I was a bit early, so I walked to the Horseshoe, and then hung out in the coffeeshop across the street. I had never heard of the first band, the Stables, from Oshawa. They were a country-ish trio with a definite punk bent. Also, their instruments were amazing. Instead of a bass, they had a metal wash-basin, with a rope attached to a hockey stick. The bass-player (which rotated from song to song) would stand on the upturned basin, with the hockey stick between his legs, and pluck the rope, pulling on the stick to adjust the pitch. And (with a mic stuck underneath the basin) it totally worked.
The drum kit was an old suitcase for a kickdrum, a snare, two bongos, and a tambourine. The guitar and lead vocals switched from song to song, and a banjo (with a light-bulb hacked into the body) would show up now and then. Everyone had a vocal mic for harmonies and yell-along choruses.
Novelty instruments aside, these guys put on quite a show. Their country-punk energy and enjoyment was contagious... and their cover of the Dead Milkmen's Punk-Rock Girl was awesome.
The second band was Toronto's own Bruce Peninsula. They were in amazing percussive sing-along form, and were clearly enjoying themselves. This band has amazing vocalists - between the three female singers (crazy voices), second guitarist, and Neil Haverty (with his gravelly voice), not to mention the rhythm section joining in when appropriate, they are able to nail their gospel/slave-song/american music anthology sound. Coupled with their crazy percussion, this band is pretty crazy (not to mention eerily creepy). Their last song, with the guitars cutting out and Neil at his most vocally devastating, over sing-along backup vocals, was amazing.
Cuff the Duke was the main act. These guys seem to me to be the ultimate Canadian small-townish band. Understated and well-mannered, they could easily be extras in a 50s era movie (or the perfect live backing-band for label-mate Hayden). Wayne, with his Buddy Holly/Elvis Costello glasses, is the most charismatic of the lot, in his own understated way. They could almost be a boring act to watch, if it weren't for a) their songs are good b) they play well c) by the time they got going they were having SO MUCH FUN. They seemed to improve steadily throughout their set, and by the end of it they were pretty amazing. Highlights included a guest appearance by label-mate Basia Bulat and her backup vocalists (Sep12 at Nightfall, Sep13 at Eddie's Attic, for all you southerners who might read this), and an encore sing-along cover of Bob Seger's Against the Wind, with Basia and co, the Stables and Bruce Peninsula all on stage.
It was fun.
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