While Vancouverites sometimes complain of the Media Club's small size and awkward layout, the low ceiling and pushed-togetherness are perfect for shows like those Pissed Jeans puts on, what with the energy of this sort of live show thriving in such tight confines.
While composed of a number of established Vancouver veterans, openers Womankind are a new band. They've played a couple of shows without arousing too much interest, but here, they absolutely destroyed. Their sound is somewhere between the Jesus Lizard and Shellac: loud, noisy and clearly pretty pissed off about something. The set-up of two basses, two guitars and drums made for extra-heavy riffage, and the vocals were delivered with an Albini-style scowl. The Media Club was buzzing with their name after the set, with rumours flying that they may be tapped to open for the Jesus Lizard on their Vancouver stop.
As the headliners, Allentown, PA's Pissed Jeans, took to the stage, the more closely situated audience members braced themselves, and it was a good thing, too. A shirtless Matt Korvette strutted and flailed, making a phallus out of a large amp head by holding it between his legs, trying to jam his microphone into his bellybutton, and then conjuring a dime from behind the ear of a delighted front-row concertgoer. Meanwhile, guitarist Bradley Fry climbed atop his amp stack and then jumped back onto the stage, sending the amps tumbling backward. He then hoisted a speaker cabinet onto his back and tottered worryingly around the stage, before throwing it to the ground and resuming the beating he had been administering to his instrument. The best part is that it was all done while playing songs like "I've Still Got You" (from 2007's Hope For Men), which is about eating ice cream.
The tour stop was in support of their latest Sub Pop release, King of Jeans, and they definitely made their case.
While composed of a number of established Vancouver veterans, openers Womankind are a new band. They've played a couple of shows without arousing too much interest, but here, they absolutely destroyed. Their sound is somewhere between the Jesus Lizard and Shellac: loud, noisy and clearly pretty pissed off about something. The set-up of two basses, two guitars and drums made for extra-heavy riffage, and the vocals were delivered with an Albini-style scowl. The Media Club was buzzing with their name after the set, with rumours flying that they may be tapped to open for the Jesus Lizard on their Vancouver stop.
As the headliners, Allentown, PA's Pissed Jeans, took to the stage, the more closely situated audience members braced themselves, and it was a good thing, too. A shirtless Matt Korvette strutted and flailed, making a phallus out of a large amp head by holding it between his legs, trying to jam his microphone into his bellybutton, and then conjuring a dime from behind the ear of a delighted front-row concertgoer. Meanwhile, guitarist Bradley Fry climbed atop his amp stack and then jumped back onto the stage, sending the amps tumbling backward. He then hoisted a speaker cabinet onto his back and tottered worryingly around the stage, before throwing it to the ground and resuming the beating he had been administering to his instrument. The best part is that it was all done while playing songs like "I've Still Got You" (from 2007's Hope For Men), which is about eating ice cream.
The tour stop was in support of their latest Sub Pop release, King of Jeans, and they definitely made their case.