No Shame's 100th @ The Horseshoe

featuring Green Go, Ruby Coast, Pick A Piper and The Skeletones Four

It was with grand enthusiasm that I was looking forward to this particular landmark on the local indie music scene. Whether she knows it or not, Lauren Schreiber has been personally responsible for a healthy percentage of my local musical knowledge, having introduced me to some excellent bands by means of her No Shame Concert Series. And this special commemorative show was destined to be pretty special with its inclusion of a couple of established greats along with a couple of new up-and-comers.

The Skeletones Four were the first band of the evening and the only one that I knew virtually nothing about. There were also the most difficult band on the roster to pigeonhole into a specific genre. Lead vocalist and apparent mastermind Andrew Collins has created a band that specializes in odd time signatures and intricately crafted instrumental breakdowns that came across to me as the oddly neglected lovechild of Rick Wakeman and Joni Mitchell. Believe it or not, I mean that as a compliment of the highest degree. There is certainly a touch of mathematical pomp in the proceedings, but Godspeed You! Black Emperor these guys are not. To create a style of music that is challenging, yet endearing is no small task but The Skeletones Four pulled it off nicely. Unlike the rest of the bands that evening, they are the type of band that requires concentration and undivided attention as opposed to being a band that you can just shake and dance too. I certainly intend on doing just that once I get around to picking up their works in some sort of physical form.

With due respect to all of the other bands on the bill, Pick a Piper did not only steal the show, they crammed it into their carry-on luggage and boarded a flight to Mexico with it. To describe their set as breathtaking would be a bit of an understatement since their tribal assault of intense percussion actually left me feeling exhausted once they were done. I had seen them before at Rancho Relaxo and was suitably impressed, but with the shoe's far superior sound system backing them up, they were able to showcase a sound that pounded right through you. What I really like about their style is the way that it creeps up on you. They like to start out pleasantly with some subtle melodies and minor hooks before bursting into a heavy drum crescendo that continued to build significantly throughout the course of their set. By the time they played their last song, a couple members had brought their percussion of choice onto the dance floor as they encouraged the crowd to break out whatever percussive toy they could find and participate in this all encompassing blast of sonic exhilaration.

Up next was Ruby Coast. I don't know why I continue to forget this, but the fact that they have some of the craziest fans around always catches me off guard. As usual, they put on a show that was lots of fun and enthusiastic, thanks to the crowds overwhelming encouragement. In reviewing and listening to their music in the past, I have always had high hopes for this band. Although they shared a certain air of familiarity with some of the basic pop stylings of many of their contemporaries, I always figured that these kids were just weird enough to stretch beyond that and create a sound that is more unique and slightly more interesting. Upon seeing them this time however, I guess I have to resign myself to the fact that I currently like them as much as I likely ever will. This isn't a bad thing, since some of their songs are amongst the catchiest tunes I know. But as far as them becoming a band that I'm likely to go out of my way to see, I don't think that's going to happen. That having been said, I don't think that anyone can deny the fact that they put on an excellent show, and as long as their fanbase continues to remain as excitable as they currently are, I'm pretty sure that the band has nothing to worry about.

Which brings us to Green Go. If your goal is to create a frenzied party-like atmosphere, then there really is no better band to end with than Guelph's Green Go. They've got all of the right ingredients for a Friday night: spazzy electro-pop beats, excitable vocals, and stellar stage presence. The fact that they look like they're having so much fun up there just adds to their charm, and the crowd was buying into it hardcore! I find it amazing (not to mention slightly educational) that a band is able to create such a great electro-friendly atmosphere while still displaying a vibe that is equally in debt to all of the great rock shows that I've attended through the years. Vocalist and synth player Ferenc Stenton even jumped onto the floor with his electric guitar and proceeded to work the crowd with all of the moves of rock star 101. The chemistry between all of the band members was equally as electric and the show was filled with such great intensity that I can't wait to see the band again. Being one of the hardest working local bands of the moment, I'm sure that they'll be plenty of opportunities.

Photos: My shots from No Shame's 100th @ The Horseshoe are on flickr
Myspace: The Skeletones Four
Myspace: Pick A Piper
Myspace: Ruby Coast
Myspace: Green Go

I'm literally running out the door right now to go to the cottage for the weekend, so have a good one and I'll post a review of last night's Joe Pernice show at The Dakota Tavern upon my return.

CONTEST: Win tix to No Shame's 100th Show and a copy of Green Go's CD "Borders"

Although there are many great music series, festivals and events in the city of Toronto, very few compare with the excellent No Shame Music Series that has been taking place for a few years now. This a music series that prides itself in not simply giving in to popular opinion, or the fickle musical tastes of the average Toronto-based indie music snob. On the contrary, this is a series that believes in taking risks, thriving on eclecticism, pushing boundaries and uniting different musical palates to converge on the same dance floor. It is a series that has successfully introduced local music fans to bands that they may have never heard otherwise a total of 99 times in a row now. And it is with great pride that No Shame presents its 100th show at The Horseshoe on Friday September 18th for only $10. As usual, the lineup is stellar!

The bands on the bill are as follows:

Green Go are a band from Guelph that specializes in hyperactive sweat fueled electro-pop that is guaranteed to make even the stuffiest slug dance his face off. [Download: Put Your Specs On Boy mp3]

Ruby Coast is a fun band with a knack for combining an addictive blend of shout-heavy power pop with some wickedly catchy new wave leanings. [Download: Ruby Coast's Brittle Bones mp3]

Pick A Piper are a percussive assault of tribal beats that is steeped in vocal precision and soaring melodies.

And The Skeletones Four are a newer band that specializes in a unique blend of soul and prog which combines to create a psych rock experience that is not easy to forget.

CONTEST: Thanks to the kind folks at The Musebox, I've got a prize pack to giveaway that includes the following:

1) two tickets to the show on September 18th
2) a copy of Green Go's CD Borders, which I reviewed over here.

To enter, just send an email to quadb2001 [at] gmail [dot] com with the words "I Wanna Be Shameless" in the subject line, and your full name in the body.

Contest is now closed. Congrats to Karen M. and thanks to all who entered.