The debut came after the self-recorded EP Young Napoleon was released online in late June.
''I was really happy with how the first show went,'' Motion says.
''It was good to know that it works live. It's turned out even better than I imagined, just loud and energetic ... I think a mosh pit might even have started.''
Motion, who also drums in noisy trio Not From Space, recorded the EP entirely in his bedroom.
Using two microphones from the popular console game Singstar, guitar tracks were layered first, followed by overdubbed drums and bass.
''It's always tricky recording drums. You're listening to it going, 'why do I keep speeding up here!'.''
The Young Napoleon EP boasts a heavy Brit-pop influence across its four tracks, Motion delivering his lines with the shy, quiet cool of singers such as Alex Turner and the lilting swagger of Pete Doherty.
There's even hints of a British accent creeping in.
''I was listening to a lot of stuff from Britain; the Wytches, the Libertines and Arctic Monkeys,'' Motion says.
''Stuff that's a bit kind of tongue-in-cheek.''
For Motion, these songs, which often seem to be written about specific Dunedin situations, the cool kids and girls with chokers, feel more personal than the material he has produced in the past in his previous songwriting outlets, Pudding (''my version of teen angst''), and Watercolour Native (''more Modest Mouse and Neutral Milk Hotel'').
''I kind of stopped trying to do the 'grand cryptic poetry' thing y'know,'' Motion says, laughing.
''That Bon Iver type thing where you're like 'what does this mean, it means so much!' Now I'm not really hiding anything, it's all very stripped back. [The songs are] still subjective so other people can relate to them. There's nothing worse than listening to a song and not knowing what they're talking about.''
The EP also features cover art by Motion, something he's done for numerous local bands, designing vivid and eye-catching record sleeves.
The solo bedroom project now having turned band, Motion hopes to follow the EP with a recording featuring his new bandmates, drummer Josh Nicholls (Space Bats, Attack!, the Violent-Ohs) and bassist Brad McDonald (Dasepo Girls).
''I might need more than a couple of Singstar mikes ...''
The EP
The Canals debut EP Young Napoleon is available now as a name-your-price download from thecanalss.bandcamp.com.
They play the Chick's Hotel Pint Night on Thursday September 4 with Astro Children.
Free entry from 9pm. PlayingSpace Bats, Attack! with Old Psychiatrists Club and Not From Space, tonight at Chick's Hotel, Port Chalmers $10 waged, $5 unwaged from 9pm.
Chick's Magic Bus leaves Countdown at 8.30pm, uni library at 8.35pm, returns to town after the show, and is free to ride with your 2014 Radio Onecard or $5 without.
•On the back of performing in Auckland last week, post-apocalyptic noise foursome Space Bats, Attack! play at Chick's Hotel tonight.
It's the band's first Dunedin show outside of art space the Attic in nearly a year, and a good opportunity to hear songs from their self-recorded album, currently being mixed and mastered by Steven Marr of Doprah fame.
Support comes from the elusive duo Old Psychiatrists Club, and jammy trio Not From Space.
•To celebrate the release of his seventh album, aptly titled 7, New Zealand bass music pioneer the Nomad, aka Damon Schwalger, is hitting the road for a national tour.
The Nomad and guests perform the following dates in the South: Vinyl Underground, Queenstown, Friday, August 22. Water Bar, Wanaka, Saturday, August 23. 10 Bar, Dunedin, Friday, August 29.
