Chicks With Picks

The line-up for the 3rd annual Sheezer Halloween bash Friday at Lee's Palace was all women. This should motivate the young girls attending Toronto's iteration of Girls Rock Camp.

The first band of the night, Pins and Needles, was formed at this year's camp. Given a slightly shaky performance in an online video, I had set my expectations low for this troupe of 14-year-old girls. But aside from the occasional obvious cueing and sync-up, they were good: playing standard pop with a harder edge and some middle eastern influences. Their biggest asset were 3 fine vocalists, with the bassist having the most assured voice.

Next up was Planet Creature who resembled Stepford Wife robots in their costume of preppy grey skirts, blonde bob wigs, and eerie white-blue contacts. With two singers of different sensibilities, they alternated between indie pop and a faster punk-pop. I preferred the harder hitting tunes which seemed fresher and more vital.

Though they cover Weezer (Blue and Pinkerton only), the Sheezer ladies do not wear plaid for their Halloween shows. Previous years included Sailor Scouts and Spice Girls. With Magali being a new mother, they were now a 4-piece. The capacity crowd gave a loud cheer when they bounded on stage in full KISS make-up and costume. For the hour-long set and a 3-song encore, they played all the hits for the sing-a-long audience: My Name Is Jonas, Surf Wax USA, Buddy Holly, El Scorcho, and many more.

Each performer acted differently on stage. Alysa tended to be serious on her lead guitar. Robin was happy and often smiling. Laura was cheerful and a big ham: deploying her bat wings, striking rock poses, even some Gene Simmons tongue wagging. Dana was the anchor of the band. Her intense drumming kept things rocking. Appropriately enough for all the aging Weezer fans, they closed out their set with The Good Life with its plaintive, ironic chorus: "I don't wanna be an old man anymore."