Split Milk Society, Amy Louise Ellis - Sunflower Lounge Jan 17 '20

Spilt Milk Society
Having seen these guys nearly a year earlier to the day in the same spot I was looking forward to the set. It was really odd though have them come out of the gate with a very different sound to what I was expecting. I had a difficult time getting into it and they carried on like this, presumably it's a new direction, for the majority of the show. Only with the final couple of songs did it start to sound like something that I could get into. Interesting changes, I suppose.

Odd Soul

This really was an ecelectic bill as Odd Soul played a jazzy brand of soul. As they admitted, it was a lot of their old standards that made the setlist and even resting on their laurels, with a few hardcore fans scattered amongst the crowd, it was just alright. I was hoping to get grabbed and carried away and when I still ended up stood in the basement of the Sunflower I was a little disappointed.

Cherry Cherry
A five piece playing some "modern indie rock" I believe I stayed for the whole set, but writing this less than a month later I can't recall anything standout.

Amy Louise Ellis

This young chanteuse sure has the pipes. Though the first couple of songs, set over her friend's electric guitar, didn't blow me away there were a couple near the end the really showed her voice off. The Lauren Hill (or was it The Fugees?) cover was also excellent. Raw, local talent that just needs to find her place.

Pkew Pkew Pkew, No Bro, Eamon McGrath - Horseshoe Tavern Jan.10 '20

Pkew Pkew Pkew

The reason for the night came onto the stage like a hometown crowd should - to cries of joy. It wasn't some intense, outpouring or anything - they did play this exact venue less than a year ago - but the ovation from the full, but not sold out house was strong. Similarly, the set was very enjoyable and appreciated but they are not setting new highs with their small-town Ontario tales of drinking, skating, and hanging out. The crowd did get into it and by third song, I Wanna See a Wolf, I was compelled to join the fray. To our credit we moshed the entire way through, enjoying strong tracks like Asshole Pandemic and 65 Nickels, with an incredible amount of body surfing too. There were 3 or 4 people going up at a go, one of whom decided to test the strength of the plumbing pipe that runs across the ceiling; fortunately for us all it held. Near the end there was a song or two not from either of their album releases which didn't quite get as much love as the well known tunes. After 45 minutes of short, ripping songs they waved goodbye, with their perpetually grinning bassist departing last. But in the preorchestrated world of concerts, even without much of a roar (more of an expectant pause), they returned to the stage gushing their thanks to us. They did a couple, finishing with Glory Days, which was the correct call if you ask me, and sent us out into the early morning hours sweaty and happy.

NOBRO

Man, or should I saw "Woman!" - what a treat this was. This four-piece, using secondary percussion including bongos and electronic drums were stellar. They also had a great guitarist though the singer was stronger with vocals, naturally, they all did some instrument swapping along the way. Even as the second band on the bill, after a snoozy (good snoozy) opening from Eamon these gals got the pit moving so kudos to that. For the finale they really decided to kick out the jams. One to watch, I'm glad I got to catch them on their way up.

Eamon McGrath
Accompanied by another fellow, also playing acoustic guitar they went through a solid folk set that even had the filling-in crowd respectfully quiet. A standout display of songsmanship was seen on especially on Guts.

Barasso 

Warming the way jsut before PPP! this four-piece, all-male francophone band played some bludgeoning punk rock. It wasn't bad but was all a little samey (I hit the john). At one point they bantered, in English, "we're singing in French but you don't care do you? It doesn't matter."