The 12 Steps/Shadow of the Gods/The New Colors @ Logan's Pub [March 26th, 2011]

What can one say about Runway Studios besides they are a rising force to be reckoned with? For this Runway Showcase, we had a varied hard rock experience. There were many bodies on the floor ready to mosh, dance and dance-mosh in a combination one could only attribute to intoxication. Yes, these days, almost every up and coming band seemed to take the trip to Sidney to visit Mr. Steven Klipper. I'm beginning to sound like an infomercial, so let's see what went down, shall we?

As The 12 Steps were setting up, people kept telling me they were grunge. I would debate that. Their sound is rooted more in what was before grunge was popular. When you think grunge, you might think Alice in Chains or Soundgarden. These guys don't hold that essence of classic rock that a lot of grunge bands have. This was more Mudhoney, Frank Black & The Catholics [notice I didn't say Pixies? The songs were more post-Pixies] with flurries of Dinosaur Jr ripping solos. Yes, this was the "grunge" that was all about not really giving a fuck. It was raw. It was energetic. The crowd was eating it up. Frontman C.Roy Langford was dripping with sweat almost immediately. He definitely reminded me of Frank Black at points with his vocal delivery and power chord patterns. He'd swing his guitar around wildly. It wasn't about hitting the notes here. It was all like being blindsided by a herd of buffalo. It seemed his favourite thing to do was to go over James Sparkes, on bass, and get in his face. Sparkes didn't share the same kind of energy as Langford, but he was a good bass player. He wasn't showey. Dave Mason wailed on the drums and I admired his attack. These guys are great at what they do, but I definitely felt like I was sucked into a time machine and it was 1989 in the birth of the movement. There was one song that was not very good, which looked like Langford was making it up as he goes since it contained something about rocking out at Logan's Pub. Another song somewhat resembles Weezer could have come straight off the Blue Album if it wasn't for the shouting chorus. If they keep writing songs like Eternity [which is as catchy as 12 Steps seems to get] then I see an excellent future, but who am I kidding? The crowd were losing their shit. What they lack in melody, they make up for with power chord godliness. At the end of the set, Langford lays his guitar to his guitar amp for feedback and thanks everyone for coming.

Speaking of gods...the next band was Shadow of the Gods. It's easy to say things didn't get off to the greatest start and the crowd were confused what to think. Ian Sanderson's bass thundered to the point it could shake the room as he popped and slapped his five string. One thing to take into account is the band's equipment is huge for a bar like Logan's Pub. Did it sound good? Hell yeah, it was clear, but the band was ready to blow us out the door. The band played great as they opened up with the groove oriented number No Honour (Among Thieves). Chris Buchan is a beast on guitar. Geoff Crober made it look it easy. The only person on the floor, though, was someone straight out of a hip hop video doing break moves. It was really strange seeing someone decked out all in baby blue dance to Shadow of the Gods. When the song got heavier, he left pretty quick. The problem was you couldn't really hear Shayne Judkin's voice. I know his microphone was very high, but on the soft parts, he was eaten alive by the band's tones. Only during choruses when he'd give his all when you could hear him. The first couple songs went like this. Fortunately, the band started to get more comfortable on stage and Judkins sang with more passion. As far as vocals go, he has a lot of practice to do. Things got better when he used his on-stage voicebox that made him more audible. Though, it was a flanger, so it did come across as an odd sound. He's got a good stage presence , and you couldn't meet a nicer guy. The crowd were getting back into it. You can't fault the songwriting, which can feel like you are on a cloud in some more atmospheric moments. It seemed like the crowd was on drugs...especially an odd looking fellow with poofy long hair and a mustache that resembled a 70's magician who flailed like he was at Woodstock. Buchan ripped through some vicious solos that employed several techniques such as finger tapping. I would say if the band brought down their volume, it would give Judkins' voice a boost naturally. That's what sound guys are for, afterall. There was just so much power on stage. In time, Judkins can only get better. His voice reminds me of Danzig. There is definitely a Tool meets Dream Theatre vibe to this band. If only they did a soundcheck, but the sound guy looked strung out and said he'd just wing it as the bands went.

There were a few new differences between The New Colors I reviewed before and the band I saw on Saturday. First difference, new bass player Brett Jensen. Second difference is that they've started to litter the front of the stage with old TV sets that are all linked together to display random images on a loop that reference the band. I'll admit it was hard to decide what to look at, but it was a cool idea. Third, the band has decided to further themselves from that nasty sentence "you guys sound like Nirvana". The set was more mellow, but it definitely wasn't pop. For some odd reason, The New Colors make we want to take up surfing. Their songs can sometimes sprawl past that obvious 3:30 radio length to compensate for captivating solos by main man Scawt Polachuk. Sure, he still has the Cobain sneer sneak into his vocals, but I found the first half of the set to keep rather clean. Brett Jensen may not have the sex appeal of their prior bassist, but I learned he was the mastermind behind this TV set up. I couldn't help but imagine the drunken 70's magician twirl into the tower of small TVs, but there were no crowd antics here. There have been some gigs where it's hard for me to hear what rhythm guitarist Brandon Brown is doing, but tonight I could pick up on the little variances he does. That's also thanks to every band tonight borrowing Shadow of the God's gear. Another thing I noticed was that Brad Schaaf was hitting his drums harder, which is good. Due to his jazz training, he would often keep things soft and controlled. I felt he was more rock oriented tonight. He always has the most serious look on his face as if he was diffusing a bomb back there. I enjoyed the set and the banter was pretty funny. There was an ongoing moment started by Shayne Judkins in Shadow of the Gods where the mere mention of a song being in drop D would be met by cheers. This trend went on for one of The New Colors' drop D numbers. I love when there is a run on joke through out the night. I have to say that the new New Colors are becoming their own band. Though, new song Filthy falls into the grunge area that will excite older fans.
A real buzz killington gave the band the ten minute warning. Ouch, this was not what the band had in mind so we were given two song choices. Pretty Smile or Twenty Caps. Seemed like I was the only one to reply, and Pretty Smile it was. This amped up rocker got everyone moving, and Palochuk screamed his face off with much success. Once the song was over...there was no sight of the sound guy and the crowd erupted in a chant "Let them play!". It was deafening. So, of course they played Twenty Caps. It's a real slow burner but is still one of their best songs. Halfway through the track, the lights went on. People started to boo. The band kept at it through the extended jam out that takes place. The sound guy must have gave them a signal and The New Colors complied to finish the song without debate. It was basically over, anyway.

A show like this benefited everyone, and no one came away disappointed. I think that if Shadow of the Gods solved their sound issues and had a proper test, things would go better. They were the most complicated set up on the bill. There was a feeling that people were looking for straight up rock and roll, so the 12 Steps and The New Colors did come across better. Victoria is definitely heading in a direction of a grunge revival, like it or not. Another successful show for Runway Studios. Lepka was supposed to perform but had to pull out. Outside some people with chatting about it being a dick move to put on the lights while the band was mid-song. Ten minutes is ten minutes.