The Outsiders

Expatriates offered a very strong set of originals (and one altered Black Sabbath cover, as is their wont) to start the Blackball CD release hoedown at Irene's on a strong note.

Damien Thompson and a Casio in a suitcase.



There was one good light at Irene's. Fortunately Michael D. Wieland stepped in it.



Bill Guerrero; who incidentally will be playing in Weapons of Mass Seduction tonight at Babylon.



Chris Landry arpeggios.



Chris and Damien play while Kevin Hopkins waits his turn at right.



Four men and a post.



I liked them when I first saw them open for Cerberus Shoal, and they've been better at every show.

• Show reminder: Andrew Vincent and The Pirates, The John Henrys and The Million Dollar Marxists will be playing a show in front of the CBC building at Bank and Sparks which will apparently be broadcast by the CBC;Reverend Glasseye, Golden Famile, Weapons Of Mass Seduction and Mono Hum play a Music for Cats showcase at Babylon; Good2Go, The Grey, Three Legged Man entertain at Irene's Pub.
• Correspondence news: Gourmet Delice of Le Nombre e-mailed me yesterday to say the band would be returning for an Ottawa show at Barrymore's; and I see from the punkottawa.com message board that the gig is set for July 9; Shikasta and Roll Gypsy Roll will also be on the bill. He also told me to look out for a gig by Montreal's Malajube at Club SAW June 14. The band has also gotten props from Jonathan Cummins of Bionic for releasing "a near-perfect pop record." They've gotten a lot of good press in the French-language press; Franz Ferdinand and XTC comparisons abound.