Monday, May 31, 2010

Tooth and caw

I had hoped to catch a bunch of the bands at the Ravenswing Arts Fare at Minto Park Sunday but my day turned out a lot busier than planned and in the end all I managed was to see New Teeth. Oh well, they were just as good as I remembered from their Zaphod's show, back in September 2008 when they were a quartet.

New Teeth and assorted greenery.

New Teeth at Minto Park

Lucas Mackenzie sings some.

New Teeth at Minto Park

Aged drummer Will Staunton.

New Teeth at Minto Park

Large-egoed bassist Matt Gilmour.

New Teeth at Minto Park

Outdoor singalong action!

New Teeth at Minto Park

Clapping action!

New Teeth at Minto Park

More Will!

New Teeth at Minto Park

More Matt!

New Teeth at Minto Park

More Lucas!

New Teeth at Minto Park

Singing and citation-writing action!

New Teeth at Minto Park

The fisheye is really not good for a lot of outdoor photography ...

New Teeth at Minto Park

More singalong action!

New Teeth at Minto Park

Having triumphed in the last Big Money Shot! round, their next set is June 11 at Live Lounge for Round 2.
  • Show reminder: Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra makes a rare appearance at The Mayfair Theatre; Mouth and Eyes of New are at Zaphod's. The Dead Etiquette, Kobra and The Lotus and APE perform at The Rainbow.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Royal trucks

I'm not sure whose idea it was to have the final show of the Kelp 16th Anniversary event be a generator party on Victoria Island, but knowing Jon Bartlett's fondness for strange venues I have my suspicions ... At any rate, after Rhume wrapped up their great set at Raw Sugar, folks headed out the door and down Somerset St., trying to look as innocent as possible. The White Wires drove by in their U-Haul truck as I headed over to Empress, then off to Victoria Island. Last time I was on Victoria Island it was at the Naval Club, site of one of Kelp's 12th anniversary shows. This time around, the venue was a dusty parking lot opposite the climbing club.

Ian rocks the pink!

White Wires at Victoria Island

The whole lot!

White Wires at Victoria Island

Allie is prepared to go incognito.

White Wires at Victoria Island

And at this point, the generator gave up the ghost. Was it going to be the shortest set ever? Well no - after some inessential stuff was unplugged, things were raring to go.

White Wires at Victoria Island

Ian sings!

White Wires at Victoria Island

Luke sings!

White Wires at Victoria Island

Ian jumps about!

White Wires at Victoria Island

Allie's drum kit is well secured.

White Wires at Victoria Island

Wiry action!

White Wires at Victoria Island

I hope Johnny O's video turned out better than mine!

White Wires at Victoria Island

And so on!

White Wires at Victoria Island

Those Wires!

White Wires at Victoria Island

The crowd goes wild!

White Wires at Victoria Island

More Allie!

White Wires at Victoria Island

Girlfriend Wolfgang reaches for a high-five!

White Wires at Victoria Island

Rooftop action!

White Wires at Victoria Island

And there you go! The White Wires are going to be playing Ottawa again real soon, with a Gaga Weekend show June 12, a Westfest gig June 13, and a Bluesfest show July 17. Allie will also be appearing as Peach Kelli Pop (presumably with Ian as well) at IX on June 11.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Sugar topping

The final act of the night at raw Sugar was of course Rhume, featuring a bunch of folks you've seen already. They only perform once in a blue moon nowadays ... I'm guessing the next time we see them will be at Kelp's 17th anniversary.

A Rhume performance takes preparation, plus beer.

Rhume at Raw Sugar

On the right, Ramones and Leafs-loving guitarist Chris Page and drummer Jamie Gulliksen.

Rhume at Raw Sugar

On the left, guitarist No. 2 John Higney and bassist Jarrett Bartlet.

Rhume at Raw Sugar

And in the middle, Jon Bartlett. Usually Rhume shows end with Jon's pants suffering some kind of wardrobe failure ... in this case he started things off by changing into his show-outfit.

Rhume at Raw Sugar

And away they go!

Rhume at Raw Sugar

John frets!

Rhume at Raw Sugar

Jon works the tambourine.

Rhume at Raw Sugar

Singalong action with Piet Masone!

Rhume at Raw Sugar

Singalong action with Scott Terry!

Rhume at Raw Sugar

Shadowy action with Chris Page!

Rhume at Raw Sugar

Cymbal-stopping action with Jamie!

Rhume at Raw Sugar

Dancin' Jon!

Rhume at Raw Sugar

Overhead action!

Rhume at Raw Sugar

Singalong action with Jim Sproull!

Rhume at Raw Sugar

And last but cetainly not least, Jon sings the instructions to finding the secret White Wires show!

Rhume at Raw Sugar

So everybody ran off to Victoria Island.
  • Show reminder: Hartford, Michou and Final Thought are at Cafe Dekcuf. David Simard and Erin Lang and The Foundlings are at The Canteen; The Kingmakers and King Rattler are rocking The Elmdale House; The Rock'N'Roll Pizza Prom saunters into the Montgomery Legion on Kent St. The Sound Technicians, Cutthroat Kids and The Watters Brothers perform at Zaphod's; The Hammerheads have their regular Rainbow gig; The Wonder of Stevie plays Irene's. Rep by Pop and David Newberry roll into the Avant-Garde Bar.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Some ensemble required

From the mighty rock'n'roll power of Camp Radio we got to the mighty noodling psych-poppery of Tres Bien Ensemble. I wonder if they're named after The Beatles' song Michelle (there's actually more than one TBE out there). As mentioned earlier, singer and keyboardist Yawd Sylvester is in Wayne Omaha (and also The Violet Archers). I forgot to mention just about everyone save Weakerthan Greg Smith is also an Omaha vet.

Yawd! A bassist!* Matt James! Greg! You can't see drummer Kirk Hudson because Matt's in the way. Not shown: The PA dying. Maybe Camp Radio killed it.

Tres Biens Ensemble at Raw Sugar

After some mostly successful PA repair, Jon Bartlett comes on for one of several introductions.

Tres Biens Ensemble at Raw Sugar

Yawd turns a dial.

Tres Biens Ensemble at Raw Sugar

Singalong action with Matt and Greg!

Tres Biens Ensemble at Raw Sugar

The view from the other end of the keyboard, plus a less-obscured bassist, who I'm now told is Daniel 'Paco' Paquette, not Aaron 'Bass' MacPherson.

Tres Biens Ensemble at Raw Sugar

More Greg!

Tres Biens Ensemble at Raw Sugar

Kirk models the Flaming Axe fest look.

Tres Biens Ensemble at Raw Sugar

Pointing action!

Tres Biens Ensemble at Raw Sugar

Stylophonic action!

Tres Biens Ensemble at Raw Sugar

More Paco Aaron!

Tres Biens Ensemble at Raw Sugar

Thank you and goodnight!

Tres Biens Ensemble at Raw Sugar

They seemed quite improvised at times, but definitely in the Wayne Omaha mode.