The odd squad

Frequent blog readers are hopefully familiar with the wonderful world of Weird Canada, the website dedicated to native sounds from off the beaten track. They've teamed up with CKCU's Debaser for a Fryquency night at Mugshots to showcase music scene oddballs, local and domestic. I toddled over to the jail bar Saturday night to catch most of the action, and can also report that Mugshots has an actual stage now, a foot-high black rectangle that can just about fit five people and most of their instruments.

Up first, The Dirty Frigs, a Toronto quartet that have a scuffed-up rock sound that made me think of The Heartless Bastards and Laura Marling. Here's the floating face of guitarist and vocalist Bri Salmena and the distorted forms of drummer Edan and bassist Cameron.



Bri sings, guitarist Duncan shakes some hair.



Extra Cameron!



More Duncan!



It's cramed on stage, but there's still room to shake about!



Closeup action!



Lightshow action!



I had to duck around the side for a decent shot of Edan.



The end!



On to Wicked Witches, who reminded me of Pleasure Forever merged with Morphine. Other than that I know nothing ...



Off-stage keyboard action!



Borrowed bass action!



Percussive action!



Wicked action!



Saxophonic action!



Look, ma, no hands!



And so on!



The witchy end!



The Yips wrapped things up; I knew things would get to rambunctious for photography in what passes for the front row, so I went off to the side again to capture some smoky action.



Yipping action!



"They should change the name to Kurt & The Jerks" - Random audience member.



The audience goes wild!



And one little view from the side.



Great sets from everyone!