Friday, April 30, 2010

Purple haze

Madison Violet are a couple of lively gals who both grew up in small-town Canada with huge families - Brenley MacEachern in Kincardine, Ont., and Lisa MacIsaac in Cape Breton. The duo sports some pretty sharp harmonies. Unfortunately, there was a lot of noise from off-stage - both from the rockers upstairs at Cafe DeKcuf and a couple of audience chatterboxes, who the ladies wasted no time in upbraiding.

Here's the appropriately lit Brenley and standup bassist Adrian Lawryshyn.

Madison Violet at Mavericks

Lisa is the multi-instrumentalist of the band, also throwing down on mandolin and fiddle as required - and yes, she is sister to the famous Ashley.

Madison Violet at Mavericks

Singalong action!

Madison Violet at Mavericks

Brenley works the harmonica.

Madison Violet at Mavericks

It was hard to get a good shot of Lis, she moves around a fair bit.

Madison Violet at Mavericks

Adrian at rest.

Madison Violet at Mavericks

Lisa fiddles about.

Madison Violet at Mavericks

Guitar action!

Madison Violet at Mavericks

More Lisa!

Madison Violet at Mavericks

And with extra violin.

Madison Violet at Mavericks

Final faceoff action!

Madison Violet at Mavericks

They're still on the road with the John Henrys (they wrap things up May 15 in Vancouver), but will be back in town for Westfest June 11.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Gotta getta sweatah

A few nights after seeing Jello Biafra and company tear the joint up I was back at Mavericks enjoying the relatively rustic sounds of Brendan Flynn and The Terrible Liars, who were opening for The John Henrys. I last saw Brendan and his band more than three years ago for a show at Babylon, when he was releasing Songs Of Brendan Flynn. By an odd coincidence that evening was a double-header as well. I'm not even going to pretend I can exactly remember what Flynn sounded like all those years ago - I can barely remember last week - but a faint sonic remembrance tells me he was a bit more rock on this occasion. On this night he was definitely working things out in a Steve Earle vein.

That Brendan.

Brendan Flynn and The Terrible Liars

The Terrible Liars include two-thirds of Acres, Matt Corbiere and bassist Mike Zorn.

Brendan Flynn and The Terrible Liars

Phil Evans finishes things off.

Brendan Flynn and The Terrible Liars

The other side of Brendan. As you can guess, the light was a bit low and a lot red.

Brendan Flynn and The Terrible Liars

Matt sings! Mike stares!

Brendan Flynn and The Terrible Liars

Brendan strums.

Brendan Flynn and The Terrible Liars

Still time for a few flash photos before they wrap things up.

Brendan Flynn and The Terrible Liars

Terrible action!

Brendan Flynn and The Terrible Liars

I did not know they still made ties like that. Perhaps they don't.

Brendan Flynn and The Terrible Liars

The whole lot.

Brendan Flynn and The Terrible Liars

Lying action!

Brendan Flynn and The Terrible Liars

Enthusiastic action!

Brendan Flynn and The Terrible Liars

And that's all she wrote since I arrived too late to catch their whole set.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Medical emergency

Jello Biafra just keeps on going. The One true Dead Kennedys frontman and spoken word artists is on a role of late, still as aggravated by oppression as ever and still just as keen on making rabble-rousing music. His latest band, The Guantanamo School of Medicine is packed with pros and turned in an ultra-tight performance at Mavericks to a highly appreciative audience. The crowd went wildest for The Dead Kennedys covers, but as Biafra noted during the set, punk rock was always about making something new. so most of the songs were from his new album, The Audacity of Hype.

Here's a couple of his crack band, Andrew Weiss on bass and Kimo Ball a.k.a. "the guy with the least grey hair in the band," on guitar.

Jello Biafra and The Guantanamo School of Medicine at Mavericks

Andrew's brother  Jon rocks the traps.

Jello Biafra and The Guantanamo School of Medicine at Mavericks

Guitarist Ralph Spight works the wah.

Jello Biafra and The Guantanamo School of Medicine at Mavericks

The mad doctor himself, Jello Biafra!

Jello Biafra and The Guantanamo School of Medicine at Mavericks

Biafra starts every song with a pantomime.

Jello Biafra and The Guantanamo School of Medicine at Mavericks

Medical action!

Jello Biafra and The Guantanamo School of Medicine at Mavericks

Flag-waving action!

Jello Biafra and The Guantanamo School of Medicine at Mavericks

Ralph sings!

Jello Biafra and The Guantanamo School of Medicine at Mavericks

"I'd jump in, but I'm a little worried about all these hands in the air ... you know dental work costs money ..."

Jello Biafra and The Guantanamo School of Medicine at Mavericks

Show promoter and punk rock photographer extraordinaire Shawn Scallen snaps!

Jello Biafra and The Guantanamo School of Medicine at Mavericks

Jello goes down!

Jello Biafra and The Guantanamo School of Medicine at Mavericks

Jello works out. California Uber Alles workes even better now with Arnie as governor.

Jello Biafra and The Guantanamo School of Medicine at Mavericks

Jello was geting wet from all the water-bottle spraying he was doing.

Jello Biafra and The Guantanamo School of Medicine at Mavericks

There was a sign saying no crowdsurfing on one of the pillars in the middle of mavericks. Jello must have missed it. Frequently. The two guys on stage are the band's roadies, reeling Jello back in.

Jello Biafra and The Guantanamo School of Medicine at Mavericks
Jello was shirtless by the encore.

Jello Biafra and The Guantanamo School of Medicine at Mavericks

Still crowdsurfing, though!

Jello Biafra and The Guantanamo School of Medicine at Mavericks

The band's next shows are in Europe, starting with Goteborg, Sweden on June 17.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Split single

I know what you're all thinking: Isn't it time Davey Quesnelle joined a band? Well, he's finally gotten around to it with Klovenhoofs. For a while, the band was going by the name Cloven Hoof, but then another hoofy lot from Britain with a somewhat longer pedigree ordered them to cease and desist. But enough about those geezers from across the pond ... Ottawa's hoofers feature scene veterans Shawn Jams Hill, Adam Fraser (who I completely forgot to mention in my earlier post - sorry bout that!), Davey and Scott Terry. These guys like their riffs monstrous and their lyrics shouty, putting me in the mind of Bison B.C., High on Fire and Asbestosdeath.

But first, the most important part of any rock'n'roll show — the drinking.

Klovenhoofs at Mavericks

Davey shouts!

Klovenhoofs at Mavericks

Shawn rocks the camo.

Klovenhoofs at Mavericks

Scott models the latest in Alaskan-wear.

Klovenhoofs at Mavericks

Shawn frets.

Klovenhoofs at Mavericks

Running about!

Klovenhoofs at Mavericks

Grimacing action!

Klovenhoofs at Mavericks

Scott sings!

Klovenhoofs at Mavericks

Bass-raising action!

Klovenhoofs at Mavericks

And Adam prepares to hit!

Klovenhoofs at Mavericks

The whole hairy lot!

Klovenhoofs at Mavericks

Their next show is April 30 at Cafe DeKcuf with Lullaby Orkestra. I also hear rumours that the guys are in a bunch of other bands. Pfft. I'll believe it when I see it.
  • Show reminder: The Dead Zone play The Rainbow Bistro; pH releases his new EP at the Mercury Lounge with Shadow Cabinet and Element Kuuda.