I Love Rock'n'Roll

There was a lot less going on in my Friday than I expected. There wasn't really much going on at Bluesfest I felt getting rained on for, so I stayed home until Joan Jett's set. I basically had to go and see Jett and her band because her single I Love Rock'n'Roll is the first I can ever remember hearing - I was probably about 10 at the time. Her set ranged through her glam influences (The Sweet's AC/DC), a couple of tunes from her days in The Runaways, Cherry Bomb and I Love Playin' With Fire, as well as hits like I Love Rock'n'Roll, Crimson and Clover, I Hate Myself For Loving You, Fetish, Fake Friends and Bad Reputation. There was also a very Replacements sounding tune cowritten with Paul Westerberg, Backlash. She finished with an encore of Everyday People. The crowd wasn't huge, but there were folks off al ages. I bumped into a coworker who was accompanied by his six-year-old daughter, and I saw an even younger lad in a porkpie hat being lifted aloft.

Joan and drummer Thommy Price.


Joan Jett & The Blackhearts at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 9, 2010

Guitarist Dougie Needles at right. He's a bouncy fellow.


Joan Jett & The Blackhearts at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 9, 2010

Rhythm section action with bassist Enzo. (Her longtime producer Kenny Laguna was also on hand to sing backup, play keyboards and shake the occasional maraca.)


Joan Jett & The Blackhearts at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 9, 2010

A very solid set. After it was over I made my way at top walking speed to Ritual for the release of Mother Children's album, That's Who! After a short while a horde of other Joan Jett-showgoers also walked in, so the club's lower floor was well-occupied for the band's snappy set.

Davey and Tim!


Mother's Children at Ritual, July 9, 2010

Michael and Ken!


Mother's Children at Ritual, July 9, 2010

And of course the new album is quite fab.

• Show reminder: Soviet Crowbeak, Cicida, Bruce Boris and The MudPlots are at Cafe Dekcuf; MonkeyJunk plays the post-Bluesfest show at The Rainbow; Brandon Agnew and The Rick Hayes Trio are at Irene's; The Divorcees and Jerry Leger perform at the Elmdale House.