Check out that photo, somehow I failed to get a decent snap of Ian and Amy together, and anyway, I don't really like taking pics at gigs so I always limit myself to 4 or 5 shots maximum. Firstly I prefer to leave that to people who know what they are doing, and secondly I think it can distract the performers, particularly at intimate shows like this one. Take them during the first three songs and then put your camera away was the gig etiquette when I started freelancing for magazines ten years ago and I don't see any reason to change it now.
The City Church Hall above Common Grounds coffee shop on University Avenue is a pretty great venue for an all ages, early evening show. Given the shifting demographic of Fugazi fans, loads of people have brought along their kids which is cool and as its the first week of BST it's not even dark when we arrive.
For those of you who don't know, the Evens is the work of Ian Mackaye (yes, THE Ian Mackaye of Fugazi, Minor Threat, Embrace) and Amy Farina (once of the Warmers and I think Ted Leo's Pharmacists), and somehow their debut album crept out on Dischord last year without much fuss. It's worth hearing - it's a quiet record, just guitar/ drums and a different singing voice from MacKaye - with some great tunes, some of which you could even hear Fugazi having a go at.
They are a totally self-contained touring unit, complete with their own little low-watt PA and mixer, and no stage lights, preferring to use the house lights throughout. This is a bit unsettling at first, but once they get into the songs, it doesn't really matter. THey play pretty much all of the album, and encourage a lot of audience response on quite a few choruses, and some freeform whistling on set closer 'Sara Lee'. Ian is happy to chat in the intimate environment, and Amy even has to prompt to crack on with the show a couple of times!
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