National Capital Rock

Let's knife

2012-05-27T02:07:00.000-04:00

Just a couple of days ago I mentioned how The Soupcans would be great on a bill with Ottawa's own Party Knives. And now here we are with a recap of that very same cutlery-loving combo, featuring members of such swell outfits as The Million Dollar Marxists, Grizzlar, Big Dick, Token, Uranium Comeback, and so on!

Owen and Lee!

A couple of Big Dicks ... actually, all of Big Dick, Johnny O and Dave Secretary.

More Owen!

More Johnny!

Pat Johnson fills the second drum stool.

Keyboard action!

Microphone swinging action!

Gripping action!

Singalong action!

Pat is an island of normalcy.

The whole fisheyed lot!

Bendy action!

Owen's not-last stand!

And so on!

Dave is a man of great aplomb.

Mighty swell! They'll be killing off whoever survives Ottawa Explosion this year at the Sunday, June 17, show at Mugshots.

Show reminder: Joe Pug, David Wax Museum and Black Dogs perform at Mavericks; upstairs at Cafe DeKcuf you'll find Useless ID, Fortune Cookie Club and Rydell. Danny Laj & The Looks perform at the Elmdale (at the 3 p.m. show you can check out Jonesy and their new CD).

Short and to the point

2012-05-26T00:31:00.000-04:00

Back to the House of Targ, and another helping of Dagger Eyes!

Ilona rocks the Gibson SG.

Dave hits!

More Ilona and Ian!

The whole lot!

The shouty bit!

Ilona and the House of Targ's stage lighting.

Extra Dave!

Staring action!

Big finish!

As for what's coming up, what I said the last time still goes.

Show reminder: Old Time Machine, Old Cabin and Pistol George Warren perform at Raw Sugar Cafe; New Swears, Mother's Children, Ketamines and Shit Happening rock Fun Boy Club House (a.k.a. 96 Plymouth St.); Thread, Everything Is Now and Swashbuckler swing into Zaphod's; The Hammerheads funk up the rainbow; Robots! Everywhere!, Shot Nerves, Police Funeral, les Sequences and Moon Destroyer get kicked out of 439 McLeod; The Bidini Band is at The Elmdale; Lynne Hanson, Amanda Bon, Andrea Simms-Karp, Jill Zmud and Kristine St-Pierre perform as part of a benefit for War Child.

Soup and sandwich

2012-05-26T00:01:00.001-04:00

Pressed is a new eatery up on Gladstone, sort of the sandwich version of Raw Sugar, if you will, and like that Somerset cafe, it also has music on occasion. It recently ran a series of experimental music Wednesdays, and last night it welcomed a show from local garage rock duo Swollen Eyes and Toronto frenzy punkers The Soupcans, put on by the Bruised Tongue folks.

First up, Swollen Eyes. Naturally they make me think a bit of Shanker & Romps, though musically they're sliding a lot closer to Deja Voodoo.

Swollen Eyes at Pressed, May 24, 2012

Drumming action! There was no sitting down for any drummers this night.

Swollen Eyes at Pressed, May 24, 2012

On to the hectic, some might say shouty sounds of The Soupcans who put on a dynamite set. They should play with someone like Party Knives next time they're in town - they have a similar bug-eyed vibe.

The Soupcans at Pressed, May 24, 2012

Once more, no sitting down! Or cymbals!

The Soupcans at Pressed, May 24, 2012

I was going to say what they were up to "tonight" (show in Montreal, etc.), but work delayed this post 24 hours, so, oops!

Bad, bad brain

2012-05-24T01:52:00.003-04:00

It's the last Friday of the month ... a day much like tomorrow, some might say! - and that means rocking at the House of Targ (a.k.a. Yogi's Meatlocker). First up, Montreal punk rockers Brain Size 61, who played a fine set of straight-ahead punk rock.

Craig Hutchins gets a grip, Mike Hutchins plays the custom V, and a largely obscured rhythm section of drummer Stuart Asprey and bassist J.M. Reid are at back.

Mike's guitar eschews such things as tone and volume controls.

Gripping action!

Guitar action!

The shouty bit!

The whole lot!

Targ!

Fogbottom and Critical Convictions will be rocking the House of Targ tomorrow.

Show reminder: The Soupcans and Swollen Eyes rock Pressed; Joe McMahon, Mikey Erg, Billy The Kid, Jeff Rowe and Woolfolk perform at 439 Mcleod; Windup Radio Sessions, Her Harbour and Jordin Kellar are at Raw Sugar; Christ vs. Krishna play Zaphod's; the Elmdale hosts Leeroy Stagger & The Wildflowers and Dennis Ellsworth.

To keep the story short

2012-05-23T13:31:00.000-04:00

It doesn't take a lot of people to fill up Raw Sugar, but I think it was even fuller than usual for the February 19 show headlined by Nat Baldwin. To get these shots of opener Landon A.R. Coleman, I walked around behind the counter.

Landon sings, Tobias handles the low end.

Here's Nat, who plays in Dirty Projectors.

And, er, that's it!

Show reminder: Purity Ring and AGOR perform at Cafe DeKcuf; Maladroit, Brixton Robbers, Robots! Everywhere!! and The Valveenus rock Mavericks; The Sean Duhaime Trio play the Rainbow; The Bruised Egos hurt their feelings at the Elmdale.

They are the champions

2012-05-22T00:57:00.000-04:00

Lots of folk in town love JEFF The Brotherhood ... they've been here twice (that I know of) but I missed them both times. My timing was better this year, so here we go!

They like their smoke, those brothers Orrall!

I knew they were in there somewhere! Jaymin plays the drums, Jake handles three-string perspex guitar duties.

Jake sings!

Jaymin hits!

And so on!

Twisting action!

Extra Jake!

Brotherly action!

Head-shaking action!

Okay, time for some flash ...

Jake works the crowd!

Jake goes down!

Bonus brotherly action!

Jake steps on it!

The end!

A new album is supposedly in the works.

Show reminder: Kittie, The Agonist, Blackguard, Bonded by Blood and Doll rock Mavericks.

Waiting for the war

2012-05-21T01:54:00.000-04:00

The White Wires followed Dagger Eyes with their last pre-hiatus show. In the interim, Ian has been doing some stuff as Gary Voicemail, Allie has been touring as Peach Kelli Pop and Luke has been playing bass with Boyhood. They've also been working on their next album, and of course prepping for their return to the stage.

Ian! Allie! Luke!

Ian sings!

Allie hits!

Luke remembers the Alamo.

Smokey action!

Extra Allie!

Bonus Luke!

Wired action!

The end! For now!

Incredibly enough they do not have an Ottawa Explosion engagement, though both Gary Voicemail and Boyhood are on the bill.

What are you looking at?

2012-05-20T01:13:00.000-04:00

Weezer and T.Rex loving duo JEFF The Brotherhood hit town Feb. 6. On hand to open the show was another less-is-more combo, Dagger Eyes, with their minimalist crunch.

Ilona! Dave! Ian!

Strips all 'round!

Ilona looks up!

Dave hits!

The shouty bit!

Ilona frets!

The whole lot!

The other side of Ian.

More Dave!

The end!

They're playing Pouzzafest in Montreal tonight at Foufones Electriques - and naturally they'll be back in June for Ottawa Explosion.

Show Reminder: The Night Watch and Loh El The Minstrel perform at the Elmdale; Placentophagia, Paradigm Divide, Carneia and DJ Dolston are at the Rainbow; Tyler Hilton and Dion Roy added a second show due to popular demand at Mavericks.

Push and Pull

2012-05-19T01:52:00.002-04:00

The night comes to an end with a rocking set from The Johnnies for the sold out Dominion crowd.

Shadowy Johnny Money action!

Johnny Mental sings!

Johnny Tonic - recently seen doubling for Peggy O'Neill of The Gories at the punk rock Covers show - hits!

Sedatives shout out with Johnny Jump-Up!

Mo' Money!

Extra Tonic!

Bonus Jump-Up!

The shouty bit!

And so on!

They will, of course, be making an appearance at this year's Ottawa Explosion.

Show reminder: Celery Troff, AK-47's, The Cowards and Melted Faces rock The Rainbow; I quite neglected to mention in last night's Shakey Aches post they'd be performing again at The Dominion tonight, alongside Owl Farm and The Allrights, which also features Mel "Johnny Jump-Up" Sturk ... synchronicity! If you want to see Tyler Hilton and Dion Roy at Cafe Dekcuf, you'd better already have a ticket. Atherton, Home Based and Babble Goons drop some language at Ritual; The Flaps and Cloud Of Rock grace Bruce Smith's 50th birthday party at Irene's; there's rocking and rhyming at the Elmdale with Alexy and The Otherside, Sabrina Fallah, Justin & Jordan Gow, Sam Cowan & Arianne Dimond, B.F. Brown, Jane Simpson and Shaun Sullivan; The City Above, Lion Farm and Street Meat perform at Zaphod's; Mavericks hosts another Rock Lottery with scads of bands and the Rockalilly Burlesque to boot.Also: The Punk RockSpring Flea Market will be at the Bronson Centre.

What are they on?

2012-05-18T01:00:00.000-04:00

The Polymorphines are another Pretty Bad Records signing, and their wild and raucous sounds sits in with the other acts on the label just fine. Here they are holding down the middle slot at The Johnnies' Dominion record release show.

Jimmy Jr., sings some!

Fisheye action with Jeremy and Heinz!

Nicholas, still with the shades on!

Gripping action!

Guitar action!

Singalong action!

I have no idea what's going on here ...

Jimmy takes a stand.

Back-to-back action!

Heinz gets carried away!

The Polymorphines work the crowd!

The microphone got moved around ...

The end, at least for Heinz's D, B and E strings!

A wild show! I'm not quite sure what's up with their 7-inch, but you can always grab their album from the digital realm while you wait. They shall also be rocking at this year's Ottawa Explosion.

Show reminder: Destruction, Vital Remains, Warbringer, Pathology and Immersed destroy Mavericks; upstairs at Cafe DeKcuf Flying Fortress, Monobrow and Memories Of An Old Man do the same; Joe Brownrigg has his album release show at the Ottawa Police Association (on St. Catherines, near Bank St.); Amanda Bon also has a new album to share with the world - she's at Raw Sugar; Cheap Girls, The Creeps and The Mnemonics warm you up for the Ottawa Explosion at Capital Rehearsal Studios; Hearts & Mines and The Counsellors perform at Zaphod's; Lucas Stagg and Paul McLeod play Irene's; NotYetDead live it up at the Avant-Garde.

Don't fret

2012-05-17T11:03:00.000-04:00

Last night was an evening of fretless bass. Shahman, Toronto's Isosceles Project and Argus Panoptes were shifted downstairs so a small crowd could get their weirdo rock-death metal fix. I actually arrived too late to see Shahman (whose bass is so fretless they don't have one at all). Isosceles Project was in full swing when I walked in the door.

They barely took a break in their onrushing instrumental prog-metal juggernaut. "We have two songs left... that's about half an hour," said bassist Scott Tessier.

Isosceles Project at Mavericks, May 16, 2012

Let their be headbanging!

Isosceles Project at Mavericks, May 16, 2012

Argus Panoptes is made up a bunch of local metal vets; most recently I saw drummer Raphael Weinroth-Brown playing cello for Musk Ox. The band goes for the full on cookie monster death metal assault.

Argus Panoptes at Mavericks, May 16, 2012

Growly action!

Argus Panoptes at Mavericks, May 16, 2012

It was all good'n'loud.

Show reminder: After The Fall, Tightrope, Life On Trial, Lost Youth, Anchoress and The Possessed perform at Cafe Dekcuf; Daniel Wesley and Dane Hartsell play Mavericks; The Living Deads and George Stryler & The Bandits bring the rockabilly to Zaphod's; Miss Quincy & The Showdown and The Jimmyriggers are at the Elmdale. Errunriv is as the Avant-Garde.

Until it hurts

2012-05-16T02:04:00.000-04:00

Pretty Bad Records has emerged from Shakey Achers Tim and Matt and Dick Altavista, of CKCU's Both Kinds Of Music and sundry country-fried acts like Vapouriser and The Stumblers. They released the Shakey Aches debut 7-inch and a new platter by The Johnnies. When it came time to release said 7-inch, The Shakey Aches were naturally ideal openers.

First, some introductory drinking with Richard and Casey and Dave Aardvark!

Darell Angus frets!

Mean Mad Matthew shakes things up.

Extra Richard!

Tim hits!

The shouty bit!

And so on!

Casey sings!

Meanwhile, on stage right we have bassist Eric Larock (also now a member of Klovenhoofs).

In the red action!

Rhythm section action!

Casey keys!

Feedback action!

They're playing the Dominion again this Saturday with Owl Farm and The Alrights, and are also on the Ottawa Explosion slate.

Show reminder: Junior Battles, The Brat Attack and Jon Creeden rock the house at 558 Gladstone Ave.; two lineups appear to be booked at Cafe DeKcuf, I'm guessing Sandman Viper Command, Ornaments and Archie Powell and the Exports will head downstairs to Mavericks, while Argus Panoptes, The Isosceles Project and Shahman stick to the second storey. Decomposing Pianos, Matt Morel and Radioactive Bishop perform at Pressed's Experimental Music evening. Hard Honey and The Jeers are at Zaphod's; Brad Morden, Kay'La Fraser and Cloe Perrault play Raw Sugar; The Andrew Krause Band rolls into the Rainbow;the Elmdale hosts Big Moan and Alex Harea.

New fossils

2012-05-15T01:55:00.000-04:00

Toronto's Dinsaur Bones ended the night with a vigorous set. They've been making a bit of a splash lately, and I can see them appealing to fans of bands like The Walkmen and Spoon. Personally I wasn't bowled over, probably because I listen to a lot of music like theirs and am becoming a jaded old grump.

Running about!

Closeup action with Ben Fox!

Here we have drummer Lucas Fredette, bassist Brank Skecic and the ever-active Josh Byrne.

More Josh!

Extra Lucas!

More Branko!

Ben shakes it all about (that's keyboardist David Wickland at left).

And a shot of David where you can actually sort of make him out.

Josh steps on it!

A pretty solid evening, but in the end I went home with a stack of Prussia merch.

Show reminder: Hard Charger, Roughhouse and Spilt Guts rock Cafe DeKcuf. Xephr and Soul In Stone play the Rainbow.

To each his own

2012-05-14T01:00:00.002-04:00

One of the pleasures of music is coming across a band you've never heard of that sounds great. Such a band is Prussia! Some folks say they sound like Vampire Weekend and Broken Bells. Their hectic sound turned my mind to thoughts of Guelph combos like The D'Urbervilles.

Bassist Adam Pressley gets some microphone time.

Ryan Spencer, ditto!

Singalong action!

No shortage of singers in this outfit - here's Brenton Bober (and drummer Drew Spencer at left).

Guitar action!

And so on!

Shaking and clapping with Adam and guitarist No. 3, Kasey Press.

The whole lot!

More Press!

More singing along!

And so on!

Whole lotta shakin' go on!

The shouty bit!

More shaking about!

Well-miked action!

A most energetic performance.

Show reminder: Dowsing, Bravebird, Currents and Mudplots rock the house at 337 Lemoine. Emmas Ringer, Kraken The Case, Ned Madison & Bounce, Dead Horse Stampede and Arms of the Girl perform at Greenfield's Pub.

Double your heavy

2012-05-13T14:14:00.001-04:00

We're a little late with the daily post, but it was a late night of heavy metal and an early morning of Mother's Day.. Saturday Night was the second edition of All That Is Heavy, curated by the folks at CKCU's Crossing Boredom, and featured a heavy dozen killer sets from bands domestic and imported.

Loviatar took the stage first, and it was a super set from them, their best yet to my ears.

Loviatar at Mavericks, May 12, 2012

"We have only begun to drink!"

Loviatar at Mavericks, May 12, 2012

I could say the same for Monobrow's awesome workout; when they wrapped up I was feeling a bit sorry for whoever came after.

Monobrow at Mavericks, May 12, 2012

Brian hits!

Monobrow at Mavericks, May 12, 2012

As it happens, that was Baltimore's Revelation, who had a thunderous bass sound. These guys have been dooming it up, off and on, since 1986! Here's John Brenner and axe-wielding bassist Bert Hall Jr.

Revelation at Mavericks, May 12, 2012

Steve Branagan hits!

Revelation at Mavericks, May 12, 2012

Rochester's Blizaro blend some Moog with their metal, and their sound made me think a bit of proggier Italian outfits such as Dark Quarterer, or perhaps Black Hole. It started out as a one-man project from Orodruin but has grown into a mighty trio.

Blizaro at Mavericks, May 12, 2012

Also, bassist Mark Rapone is one longhaired dude!

Blizaro at Mavericks, May 12, 2012

Not to slight headliners Blood Ceremony, but I suspect a big chunk of the crowd were there for Iron Man, the Baltimore institution of doom. Albert Morris III's guitar tone could kill dinosaurs. In fact, it may have ... you don't see them around, do you?

Not to mention Screaming Mad Dee is a fine frontman.

Iron Man at Mavericks, May 12, 2012

The man himself!

Iron Man at Mavericks, May 12, 2012

Blood Ceremony rounded things up in fine style. I was quite impressed with their show at the Rainbow at the first All That Is Heavy, and they've got even better.

Blood Ceremony at Mavericks, May 12, 2012

Fluted action!

Blood Ceremony at Mavericks, May 12, 2012

A long night but a good one!

Stranger and stranger

2012-05-12T03:11:00.003-04:00

I wandered over to Mavericks last night to watch a lineup that was a little off the beaten path. I listen to a fair amount of peculiar music, so Xiu Xiu, Father Murphy and Dirty Beaches aren't doing anything likely to baffle me (particularly since I own work by all three, and have seen Xiu Xiu before anyway), but they still qualify as something a bit different.

First up, Father Murphy, an Italian trio who apparently played their set as one long set (I arrived too late to catch the beginning). Their music splits the difference between oddball (and perhaps tongue-in-cheek) and avant-garde. I saw some giggling in the crowd, and also a lot of apt attention. Actually, I'd say the crowd was the most attentive I've seen in recent memory for all three acts.

Father Murphy at Mavericks, May 11, 2012

Stylophonic action!

Father Murphy at Mavericks, May 11, 2012

Then came Xiu Xiu, who I believe were supposed to headline. Mainman Jamie Stewart was gargling something froma couple of cups, so I was wondering if something was up with his throat to stop him from playing a fuller set. As usual the music was fraught with the weight of trauma, emotional torture and physical deformity.

Xiu Xiu at Mavericks, May 11, 2012

At least he cheered things up at the end with a cover of Suicide's Frankie Teardrop.

Xiu Xiu at Mavericks, May 11, 2012

Dirty Beaches rounded things off with a short set that seemed a it laidback - then again, most stuff would after Xiu Xiu. I find Alex Zhang Hungtai's reverbed crossbreed of kosmiche rhythms and 50s rock styles entertaining, though it seems so closely targeted at what I like I may be a bit inured to the combination.

Dirty Beaches at Mavericks, May 11, 2012

Pretty cool stuff anyway.

Dirty Beaches at Mavericks, May 11, 2012

The whole lot are off to play Toronto tonight at Lee's Palace.

Cat people

2012-05-11T01:22:00.001-04:00

Sound of Lions have been attracting a lot of props lately, with many respectable folks saying they could be the next big thing out of Ottawa. I did enjoy their February 1 set at Cafe DeKcuf; they made a good impression on a night on which a lot of bands would have been overshadowed by the other acts on the bill.

Christian Awad takes it for a spin.

Whitney Delion gets a grip.

Will Assad frets.

More Whitney!

Marco Campagna hits!

The whole lot! (That's the shadowy Joel Soucy at right.)

Christian gives a shout out.

Fisheye action!

And so on!

Close-up action!

Rhythm section action!

Singalong action!

The end!

Their next show is May 25 with Fevers at Babylon.

Show reminder: Xiu Xiu, Dirty Beaches and Father Murphy play Mavericks; Patrick Lehman & The Preachers and the Willis Pride Project perform at Zaphod's; Del Bel, Lisa Bozikovic and Rolf Klausener enhance your Raw Sugar experience; 90 Pounds Of Ugly, Sin Sisters Burlesque and Ginger St. James shake up the Rainbow; Lonesome Paul & The Valley Ramblers mosey into Irene's; M.J. Cyr and Social Butterfly are at the Avant-Garde Bar.

Ball power

2012-05-10T01:28:00.002-04:00

Swarm of Spheres finished things off. The trio born from the ashes of Jesus Mullet (also Bless This Mess, I hate Sally, et al) had a new EP out, thus the rocking of the House of Targ!

Jay sings!

Mark McGee hits!

Bass-lifting action from Andrew Rashotte!

Fisheye action!

More hitting!

Faceoff action!

And so on!

Jay goes down!

The EP is of course swell, and free!

Show reminder: The Hangers, Les Mosquitos and Audiio descend upon Club SAW; Army of Saint Joan reunites at Cafe DeKcuf with Mares of Thrace and Alaskan. Sal Piamonte and Counterclock are at Zaphod's; Napalm Raid and Shot Nerves rock the Hasslehouse (at 295 Powell, that is!); the Elmdale hosts Cinematic and Marta Pacek; Haligonians The Stogies play the Avant-Garde Bar.

On three legs

2012-05-09T01:16:00.001-04:00

Klovenhoofs were the next band on the bill, playing as a trio. Shawn Jam Hill is devoting his time to Garaga, Davey is now on guitar and they have a new bassist: Eric Larock, ex-Tricky Woo.

The whole lot!

Davey and his new, feedback loving Jazzmaster.

Scott sings!

Davey sings!

Adam hits!

Guitar action!

Singalong action!

Bonus Adam!

The end!

Davey's running around Europe with Mother's Children right now, but I expect more word on Klovenhoofs when he returns.

Show reminder: Title Fight, Dead Weights, Landslider and Carry Yourself play Mavericks; Colin Hay performs at First Baptist Church; Ben Wilkins is at Zaphod's; Australian folky Marta Pacek drops in at The Rainbow; Pressed's experimental music night features Stanley Kindly, H. de Heutz and per traas; Petunia blooms at the Elmdale.

You got guts

2012-05-08T00:30:00.001-04:00

It is the last Friday in January. You know what that means? Yes, it means there is rock at the House of Targ (also known as Yogi's Meatlocker)! The volume was already high as I walked in the door, expecting Djanguar. It wasn't Djanguar, it was Spilt Guts!

Last seen wanting a riot, here's Thomas.

Rhythm section and plaid action with Evan and Elgar!

By George, the rockers do like the Beastie Boys! Or at least Phil does.

Elgar hits!

The shouty bit!

And so on!

Singalong action!

They're back in action soon, May 15 at Cafe DeKcuf, with Hard Charger and Roughhouse.

I heard something downstairs

2012-05-07T00:53:00.001-04:00

AFter two nights of rocking at ritual, Sunday brought me to a somewhat smaller venue: The basement at 443 Kent St. The roomies change, but the house shows go on! The official reason for this three-band get together was the release of Shahman's latest 7-inch record. It's been more than two years since I saw a show there (it was The Girlfriends and Vincat in January 2010, to be precise)

First up, Montrealers The Discord Of A Forgotten Sketch. Screamy post-punk done right. I thought I was going to get away without using any flash, but then they turned the light off.

The Discord Of A Forgotten Sketch at 443 Kent, May 6, 2012

It's a bit close-quarters down there in the basement!

The Discord Of A Forgotten Sketch at 443 Kent, May 6, 2012

Next up Bandera, who brought a real churning noise to the room.

Bandera at 443 Kent, May 6, 2012

Singalong action!

Bandera at 443 Kent, May 6, 2012

Finally, Shahman, who introduced some loud-quite dynamics and a giant heap of amplification. They'll be playing May 16 at Cafe DeKcuf with Isosceles Project, and at the Ottawa Explosion.

Shahman at 443 Kent, May 6, 2012

And now for some shutter-speed abuse.

Shahman at 443 Kent, May 6, 2012

It all ended with a round of Happy Birthday for the twins.

Psychobilly never dies

2012-05-06T13:13:00.000-04:00

Once again I headed off to Ritual. Friday was a flashback to the 1960s, Saturday I went back another decade, or perhaps forward, for the Rockabilly sounds of The Reverend Horton Heat. He was accompanied by Montreal psychobillies The Brains and scotpunks The Real McKenzies.

The Brains were already on stage when I walked in. This meant I was stuck a few feet back from the front. They played a great set.

The Brains at Ritual, May 5, 2012

Hollowbodies for all!

The Brains at Ritual, May 5, 2012

The Real McKenzies were also in really good form; the lineup was a little different for this show than the one I caught in March 2011. A fine set, though they really need a headline slot to give their catalogue a proper workout.

Real McKenzies at Ritual, May 5, 2012

Bone frets!

Real McKenzies at Ritual, May 5, 2012

The Reverend Horton Heat have been around a good 25 years, which is likely longer than most of the members of The Brains have been alive. They played a song an album - including Run Rudolph Run from their Christmas album, with Heath and Wallace switching instruments. Last time I saw Heat and Co., they played Loco Gringos Like A Party. This time around, they covered one of the band's tunes, Nurture My Pig. They played a few requests, including Bales Of Cocaine "You're going country one me,' warned the Rev) and slowed things down for Loaded Gun. I'm always a bit surprised by how much the punks like rockabilly - they even moshed along to Martini Time. The Rev does not like cameras, so the following two photos were taken with my iPhone.

Reverend Horton Heat at Ritual, May 5, 2012

Jimbo!

Reverend Horton Heat at Ritual, May 5, 2012

All pretty cool, though by the time of the encore I was more than ready to split.

Show reminder: Shahman, Bandera and TDOAFS rock the house at 443 Kent; Belvedere, A Wilhelm Scream and Fractures play Ritual. Soul in Stone, Claudia, Gee, DJ Reverie are at the Rainbow; the Elmdale hosts Puzzleroot and Brian Simms.

Steeped in soul

2012-05-05T11:35:00.001-04:00

I'm a big fan of soul music, so when I heard Lee Fields & The Expressions were coming to town I naturally decided to go and check it out. I did hem and haw about it since I was working an early shift, but I figured getting up at 8 a.m. instead of noon didn't make the day that much longer ... Anyway, on to Fields, who was bringing his straight up sound to Ritual. Like Sharon Jones, his music comes directly out of the 1960s and 1970s and labels like Hi. Opening up were local crew Slim Moore & The Mar-kays.

Moore has a reggae background, while The Mar-Kays are another Souljazz Orchestra project. They did their set in a traditional way, with an introductory instrumental and a turn from backup singer Mary Caruso. They really dig Syl Johnson and covered Is It Because I'm Black? and Concrete Reservation, along with Mavin Gaye's What's Going On.

Slim Moore & The Mar-Kays at Ritual, May 4, 2012

Slim sings!

Slim Moore & The Mar-Kays at Ritual, May 4, 2012

Singalong action!

Slim Moore & The Mar-Kays at Ritual, May 4, 2012

Lee Fields took the stage in a pair a pair of aviator shades, black suit and what looked like a chartreuse waistcoat and tie (at least under the stage lights - they do funny things to colour). Here's the man himself!

Lee Fields & The Expressions at Ritual, May 4, 2012

Singalong action! I recognize drummer Homer Steinweiss from his time backing Sharon Jones, but the other Expressions are new to me.

Lee Fields & The Expressions at Ritual, May 4, 2012

"Put your hands in the air!"

Lee Fields & The Expressions at Ritual, May 4, 2012

A soul-stirring night!

Show reminder: Eight and a Half and The Gallop perform at Zaphod Beeblebrox; The Reverend Horton Heat, The Real McKenzies and The Brains rock Ritual; The Hornettes bring the funk to Irene's; Loudlove rocks the Rainbow. The Elmdale hosts No Fly List, New Age Soldier and My Favourite Tragedy. Animal Confession, Gini Sigler and One More Me are at the Avant-Garde Bar.

Nightcrawlin'

2012-05-04T00:12:00.002-04:00

I grew up in the 1980s with Depeche Mode, Thomas Dolby and other synth-loving, quirky pop artists but with the advent of The Pixies, Nirvana and the ascension of "college radio" to the mainstream, keyboard went a bit out of style. Well, its been 25 years, and synthesizers are back, baby! Not that I am wholly enthused about that, but at least they're being employed with folks with a certain sinister pop sensibility - folks like Winnipeg's Royal Canoe. They've been on tour, and rolled into Raw Sugar night to perform for a few dozen folks.

Montreal's Nash opened for them. Nash (first name Mike, for those who care) is a one man recorder, but he showed up with a backing quartet for some keening melodies.

Nash at Raw Sugar, May 3, 2012

Nash at Raw Sugar, May 3, 2012

Next up were Royal Canoe, who really bust out the keyboards for some excellent, highly layered melancholy pop. Half night-time thrill, half hangover. I recognize at least half of them - Bucky Driedger, Michael Jordan and Matt Schellenberg also play in The Liptonians (who performed at the Avant-Garde a while back).

Royal Canoe at Raw Sugar, May 3, 2012

And yes, they have two drummers lurking back there.

Royal Canoe at Raw Sugar, May 3, 2012

The band heads to Montreal tonight.

Get down!

2012-05-03T01:01:00.001-04:00

Bruised Knees finished things off with some chilly post-punk. Other than a past connection with the Creeping Nobodies (Chuck Skullz plays guitar in the band), I know little else about them. Natalie Logan is apparently the synth player and the lineup once boasted Dennis Amos on drums and Graham Hancock (also of Dentata) on bass. Whether it's changed since 2010, I know not ...

And here they are!

Bass action with possibly Graham Hancock!

Skullz strums!

And so on!

Shadowy action!

Extra Chuck.

Natalie sings!

Possibly Amos hits!

The old switcheroo!

I know nothing of their current mysterious circumstances.

Show reminder: Counterparts, Your Demise, Hundredth, Sleep Is For the Dead and Burn Again rock Mavericks; Royal Canoe and Nash float their boat at Raw Sugar. Horse and Wells, Beers Barons, Caught Off Guard and Gypsy Wind ride into the Elmdale.