Monday, August 31, 2009

Brought to the table

I've seen Holy Fuck a couple of times before, but I think their Bluesfest 2009 set was the first time I've seen the same lineup twice in a row - usually their rhythm section has changed a member. The previous occasion was a headlining gig at Barrymore's with locals Squelchbox and Crush Buildings in July 2008, with really good sets from all concerned. They didn't seem to thrill me as much this time - maybe I should stick to seeing them once every two years so I don't become jaded.

Matt Schulz (ex-Enon) and Matt McQuaid flank Graham Walsh.

Holy Fuck at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Brian Borcherdt rolls film.

Holy Fuck at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Graham sings!

Holy Fuck at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Matt McQuaid was definitely the guy jumping around the most .. course, it is a bit easier for him.

Holy Fuck at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Brian sings!

Holy Fuck at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Knob-twisting action!

Holy Fuck at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Somewhere in the back of the tangle is Matt Schulz.

Holy Fuck at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

The whole lot!

Holy Fuck at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Right now they're out west for Bumbershoot, then they'll skip back over the continent for another festival in Quebec City.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Pop, not pop, pop

There seems to have been a lot of house shows in town lately; I finally got around to seeing one on a Saturday evening crowded with worthy gigs. I could have headed off to the Dom or Mavericks, but I wanted to see The Smith Westerns again and catch the debut of Allie Hanlon's new combo Peach Kelli Pop.

Peach Kelli Pop only played a half-dozen songs of lo-fi pop (there's a word that's going to see a lot of us in this writeup) but made a very positive impression, and not just because they brought cupcakes.

Peach Kelli Pop at Cozzie's
Cupcakes, 854 Bronson Ave., August 29, 2009

In addition to Allie, PKP features her White Wires-mate Ian Manhire on drums, her twin sister Emily and Davey Quesnelle of many other bands.

Peach Kelli Pop at Cozzie's
Peach Kelli Pop, 854 Bronson Ave., August 29, 2009

Up next were the Suppositories, who were also releasing their new 7-inch.

Suppositories at Cozzie's
The Suppositories, 854 Bronson Ave., August 29, 2009

Finally The Smith Westerns wowed the crowd with their beguiling boy-jangle. They brought their smoke machine, and near the end of the set Max kicked over the one remaining light - it was pretty dark and smokey in there.

Smith and Westerns at Cozzie's
Smith Westerns, 854 Bronson Ave., August 29, 2009

Always a good time in the basement!

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Loud crowd

Thursday was Justin Considerate's birthday - you may know him from his frequent soundman duties at Babylon, The Long Timers, Death March Volunteers or his duo with drummer-about-town Pat Johnson, Army of Saint Joan. Justin decided to celebrate the day with music and drinking, and since Pat is back from his travels with The Acorn and they have a tape ready to be mastered and released by the folks at Bruised Tongue, it was time for one of The Army of Saint Joan's rare shows. A couple of other folks were on the bill, including Alaskan and Did You Just Hex Me?, but I got there too late to see 'em.

As I walked through the door, AOSJ were preparing to eviscerate some eardrums. They had moved some sofas and a sheet so the space off to the left of the bar functioned as the stage.

Army of Saint Joan at Babylon
Army of Saint Joan, Babylon, August 27, 2009

Mountanaka finished the night off with some ultraheavy, Hydra Headbanging sounds. You've seen all these guys before in different outfits on National Capital Rock - guitarist Chuck Saso in Last Communion (he was also in The Grey), Bill Greene in Embassies of Denmark and Jay Rasia in Robot Kill City. They really rocked so I picked up their 7-inch.

Mountanaka at Babylon
Mountanaka, Babylon, August 27, 2009

It was a good night to have earplugs.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Blues brothers

I was thinking of leavening my Bluesfest posts with some outside material - and so I shall! - but I'm making an exception for The Brothers Chaffey's Bluesfest gig on the Subway Stage because in a remarkable timing coincidence they're also playing in town tomorrow.

Brothers Chaffey at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Curtis gets a little sun.

Brothers Chaffey at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Dave MacDonald and Adam Puddington kick out some jams.

Brothers Chaffey at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Them brothers!

Brothers Chaffey at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

It's getting hot up there.

Brothers Chaffey at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Rocking action!

Brothers Chaffey at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Full contact guitar action!

Brothers Chaffey at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Nick Diak on the drums looks a little sunburnt.

Brothers Chaffey at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Adam sings and sweats.

Brothers Chaffey at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

As before, Kelly Sloan (I think?) was on hand to provide backup vocals.

Brothers Chaffey at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

More Dave!

Brothers Chaffey at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Curtis frets.

Brothers Chaffey at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Clapping and keyboarding action!

Brothers Chaffey at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Matt dispensed with the guitar later in the set, as is his wont.

Brothers Chaffey at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Singalong action!

Brothers Chaffey at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Pointing action!

Brothers Chaffey at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

The Texas Horns also showed up to add some extra oomph.

Brothers Chaffey at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

A typically swell set. You can see them tomorrow night in a somewhat more intimate setting - Irene's.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Sergent's mess

After wandering away from Van der Graaf Generator I paused for a few moments to see Jeff Beck at the MBNA Stage (too distant to have much appeal) and Eric Lindell at the Hard Rock Cafe Stage before going over to the Black Sheep Stage. If you don't have any particular plans at Bluesfest it's usually your best bet. That goes double for the world music acts, which always seem to punch far above their weight. Sergent Garcia was no exception. Mainman Bruno Garcia used to be in French drum machine punks Ludwig von 88. Now he's gone Cubanismo with his new combo, named, not surprisingly, Sergent Garcia.

Sergent Garcia!

Sergent Garcia at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

He tried to get keyboardist Aldo Santiago Medina Caballero up to the microphone ... it wasn't easy!

Sergent Garcia at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

The beauteous Yaite Ramos Rodriguez is more persuasive.

Sergent Garcia at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Lino Michel Belet Fernandez rocks the nylon strings.

Sergent Garcia at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Yaite also plays the flute.

Sergent Garcia at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Singalong action!

Sergent Garcia at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Jumping action!

Sergent Garcia at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Hector Gomez Guilbeaux, right, injects some rap vocals

Sergent Garcia at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Bruno breaks out the guitar.

Sergent Garcia at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

The whole lot! Yes, there's a brass section and a couple of percussionists as well.

Sergent Garcia at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Brassy action! With trumpeteer Philippe Anicaux and trombonist Pierre Dandin.

Sergent Garcia at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Zaf the bassist handles the low end.

Sergent Garcia at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Lino plays some hot guitar!

Sergent Garcia at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Garcia mikes the audience.

Sergent Garcia at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Can percussionist Ivan Darroman Montoya have this dance!

Sergent Garcia at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009


Apparently so.

Sergent Garcia at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Extra Hector!

Sergent Garcia at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Thank you and goodnight!

Sergent Garcia at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

Everyone take a bow! Drummer Lukmil Perez Herrera, of whom I did not get a good photo, is on the left, obscuring Zaf.

Sergent Garcia at Ottawa Bluesfest 2009

They played the next night as well in the Byward Market ... I missed all those shows, but will try to make up for it next year (why I skipped on Peter Murphy I'll never know).
  • Show reminder: Doll, Hemi-Loco, Botched Suicides and Whiskey Trench rock Cafe Dekcuf; Mountanaka, Alaskan and Army of Saint Joan, Did You Just Hex Me? and possibly Get Wrecked play Babylon for Army guitarist Justin's birthday); Latefallen and Smaller on You perform at Zaphod's.