Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Run for the hills

Back when I was a school-going teen, Iron Maiden was all the rage with my peers. I was more of a Beatles fan, but I did absorb a lot of it secondhand (along with Judas Priest and Black Sabbath) and I was keen to see the legendary metallurgists live. The band put on a first-rate show, though as someone seeing them for the first time I did find find myself wishing they'd played more of their classic stuff.

Iron Maiden at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Here comes Bruce!

Iron Maiden at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Guitar action with Janick Gers!

Iron Maiden at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

More guitar action with Dave Murray!

Iron Maiden at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Bass action with band founder Steve Harris!

Iron Maiden at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Janick stretches!

Iron Maiden at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

More guitar action with Adrian Smith!

Iron Maiden at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Hair-raising action!

Iron Maiden at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

About the only way I could get a shot of Nicko McBrain was on the big screen.

Iron Maiden at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

They're just checking to see if he's actually back there (I kid).

Iron Maiden at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

More guitar!

Iron Maiden at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

And so on!

Iron Maiden at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

"Scream for me Ottawa!"

Iron Maiden at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Bruce takes it up a level.

Iron Maiden at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

More Eddie!

Iron Maiden at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

More Adrian!

Iron Maiden at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Monitor standing action!

Iron Maiden at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Little Bruce, big Ed.

Iron Maiden at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Even more guitar!

Iron Maiden at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Even more, more guitar!

Iron Maiden at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

The whole lot!

Iron Maiden at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Then I zipped off to see the rest of the Kelp revue.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Record revue

Kelp Records took over the Subway Stage for Bluesfest's first night, following a performance by blueswoman Ana Popovic. First up, from the Kelp crew was Andrew Vincent, accompanied by Jon Lomow and label kingpin Jon Bartlett.

Andrew sings!

Andrew Vincent at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Closeup action1

Andrew Vincent at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Jon No. 1 hits!

Andrew Vincent at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Jon sings!

Andrew Vincent at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Jon N. 2 handles the bass (he also played some keyboard).

Andrew Vincent at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

The whole lot!

Andrew Vincent at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

More Vincent!

Andrew Vincent at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

More Jon!

Andrew Vincent at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Then it was Chris Page's turn. The first song was an acoustic number, complete with mandolin accompaniment.

Chris Page at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Jon makes some introductions.

Chris Page at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Chris sings! It was an excellent day to be wearing sunglasses. My brain got totally baked because I took off my sunhat and didn't drink enough waterr.

Chris Page at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Guitar action!

Chris Page at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Really, I want to know where Dave Draves gets his pants.

Chris Page at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Unfortunately I couldn't stick around since Iron Maiden was preparing to go on.
  • Show reminder: Engineer, KENmode, Alaskan and Bless this Mess will be pummelling eardrums at Babylon; folky fellow Scott Biggar is at the Umi Cafe; Stuffed Buffalo and PARISONA play the Rainbow.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Where's the love

After Dream Theatre wrapped things up on the main stage, it was a short walk to a good position at the other stage in front of the war museum to catch some of Loudlove's performance. I was very impressed with their show at last year's Bluesfest. I wasn't quite feeling it to the same degree this time around, but they put ona fun set and frontman Peter Hammond's joking about Iron Maiden's reaction to hearing reggae tunes before their own set were fairly amusing.

The man himself.

Loudlove at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Keyboardist Emile Leitch, axeman Sean Hendy and a bit of drummer Dan Loach.

Loudlove at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

This band likes their porkpies.

Loudlove at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Singalong action with bassist Hans Levac!

Loudlove at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Gripping action!

Loudlove at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

More Hans!

Loudlove at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

More Emile!

Loudlove at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

More Dan!

Loudlove at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Jumping action!

Loudlove at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Bonus Emile!

Loudlove at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

More Sean!

Loudlove at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

More gesticulating!

Loudlove at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Then I zipped off to catch some of the Kelp Records Showcase ... as for Loudlove, they seem to be between shows.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

In your sleep

The first inkling of a Bluesfest lineup was an announcement by Iron Maiden to their fanclub that they would be playing Ottawa on the festival's opening day. Only natural then that their tourmates in Dream Theater would also line up a gig as well. The band is well known as one of the most technically proficient acts around, having formed at the Berklee College of Music around the core of rummer Mike Portnoy, guitarist John Petrucci and bassist John Myung. The original trio seem to be a constant presence in the magazines dedicated to proficiency in their chosen instruments (Modern Drummer, Guitar World, etc.), and keyboardist Jordan Rudess and singer James LaBrie are no slouches either. Having been in the business in one form or another for something like a quarter-century, they know their business. My personal tastes in heavy metal run more toward doom, NWOBHM and certain blackened forms, but I still enjoyed their tight set.

Rhythm section action with Myung and Portnoy (and an almost completely obscured Rudess).

Dream Theater at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

James Labrie rocks the hair.

Dream Theater at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

The horns can stay, but I'm with LaBrie - the ball has gotta go.

Dream Theater at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Hmm, maybe I should look into dying my beard ... naaah!

Dream Theater at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

More LaBrie!

Dream Theater at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Rudess's keyboards are mounted on swivels for extra convenience.

Dream Theater at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Let the record show that Portnoy was not the drummer with the largest kit at Bluesfest, appearances notwithstanding.

Dream Theater at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

More Myung!

Dream Theater at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

And let us not forget axeman extraordinaire Petrucci.

Dream Theater at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Monitor-standing action!

Dream Theater at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Faceoff action!

Dream Theater at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

We like you too!

Dream Theater at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Huggy action!

Dream Theater at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Stick-tossing action!

Dream Theater at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

More Rudess!

Dream Theater at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Fretful action!

Dream Theater at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

More monitor-standing action!

Dream Theater at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Rudess takes a turn at centre stage.

Dream Theater at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Thank you and goodnight!

Dream Theater at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Dream Theater is now taking a little break, at least from touring, while Portnoy handles the sticks for Avenged Sevenfold.