Goodbye, Sally Lee
Jacques Dray
Hello... I went to bassist Sally Lee's last gig with Venus Cures All at the Rivoli last Friday.
By the looks of it, it was an emotional time for the founding member, who I will always remember
as the "Maraccas Lady" on that video by Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet (the same guys that did
the theme to The Kids in the Hall).
Toronto's noize rawkers, Pecola, started off the night with a random display of insane energy.
A man with the name "Locust Eater", did an acoustic set of songs that his band, Satan's Arch
Enemy, God, would normally do. Not bad. I prefer them electric, though.
Chicago band, Squirm, with Seam guitarist, Reg, did an inspired set containing songs for an
upcoming album. After seeing Reg total his Telecaster at the end, I became more compelled to buy
their stuff. (That's rawk and rawll to me!)
Venus took to the stage at 'round midnight. Although Sally admitted to me after the show that
they were a bit sloppy, the band had a lot of fun, going through their "hits" plus tossing in a
couple of songs from their previous inacrnation, Chicken Milk, then winding up with a cover of
Elvis Costello's "Radio Radio".
Venus will unveil their new bassist on New Year's Eve (or sooner - I don't know). Sally will be
off to Korea in the new year. Friday's show marked the end of an era for the band, but hell, they
rawked the night anyways. And although the new bassist will be good enough to handle Venus Cures
All's aggressive sound, Sally's presence at the bottom end will be missed.
That's all. Cheers, Sally Lee.
Jacques - They don't call them chihuahuas anymore.