Saturday Night Fever

I got to Toronto's Mod Club just before 7 p.m. on Saturday expecting to see Montreal punk band The Real Deal on stage before another Montreal group I really wanted to see: One Night Band. But a handwritten notice at the ticket desk said that One Night Band had to cancel because of illness in the band. I was disappointed since their Hit & Run album is one of my favourite of the year and I haven't seen the new record's revamped lineup. But since I was at the club already, I went in to check things out.

Toronto reggae rock band Mean Tangerine were added to the bill as the opening act as a replacement, and the young group laid down some nice grooves. It was the bassist's 22nd birthday, the singer/guitarist wore Hammer pants and I enjoyed their cover of R. Kelly's "Ignition." The biggest crowd response, however, came when Johnstones drummer/vocalist Ryan Long joined Mean Tangerine for their last song.

It was an all-ages show and the very young crowd made me feel old. One, maybe two, fathers who were there accompanying their kids were the only guys in the club who had more birthdays than me. That probably explains why it seemed that I was one of the few people enjoying The Specials songs being played over the sound system between bands.

I didn't know much about The Real Deal, except that they're signed to Stomp, and I like most of the stuff the Montreal label puts out. Bassist Franki was apparently ill and just finished vomiting before taking the stage, so I give them credit for carrying on, but their punk (with occasional reggae and ska flourishes) music didn't do a lot for me. Since The Johnstones don't either, I didn't stick around for their headlining set. I went to the Metro across the street, picked up a loaf of bread and walked back home and made dinner.

I hope One Night Band's keyboardist is back on his feet and the group can come back to Toronto soon, since I was out of town when they were here in October and I'd still really like to see them.