Smashing Pumpkins @ ACC – October 25, 2012

Tamaryn @ The Garrison – November 3, 2012

The Garrison was dark and mysterious when Tamaryn took the stage on Saturday night. Opting for ambient lights located at the sides of the stage, lead singer Tamaryn and three backing band members were mostly shrouded in spooky shadows and occasional blue glow during their set.

The lack of stage lighting was perfect for their shoegaze-y, dreamy sound, so the band obviously knows what works in their favour. Every song was an atmospheric soundscape – loud enough to envelope, and soothing enough to be near trance-inducing. Each band member was seemingly in his own world – eyes closed, hair occasionally covering the eyes while hunched over guitar or bass (the drummer was the only one who had short hair). Tamaryn, clad in a sheer black flowing blouse with her shock of bleached blonde hair, delivered her vocals with tender intensity, sometimes with her eyes serenely closed, or opened wide in a piercing gaze.

The band was minimal on banter, with Tamaryn only saying a quick “Thank you,” after every few songs. Much like the lack of lighting, they seemed like they preferred to keep themselves enshrouded in mystery and keep their distance. The audience, not minding at all, was nonetheless adoring with applause and loud cheers.

The only downside of Tamaryn’s set was the length. After an all-too-short set, mostly consisting of songs from their recently released album, Tender New Signs, the band returned for a mere one-song encore. They played “The Waves,” from their 2010 debut album of the same name, which drew appreciative cheers from the crowd. Then, with a quick wave and a nod of thanks from the drummer, the show was over. The band slipped behind the stage curtain and disappeared, as the venue’s sound system queued up, fittingly, a Jesus and Mary Chain song.

Those Darlins @ The Garrison – October 30, 2012

Nashville, Tennessee is one of those American cities typically known for its output of country music artists and bands. To be fair, Those Darlins’ self-titled debut album did have its country sensibilities, but these days, they lean more on the gritty punky side than full-out country twang.

The “Summer’s Dead” Tour, in support of their split 7” single of the same name with tourmates Heavy Cream (also from Nashville), landed in Toronto the night before Halloween.  The band had been forced to cancel their show in Allston, MA the night before on the account of bad weather due to Hurricane Sandy.

Opening with “Summer’s Dead,” Those Darlins wasted no time in getting the audience roused for dancing and hip shaking. Lead singer/guitarist Jessi Darlin was energetically front and centre, belting out her distinct vocals like a country-punk rock Wanda Jackson. Guitarist Nikki Darlin (yes, they take their band name as a surname, much like the Ramones) provided backup vocals and occasionally took the lead with her husky, alto vocals – most memorably with her sexy, breathy purr and wail on “Night Jogger.” Drummer Linwood also sang backup vocals and bassist Spencer rounded out the four-piece. Towards midnight, Jessi announced that Spencer’s birthday was October 31 – which was shortly followed up with a round of celebratory shots.

The set list was chock-full of high-energy songs, mostly from their second album, Screws Get Loose. While Jessi was a livewire, shaking her curly hair wildly, and widening her eyes dramatically as she moved around the stage, Nikki smoldered to Jessi’s right. She remained slightly in the shadows, occasionally moving to the edge of the stage, letting her hair cover her eyes. Both women exuded a sensual fierceness, and at times, it was like seeing two Joan Jetts rock out on stage.

Highlights of the show included “Funstix Party,” “Hives,” “Mystic Mind,” another Nikki-sung tune “Pet You and Hold You” (a Rockpile cover) and the show-closer “Be Your Bro.”

Somewhat disappointingly, the band did not come back for an encore set despite cheers from the audience. Set lists from subsequent shows (Cleveland and Chicago) have reported of covers from Fleetwood Mac and The Ramones (!!) songs during their encores. Here’s hoping for a Ramones cover the next time Those Darlins come back to Toronto…

Father John Misty & La Sera @ Lee’s Palace – October 27, 2012

On the Saturday night preceding Halloween, attendees at Lee’s Palace sold-out show seemed positively rabid for Father John Misty, a.k.a. J. Tillman (a.k.a. Josh Tillman), when the lanky former drummer of Fleet Foxes sauntered onstage. With a bottle of Jameson whiskey in hand, Tillman and his five-piece band opened their set with “Funtimes in Babylon,” which is also the opener on FJM’s debut album, Fear Fun.

With Tillman’s previous connection to bearded folk heroes Fleet Foxes and the overall folky, country-esque sound of Fear Fun, I expected this show to be… well, folky and have a laidback, chill-out vibe. I was wrong and I was pleasantly surprised. While his wholesome voice on record evokes a mental image of some sort of angelic lumberjack choirboy, Tillman is saucy, boisterous, and downright kooky on stage. Though drunkenness undoubtedly played a part, he was undeniably charismatic, charming and quite a character.

Peppering his performance with gyrating hips and pelvic thrusts, Tillman at times threw his arms up above his head with wild abandon, dancing like a drunken sorority girl at the clubs. He took frequent swigs from his whiskey bottle, alternating at times with a bottle of beer. With the juxtaposition of these un-folk-singer-like actions paired with his beautiful, emotive voice, Tillman exuded a raw magnetism that made it impossible to look away. Enamored women in the audience screamed when Tillman removed the overcoat he initially wore on stage, and again when he removed his olive green button-up shirt to reveal a ripped, threadbare t-shirt. He deadpanned with a promise to “take it all off” before the show was done to more delighted screams.

The show had its Halloween moment when Tillman professed his appreciation for Toronto and asked audience members to lend him pieces from their costumes, so that he could “dress up as a Toronto person dressed up for Halloween.” Over the next few songs, Tillman donned various costume pieces contributed by audience members: a (politically incorrect) feathered headdress, top hat and suede-looking domino mask, to which he announced he “couldn’t wait until the orgy later, a la Eyes Wide Shut” as he tied it on.

The band played through most of the songs from Fear Fun, sounding better and livelier than on record. Set highlights included “Only Son of the Ladiesman,” “Tee Pees 1-12” and “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings.”

Preceding FJM’s headlining set was LA-based La Sera, fronted by Katy Goodman from Vivian Girls. Wearing a white lace dress (the same one she wore in La Sera’s recent music video for “Break My Heart”) with her hair held in a high ponytail with a scrunchie, Goodman jokingly announced she was a “Valley girl” for Halloween.

Goodman, backed by her three-piece band energetically powered through their set with songs from both La Sera albums – “Never Come Around,” “Love That’s Gone,” “It’s Over Now” and the dark-sounding “Drive On,” which Goodman said would be appropriate as a Halloween song. The band also played a new song, which had Goodman switching to guitar-playing duties instead of her usual bass. A set highlight was a pleasantly surprising cover of Elvis Presley’s “His Latest Flame.”