Water on the brain

It hasn't been so long since I saw The Besnard Lakes put on a stellar set at Zaphod's back in frosty February. Their album The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse was about to be released. Now it's out, their star has risen - deservedly, since it's a mighty fine piece of work - and a good-sized crowd came to see them. This time they had their keyboardist with them, so it was pretty crowded up on stage too.

Annoy the Lakes and Jace Lasek will zap you with his electric eye bolts.



Nicole Lizee works the Nord.



Blurry action!







As before, Richard White was tucked away in the corner.



Guitar action!



Jace sings!



I can't decide which Steve Raegele photo I like best.





Olga works the feedback.



Singalong action!



Paging Steve Raegele ... or is that Steve Raegele Paging? (Or more likely, Eddie Phillips-ing).



Kevin Laing sings the show closer, a cover of Fleetwood Mac's You Make Loving Fun.



They brought their smoke machine with them, but went a little easier on it: That biodegradable non-toxic smoke stuff has to last them for the U.S. tour they're about to embark on, you know. The Capital Idea Festival concludes today at Zaphod's with the inimitable Damo Suzuki, Smoke Judo and Adam Saikely.

• Show reminder: The Mongrels (featuring Andrew Dickson of Tricky Woo), Boom Creek (featuring ex-Dead City Rebel Neil) and Montreal glam bastards Evil Boys perform at Irene's Pub; Mile Over Mecca, and Jimi Maze play theAvant Garde Bar;