Hollerado, Young Rival and Atom Division at Sneaky Dee's

02/06/09 7:30pm

by Steve McLean (CHARTattack)

Hollerado played their first Toronto show of their crazy month-long residency tour at Sneaky Dee's on Thursday night, but the two opening bands were nothing to sneeze at (and I've been sneezing a lot this winter) either.

Atom Division, who used to be called The Sweater Girls and are composed of my former St. Catharines Standard reporting buddy Vince Rice on drums and Toronto Star sports reporter Dave Feschuk on vocals and guitar, led off the evening. Their alternative-edged indie pop sounds like it was made by more than two guys, and they now may be challenging The Two Koreas for the title of best journalist band in Toronto.

Young Rival also underwent a name change, as they used to be called The Ride Theory, whose In This City album was one of my favourites of 2006. They look like they're wearing the same semi-stylin' shoes as they used to, but the suits have been traded in for jeans, T-shirts and lumberjack shirts. But if the look and name have changed, the music thankfully hasn't. Sixties-influenced garage rock is what they specialize in and, if they hadn't announced that the classic "Nothin'" was an Ugly Ducklings cover, most people wouldn't have known. The song fit that seamlessly in their set, and kids today just don't know who the Ugly Ducklings are.

I was warmed to hear Cramps songs being played between sets in recognition of Lux Interior's sad passing this week.

Hollerado singer/guitarist Menno Versteeg walked up as soon as he saw me and said he hadn't had a haircut since I took a pair of scissors to his locks last March at the band's CHARTattack showcase at Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern as part of Canadian Music Week.

Dave Foley's friends play no-nonsense rock 'n' roll with lots of hooks and guts, and the fun they have on stage rubbed off on the enthusiastic fans who crowded the stage. There were less than 100 people in the club on night one, but hopefully that will increase when Hollerado returns to Sneaky Dee's on Feb. 12, 19 and 26. They're not re-inventing the microwave oven, but they're very good at what they do. Check them out.

You can see photos of this show here.

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