La La Land

Wednesday night, I went to The Horseshoe to see some indie bands as part of an Indie88 showcase. Opener Kaleidoscope Horse played music like they were dressed: stoner, psychedelic tunes. I didn't even mind them, as young hipsters, dressed up in 60s-inspired clothes. LOLAA, a sister act backed by a frenetic drummer, brought dance-y, latin-flavoured, beats to the night. Billy Moon from Hamilton played ironic "indie cock rock". The singer even sported a fake 70s stache. They were on the right side of being a bit too obnoxious because they had some good tunes and seemed to enjoy being on stage just as much as their fans.

It was a special night for Language Arts. Their synth player was decamping to Berlin. But they were getting a new bassist, along with a new tour van. With input from the crowd, the vehicle was officially named Jean-Claude Band Van. It was a good set that got a lot of people bopping along. The Language Arts formula: Kristen Cudmore's clever lyrics and skittering chords, and Neil MacIntosh's intense and varied drumming.