Ms T's Cabaret is the perfect kind of venue in my opinion. It's tucked out of the way down a long dark staircase, it's funky and kitschy looking and it's got chairs. I'm too old to stand up all night. The whole experience is archaic and makes patrons feel like they’re lounging in a secret speakeasy.
My fave girl poppers Clover Honey organized the gig and set up on the stage (or stage-like area). They thrilled the audience with their simple rock/pop melodies. They do a bit of multi-instrumenting a la Sloan but I think I prefer the original lineup with Lauree on drums, Amy on guitar and Anita on bass. They manage to use chanty'nonsensical lyrics in an effective way and it is these simplest of songs were are most successful.

Since I haven't had enough of the cutest Vancouver band, Clover Honey, I showed up to see them kick-start their Canadian tour at the Railway Club a couple weeks later. It's one of my favourite venues, usually casual and relaxing. The gals looked hip and energetic and Lauree was sporting an ever-so-cute pair of Adidas. They seemed more confident than during their last set but did goof up a couple times, noting that the tunes will be perfect after they've played them every night for two weeks.


The Lollies: Bang! Bang! Bang! Lookout, Lookout, Lookout!
This is a more mature offering from London’s girl pop outfit, The Lollies. OK, maybe mature isn’t exactly what they’re going for since they’re out to remind us that girls just want to have fun. Indeed one track celebrates the phenom of the teeny pop crush. But these songs are more intricate and musically skilled than the band’s first lo-fi demo tape. Kate St Claire delivers slight and vulnerable vocals which compliment the wide-eyed yet world-weary lyrics perfectly.
The most thrilling work is I Found Myself at the Supermarket, as clever a pop song as you’re likely to find, both lyrically and musically. And I don’t mean clever in that derisive way, but rather in that ‘it couldn’t possibly be better’ way.
The gang also cover tiresome Travis’ song Why does it always rain on me under the new title Hello Dougie. This (partially successful) attempt to attract the attention of the Travis bassist sure beats the boring (did I mention boring?) original.

Kinnie Starr: Tune-up (Violet Inch)
This album represents Kinnie Starr's most concerted attempt to amalgamate hip hop beats'n'rhymes, woozy electronic tones, junglist sub-bass detonations, angular guitar skronk and hazy dub vapour trails into a coherent musical statement. The clumsy sloganeering this Vancouver-based artist often indulges in might lead one to expect Tune Up to be little more than an exercise in over-earnest lip-service paying. But, by favouring aesthetics over polemic in her lyrics and friction over accommodation in her musical mish-mashing, she's created a truly radical work of simply irresistible force.
Much of Tune Up's power stems from a pervasive atmosphere of aggressive confidence. This is doubtless an upshot of Kinnie's recent escape from the clutches of a manipulative major record label who, astonishingly, wanted to mold her into a Jennifer Lopez-style hoochie. It's also a sharp smack in the face for the bigoted Vancouver media hacks who consistently misrepresent her as a wholemeal "singer-songwriter" just because she has lots of hippie/lesbian fans. Tune Up's soundscape is the clearest expression of her personality and worldview yet. It's as brash, awkward, political, idealistic, sexy and full of life as she is.

Kinnie also debuted her Tune Up material at the Starfish Room in June. The setting seemed right but these Kinnie showcases seem to go terribly wrong. Things started out well with locals Zubotta. Then we spiraled downwards into the lack of talent which is Jeet-K Da Tripmaster. His rap was passable but the music was dreadful--typical cheesy Goa trance and the lyrics really clinched. Although his contribution sounds pretty good on cd, the 2 songs he did live with Kinnie were pretty bad. Kinnie has a sackful of talent (although sometimes not harnessed as well as it could be) and she dwarfs her hanger-on musicians who do little more than bring her down. Her own set started out really well with her spoken word/rap type stuff. It's great that she personalizes a show and does her own thing but once she started inviting people up on stage with her the show got diluted. Not nearly as strong an affair as her intense, energetic show at the Chameleon Urban Lounge.