Zut alors! To our great surprise and dismay, Les Breastfeeders
have already whisked on and off with an early set. It’s anybody’s guess
what the early disappearance can be credited to: Toronto’s relatively
alluring charms (the band has just played cultural non-Meccas Thunder
Bay and London), or just an acute fear of the caveman-ish stoner rock
set? Either way, the Quebeckers are nowhere to be seen. But let’s face
it, it’s bit of a weird tour billing — tambourine-laden garage rock opening for dour-faced stoner veterans.
Indeed, denim-clad scruffs — the type who listen to this style of
music solely — accumulate in the audience one-by-one. Many can be
recognized from countless stoner soirees gone by (much like heavy
metal, this scene isn’t known for fits of radical evolution).
Surprisingly, though, there is a healthy smattering of females in the
crowd, dressed as if from a Frank Kozik poster. Surely they must be plants or ringers — isn’t this a testosterone-only zone?
Nebula finally take the
stage, albeit in slightly different form than previous outings.
Aficionados may note the newish presence of Brit bassist Tom Davies and
ex-Karma To Burn/Mondo Generator drummer Rob Oswald, but this band is
really all about guitarist Eddie Glass. The wiry Californian, armed
with a swanky Gibson SG, appears infinitely more confident than he did
eight years ago, when he was still just a guy who used to be in Fu Manchu.
Admittedly, there’s no denying the similarities between the two
bands (a few years back, Nebula was completely comprised of ex-Fu
members). Glass’ singing — not his strongest suit — tends to mirror the
pitch-less Nugentry of Fu frontman Scott Hill. And the plethora of
road-rock riffery — especially on cuts like “So It Goes” and “Decadent Garden” — could draw numerous comparisons.
But it’s in the guitar department that Glass’ talents come to the fore. Sure, he’s a one-trick pony with his wah-infused Tony Iommi
licks. But in terms of stage flash, he may just have his floor-gazing
former bandmates beat. Even on this sleepy Tuesday night gig, Glass
finds the energy to pull out a few signature stage moves while burning
holes in his fretboard. The band’s cover of the Stooges’ “I Need Somebody,” from Nebula’s Sub Pop debut To the Center, goes down especially well.
Nonetheless, Tuesday it is, and tour fatigue can definitely be
detected. “Can I get a whiskey on the rocks on the stage?” Davies
wearily requests. “I’ve got a ticket.” Glass is also clearly not in the
mood for acting the rock star. “What do you guys want to hear?” he
casually asks. “Thanks for coming out,” he later adds. “Because without
you we wouldn’t have any money.” Hmm, maybe Fu Manchu were onto
something with those skater gear sponsorships.
The questionable profitability of stoner rock aside, Nebula finally
finds reserves of vigor for a pummeling encore of “Shaker.” And though
the band’s dope-glorifying vibe is undeniably same-y after a time, it’s comforting to know the bong-hit crowd is still around. Now if only we could only track down Les Breastfeeders…