Shake That Booty

On Saturday, the Lower Ossington Theatre had another Music Series offering: Lioness and Bonjay. Both bands were firmly in the beat-heavy, dance genre and fronted by assertive black singers. Lioness came on stage dressed in costumes: the drummer and bassist wore skull masks, and the singer (Vanessa Fischer) wore a cowl. She eventually ditched the monk outfit to reveal a flesh-coloured leotard. With the bassist playing mostly chords, it was up to the drummer to supply the driving rhythm. The singer had a good voice, but with the added metallic effects, and minimal vocal dynamics (loud and louder), Lioness reminded me of a female version of Nine-Inch Nails. For me, their style palled quickly after a few songs.

In contrast, Bonjay's songs were enjoyable through her entire set. Originally a 2-piece band comprising of synth-man Ian Swain and singer Alanna Stuart, they have added a drummer for that extra oomph. Though based in dancehall and R&B especially the songs from their EP Broughtupsy, their music encompassed electronica, dance, and other genres. Bonjay got the crowd bumping and slithering the whole night. The new songs with the drummer were particularly energetic; at the end of the night, more than one person were disappointed that the new disc, currently being recorded in Germany, was not available yet.