Sunday, December 13, 2009

Make it a double

I set off for Zaphod Beeblebrox last night around 8:30, which I figured would be plenty of time to see Did You Just Hex Me? Mekhaya, two local metal combos I wanted to see since this was a year I returned to listening to heavy metal in a big way and it seems silly to ignore the local variety. What I failed to consider was the possibility there was a third band on the bill. I didn't recognize them at first, but as it turned out it it was Biipiigwan - they've undergone a lineup change from a trio to a quartet since I saw them at the Bytown Tavern in May last year, and Musky has also grown his hair. They were starting their last song as I dug my camera out of the bag, so I'll share the handful of decent shots I took right away ...

Mike sings! He's switched to guitar.

Biipiigwan at Zaphod Beeblebrox
Biipiigwan at Zaphod Beeblebrox, December 12, 2009

Mike, a shadowy Scotty of Alaskan on drums, Denis on bass and Musky.

Biipiigwan at Zaphod Beeblebrox
Biipiigwan at Zaphod Beeblebrox, December 12, 2009

I didn't even recognize the guitar.

Biipiigwan at Zaphod Beeblebrox
Biipiigwan at Zaphod Beeblebrox, December 12, 2009

Big finish!

Biipiigwan at Zaphod Beeblebrox
Biipiigwan at Zaphod Beeblebrox, December 12, 2009

Then it was on to Did You Just Hex Me? a screamy hardcore metal quartet. Singer Brandon and guitarist Mat are seen below. Brandon dedicated one of the songs to "a little orange cat who got me through Saturday morning cartoons" - namely Garfield. They did however reject a request to cover Miley Cyrus.

Did You Just Hex Me? at Zaphod Beeblebrox
Did You Just Hex Me? at Zaphod Beeblebrox, December 12, 2009

Mekhaya's metal took a proggier, jazzier turn, though the vocals were just as growly as those of Hex Me? Let's just say it's no coincidence guitarist Sebastien is wearing a Dillinger Escape Plan T-shirt.

Mekhaya at Zaphod Beeblebrox
Mekhaya at Zaphod Beeblebrox, December 12, 2009

The night wasn't over yet: It was just a few blocks to the Rainbow where Harvey Cartel were holding their CD release show. To think I almost headed home to watch the rest of World of Drunken Master. Gah! I missed the opener, Three Pillars of Rock, but witnessed a ferocious set by Harvey Cartel. The band plays some first-rate roots-rock, and frontman Chris Landry can really burn up the frets.

Harvey Cartel at The Rainbow
Harvey Cartel at the Rainbow, December 12, 2009

I've been seeing the Polymorphines' name a lot in the last year or two without realizing - once again! - that I had already seen a couple of the members perform. And yes, once again this was due to a lot of hair-growing (and thw passage of a couple of years). Frontman Jeremy Brisebois and drummer Jordan Potechin are, of course, veterans of the more country-oriented outfit Crowded Skies. The Polymorphines are a more raucous outfit, and bluesier to boot. They covered The White Stripes Hotel Yorba and have a full time tambourine shaker, backup vocalist and harmonica player in Jefferson Airship.

Polymorphines at The Rainbow
Polymorphines at the Rainbow, December 12, 2009

They'll also be playing Zaphod's New Year's show.

3 comments:

Brandon said...

Great pictures man. Glad you were able to come out and see the band. I hope you dont mind if we use those pictures, the guys love them and I might make a new myspace layout from one or two of them.

A.C. said...

Be my guest.

Scotty said...

GREAT STUFF!!! Thanks for snapping those quick shots of BPGWN