Gold and Black

When I walked into Babylon around 10 p.m. Saturday night, I could almost swear I saw a tumbleweed blowing across the empty wasteland that was the space in front of the stage. Considering that the bill was The John Henrys, Golden Seals and Black Boot Trio, I thought a few more people would have shown up by then, but no such luck. Things did fill out a bit later, but a lot of people missed a really great show. I guess everyone was at the cottage.

Dave Merritt kicked things off with a solo turn, and sounded very fine (as did everyone - soundman Paul Hogan did an excellent job).



You can only do so much with a solo performance, so here he is again with lots of extra shutter speed tomfoolery.



Up next were the Black Boot Trio, who turned in a very entertaining set - as always! Drummer Stef Bennett is caught in mid-strike.



If you think this is a pretty odd face for Steve Fai to be making, just you wait ...



Geoff Taylor rocks the headband look.



I think Bennett's hair should get its own credit in the band's liner notes.



There was some jocularity.



Fai was definitely getting into his guitar work. Perhaps a bit too much, some might say ...



Anyone who hasn't picked up their latest album Eternal Return is doing themselves a serious disservice.

• Show reminder: We're Marching On!, who put on a swell show at Mavericks in conjunction with the Weapons of Mass Seduction and the SS Cardiacs a while back play Irene's tonight in conjunction with Ottawa's The Acorn and another Toronto band of which I know naught, Ohbijou.