| sHow REviEwSmohosmercedes |
| ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: |
| Little Mouth (Ryan Masters) |
| jan.24.03 |
 |
| "Yeah Baby! Rock and Roll!" Now, I've seen Ryan Masters several times with Martini and more recently The Patterns, and even solo (Mayfield's "Battle of the Bands") but I have never seen him accompanied by several hairy drunken Portuguese men singing back-up. At times I swear they sang (yelled) louder than Ryan himself, almost like it was their show. For fucks sake, "Let's rock and roll the place upside down!" The show started around 9:30pm at the "legendary" Internation Sports Bar in Brampton, which was one of my favorite places to see a show, and still is, if Porcheco and his buddies would just quite down. Little Mouth started his set with some experimental music that really reminded me of a few tracks on Joan of Arc's, How Can...? EP. The rest of the show was done acoustically, and this gave us a chance to really hear (extract Potuguese fucks) the full potential of his voice, with was amazing to say the least. "I got an erection sooo bad..." and other great lyrics made his set that much more enjoyable, as he prooved himeself as a excellent improvised songwritter. If you were not at the show you missed out, and if you were there, congrats, you have now seen some local talent. I mean a free show, with free merch (little mouth/patterns stickers) this show was worth the numerous "Yea baby" and "play the Hard Rock" comments. I look forward to hearing the little mouth release due out soon under Black Dance Music Co., and if you want to hear what little mouth sounds like, go to Mp3.com and search away. |
| ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: |
| photo and review by Simon Mohos |
| SPARTA |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Ex-at the drive-in band, Saprta head line the SnoCore tour. Jim (above & left) sporting Texas tattoos and and some respectable pit stains while playing the sparta set at the Kool Haus in Toronto. .All photos by Simon Mohos. |
| "Were not political band..." says sparta singer Jim, but com- ments on how he thinks Bush is wrongdoing. |
| ::::::: ::::::: ::::::: ::::::: ::::::: ::::::: ::::::: ::::::: ::::::: |
 |
| What a night to have a show. The night before Bush's deadline, St. Patty's Day and to top it all off, it's Jim's (lead vocals for Sparta) one year wedding anniversay. SnoCore '03 feature Sparta, Hot Water Music, Dredge and Glassjaw an this tour hit up Toronto inside the Kool Haus. First of all, I like the Kool Haus. It's a big venue, however when you're in the pit or wherever it doesn't feel like one and the stage is elevated at just the right height. The sound is awesome, and I always know that I'm in for a hell of a show if it's going down at the Haus. Dredge opened up the show, and really, if you've heard some of this bands music, and liked it, you have to see them live. They are fresh, innovative, and a talent band to say the least. Thel ead vocalist (name?) even dips into hardcore influences, and really sings well all around. At the end of thier set, the lights came up, the roadies came on, moved shit off the stage, and the guitarists, bass player and drummer kept jamming. Then one by one thier amps would get unplugged and they would drop out. By the end the stage was empty and the drummer kept pounding away on the only drum that was left in front of him and then one that he kicked over with his feet, until a roadie snatched the last piece away. This mixed with the fucking crazy shit they did with different instruments made for a damn good set. Sparta just sounds really good live. Those screms we heard in at the drive-in songs sound sound even better live and Jim gives it all in every song. With some awesome instrumental song transitions, sparta played almost their entire full length album (Wire Tap Scars) The band didn't rock as hard as I thought they would, the energy was there but the movement was minimal. (not like a moneen show) Without question Sparta made up for the time we had to watch glassjaw and their camo hats fuck around. The crwod was really into the show wich always makes for a better time all around. I'm Glad I came out for this one, and I bet that their live show will get only beter.... |
| Sparta will tour with Bag Religion, no dates as of yet, or even if Canada will see them. But I think Sparta likes playing Toronto, and we like seeing them, so..... They are returning back home to record a new album, so I'll keep you posted if I hear anything on that.. |
| Mar.17.03 @ The Kool Haus |
| .Photos and review by Simon Mohos. |
 |
| .MONEEN. |
 |
 |
 |
| Kenny steps into the crowd... security thinks he's going to injure himself... when is kenny ever careful? |
| He invented running with scissors. |
| After talking to some strange little security guard outside of the kool haus, I walked to the front entrence, this was the moment of truth. Was there going to be a Photo Pass waiting there for me? Well thanks to Jason at smallman records I did aquire a photo pass, and was able to document the best show I've been to this year, and, well, ya for a long time. If you have ever seen moneen live before, multiply their intensity by 10 and that awesome dynamism that overwhelms you by 100, and you've got this exceptional set.(which was way too short<my only complaint>). I think Kenny was stuck in a trance where he was convinced he could fly like fucking Superman and insisted on leaping off anything that was high and dagerous, including the stage. We were given 5 songs new and old, and there was a goog hand full of moneen fans there, however I |
 |
 |
 |
| could tell there were many virgins of the moneen live show. But by the end, the whole place was filled with energy, and it was just great. Moneen gracioulsly thanks everyone who |
| ever came out to the countless shows at the Church in Brampton, because playing at the kool haus with the get up kids was a milestone in this bands well deserved success. At times I wish I could have just hucked my camera away and rocked out, but I'm glad I was able to capture some decent exposures, (all though i don't need photographs to help me remeber this show.) The entire moneen crew were very greatful for all that came out to the show, but damn, I thank them for a good night of music. "Simon, you know the get up kids played that night too, how come you haven't talked about them?" Simple, I wasn't impressed. Yes they sounded good, and they played a long, long set, but personally I was not entertained. And as for Hot Rod Circuit, I say get rid of that fuckin weird guitarist in the orange jump suit, and learn how to make good music. (sorry if I offended anyone, but hey, c'mon, a jump suit?) The new Moneen record comes out JUNE 6, 2003 on Vagrant records, and Smallman is distributing it in Canada. buy it. |
| Mar.28.03 @ The Kool Haus |