Everybody Wants Free

It turns out Friday was a day of getting free stuff, good and bad. Local yoga studio Octopus Garden celebrated their anniversary by hosting all free classes. So I was able to get my om on for the low price of $0. In the evening, as I was heading out to a concert, I was accosted by a middle-aged couple with a sob story about the woman going into "sugar-shock". I have seen and heard their scam before and wasn't swayed. Unfortunately further up the road, two separate couples were fleeced. One actually pulled out his wallet (so we were talking "real" money not just coins.) What some people will do for some free cash.

But on to more pleasant news. Local rock band The Balconies was hosting an invite-only party to preview their new album. I was able to score some free tickets via a promotional website. The Moniker Gallery sat just off Richmond and Queen. The acoustics weren't great, but the rented sound system was adequate. The corporate sponsors were providing free beer, though you were encouraged to tip the bartenders.

First up was Taylor Knox, an indie-pop band headed by the eponymous Knox. This trio played a bouncy groove with some gritty guitars on songs like Fire and Family Colours. With long, straggly hair and a laconic voice, the singer reminded me of Christopher Owens (Girls).

Just after 10 pm, The Balconies bounded up on stage primarily dressed in black. Over the 10 songs set, they would play high-energy and loud music with lots of hooks and catchy refrains. Jacquie was her usual crazy self: whipping her hair around, and dancing all over the stage. With a second guitarist, she was free to gesticulate and point more often. Some of their songs were a bit overlong but the partisan crowd loved both new tunes (Boys and Girls, Good and Ugly) and re-worked favourites (300 Pages, The Slo, Kill Count). As an appropriate nod to her female progenitors, the first encore song was an excellent cover of Crazy On You (Heart).