Not that that’s a dis on any of them but Vancouver’s favourite garage rock/blues influenced duo showed several local duos how it’s done.
I missed Austria but caught the end of Amelia Earhart’s loud and energetic set of bass and drums powered rock. Drummer James Stewart sang superbly while bassist Ryan Grieve played some intricate fuzzed out, ear blistering bass lines.
Smoke Stack Jacks were fun as always with deadly detuned slide guitar from Dave Bullied and thunderous drumming from Geoff McDonald got the crowd of about 100 warmed up
But the PaAck AD, on the third last date of an endless tour, took things to a whole different level.
Guitarist Becky Black bounded all over the stage, black hair flying everywhere, while singing like Janis Jopin’s ghost was possessing her soul as she played some gnarly leads and rhythms.
Drummer Maya Miller pounded the skins like her kit had done her a wrong. Together they played in perfect synch like an eight limbed blues rocking beast, sharing a single brain, kicking some ass, taking names and out for blood. The band had IT and the crowd knew it as they bounced in front of the stage and danced on tables. Maya and Becky spoke briefly to the crowd, only to speak of the tour and introduce some “brand spanking new” songs.
They were excellent.
— By Richard Amery L.A. Beat Editor