fun chit-chat ("I bought this amp with money my Dad gave me, he got really mad and is never giving me any money again"). PIG also played but I thought it was over and left without seeing them. Oops?











http://www.myspace.com/campaignforinfinity
http://www.pierrerichardson.com/
http://www.myspace.com/etherthruvishuddha
http://www.myspace.com/thefriendlydimension