Jon McKiel

The Company House, Halifax NS, October 24

Photo: Vish Khanna

BY Vish KhannaPublished Oct 25, 2014

9
Local hero Jon McKiel had people headbanging in their seats with a powerful blast of punk-infused indie-rock. There's so much spirit in his work, it almost overshadows how smart and intricate his songs are. He's an unassuming guy, too, which makes the brilliance of what he does seem like a series of offhand gestures.

Cousins guitarist/vocalist Aaron Mangle played drums just after his own band finished a set nearby and he demonstrated his skills as a multi-talented threat. As for the actual guitar interplay, it was stunning, recalling Television or Pavement with the darker hues of Sonic Youth and Chad VanGaalen. It was a treat to see and hear someone as genius as Jon McKiel do something so inspiring.

Latest Coverage