Winter Treat

Friday night, I headed to Chinatown to the Cecil Community Centre. I don't know if this building often hosts evening events but tonight Venus Fest was presenting the second album release of duo Ice Cream.

The venue is a converted church so it was a dramatic view inside the auditorium. The airy space had a large chandelier hanging from the soaring dome. The stage was the converted altar, wide and deep, with steps leading up and a staircase on the right side where the artists enter. There was a large, eclectic crowd for this show.

I arrived just as opener Slash Need was getting into their second song. As their music was thumping EDM, it was a bit muddy for the small sound system. While her band-mates twisted knobs on stage, the singer, in black and white face-paint and wearing a pleather suit, strutted among the crowd shouting (and occasionally singing) lyrics. Several dancers were arrayed at the front to help with the performance. They resembled rag dolls with their burlap bag-esque balaclava complete with painted lips and eyes around the face openings.

Ice Cream came down the stairs to dramatic synth. Amanda Crist was wearing a glittery fish-net dress over a white bodysuit while her band-mate Carlyn Bezic wore an off-the-shoulder orange number. But with their assertive stage movement and dramatic stances, it was clear the clothes were for them and not being eye-candy. The first half was a change from their previous sound. The syncopated percussive synth-pop of Banana Split, 0.22, and Peanut Butter had the feel of 80s Prince.

The band expanded for a few songs with Aerin Fogel (Queen of Swords, Venus Fest founder) adding some alto sax on Modern Life and Not Surprising. The latter half of the set got heavier, more Nine Inch Nails, as Bezic played more guitar including an extended solo. They ended the evening with the growling, industrial Bun Roo. But despite sustained cheering didn't return for an encore.