Big Black Delta

There's a lot to be said for an infectious personality; it can break down even the most stubborn people. So it goes with Jonathan Bates. Backlit by a phalanx of LED light-bars, he cut a rug across the Garrison's stage in between triggering the various elements of Big Black Delta's pounding tunes. You could throw a number of genre tags — synthpop, dance, indie rock (Bates is backed by a live drummer and bass player) — but the influence of electronic body music (think Nine Inch Nail's Pretty Hate Machine) probably plays the biggest role in forging the band's sound. Bates implored the crowd to dance at several moments. Few accepted his offer but he did succeed in getting Toronto's notorious screw-faced audience to loosen up a bit and bop their heads and shoulders to the music.