Thursday, September 30, 2010

Dirty business

"Dirty reggae" perpetrators The Aggrolites were next on my "to see" list. As the announcement of the Bluesfest lineup approached I started thinking about who might end up on the bill. The folks who choose the acts aren't prone to revealing what's headed Ottawa's way, so so-called "Bluesfest rumours" mostly amount to looking at whose touring nearby and making an educated guess. I figured that Andrew Bird was just the sort of act they'd like (and sure enough there he was). Thanks to their fearsome live reputation I thought The Aggrolites might have a chance as well. The combo formed out of a pair of L.A. ska-reggae acts to back Derrick Morgan of Housewives' Choice fame.

Let's kick things off with singer-guitarist Jesse Wagner and rhythm axeman Brian Dixon.

The Aggrolites at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Roger Rivas rocks the bandanna.

The Aggrolites at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Sweaty denim action with bassist Jeff Roffredo.

The Aggrolites at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Drummer Alex Mackenzie sure looks young.

The Aggrolites at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Brian points!

The Aggrolites at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Jesse conducts the crowd.

The Aggrolites at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Singalong action with Jeff'n'Roger.

The Aggrolites at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Jesse lurches!

The Aggrolites at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

I hope there are no laundry mixups with these guys.

The Aggrolites at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

And the crowd goes circular!

The Aggrolites at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

The whole lot!

The Aggrolites at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

More guitar!

The Aggrolites at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Roger works it on out!

The Aggrolites at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

More Alex!

The Aggrolites at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Jeff sings!

The Aggrolites at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

They're currently touring (they may always be touring, actually) Arizona and California; then they head to the east coast of the U.S. before a turn southward.
  • Show reminder: Deerhoof, Xiu Xiu, Father Murphy make odd sounds at Mavericks (they've moved from Capital Music Hall); Bad Vibes and Mannequin rock the 'za at Nine; Ninety Pounds of Ugly and Liquorbox continue the hoedown at Zaphod's.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

The lens cracked

The Brothers Chaffey played a terrific set at Bluesfest in 2009 and were fortunately invited back for more of the same in 2010.

Matthew may have found it a bit warm for a leather jacket.

Brothers Chaffey at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

David Maxwell was on hand to add some keyboards.

Brothers Chaffey at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Dave MacDonald handles the low end.

Brothers Chaffey at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

I'm going to take a wild and totally unsubstantiated guess that the organist is Jeff Rogers.

Brothers Chaffey at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Brother Curtis rocks the Les Paul.

Brothers Chaffey at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Nick Diak rocks the headband.

Brothers Chaffey at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

More Matthew!

Brothers Chaffey at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

Brothers gotta work it out.

Brothers Chaffey at Ottawa Bluesfest 2010

I didn't take too many photos because at first I was operating under the assumption it wasn't allowed ... turns out this was the last day SLRs were (officially) allowed.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Have your fill

Chicagos Hollows are a bunch of ladies well-dressed for a groovy 1950s shindig, with a Kiss Med Deadly attitude (plus some Faster Pussycat, Kill! Kill!), a fondness for The Shangri-Las and some 1960s organ-driven garage rock sound.

Hannah shakes it and sings some, Maria plays the organ and sings some more, lone fellow Jason handles the drums, Emma plays bass and drinks, and Megan wields the guitar.

The Hollows at Babylon

Jason blurs!

The Hollows at Babylon

Maria sings!

The Hollows at Babylon

Megan and Emma!

The Hollows at Babylon

Great gams!

The Hollows at Babylon

Hannah sings!

The Hollows at Babylon

More Megan!

The Hollows at Babylon

Emma rocks the dots.

The Hollows at Babylon

Singalong action!

The Hollows at Babylon

More Maria!

The Hollows at Babylon

Rocking action!

The Hollows at Babylon

Drinking action!

The Hollows at Babylon

More Jason!

The Hollows at Babylon

More Megan!

The Hollows at Babylon

And that's that. Apart from a couple of hometown shows their dance-card seems pretty empty right now.
  • Show reminder: It's a surprisingly busy Tuesday with Villagers and Winchester Warm aat Mavericks. The O-Town Hoedown is at Irene's with Shirt-Tearing Boys and Dry River Caravan; Czech proggers Uz Jsme Doma have been compared to Frank Zappa, Fugazi, Men At Work, The Damned, Pere Uba and god knows who else - they're at Zaphod's with Mouth. Folkies Pete Vandyke and Zachery Adams perform at the Rainbow.

Monday, September 27, 2010

The book of Kelli

Up next at Babylon opening for The Hollows was Peach Kelli Pop. a.k.a. Allie Hanlon of The White Wires. as PKP she records solo, and all over the place, to judge from the liners of her freshly released LP, but live she's backed by sister Em, Davey Quesnelle and Matt Oxley.

Allie sings!

Peach Kelli Pop at Babylon

Em goes red!

Peach Kelli Pop at Babylon

Davey! Oxley! Allie!

Peach Kelli Pop at Babylon

Rhythm section action!

Peach Kelli Pop at Babylon

Allie'n'Matt.

Peach Kelli Pop at Babylon

The whole lot!

Peach Kelli Pop at Babylon

"The song should be this fast."

Peach Kelli Pop at Babylon

Emily works the tambourine.

Peach Kelli Pop at Babylon

The end!

Peach Kelli Pop at Babylon

As mentioned earlier, the LP is out now, and I believe I heard talk of a split single being recorded in California over the summer.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Achin' all over

If this is Monday (which it isn't now, but was back on July 12) then the beast that is Bluesfest slumbers (apart from a few stirrings in the Byward Market) and I must seek my evening's entertainment in the clubs that are my usual haunts. Strangely enough Chicago's Hollows decided to breeze through town and put a show on with lo-fi pop cutie Peach Kelli Pop and The Shakey Aches. When I went through the front door of Babylon - where the show was held after some fiddling - The Shakey Aches already had a couple of songs and some technical difficulties under their belts. Specifically, frontman Mean Mad Matthews vocal reverb had expired. Fortunately he can make do without it. The band features folks from Art Burn, The Glads, The Desecrators and Screamin' Fists, so you know the music has a gentle reverence for the eardrums of its listeners. Yes, that is sarcasm.

First, one-time Desecrator and Half-Miler Darrell.

Shakey Aches at Babylon

Stage right, bassist Brain.

Shakey Aches at Babylon

And in the middle, drummer Tim (also Desecrators and The Glads, lately seen manning the traps for Garaga) and Mean Mad Matthew.

Shakey Aches at Babylon

Drumming action!

Shakey Aches at Babylon

Brainy action!

Shakey Aches at Babylon

Mean action!

Shakey Aches at Babylon

The shouty bit!

Shakey Aches at Babylon

Bendy action!

Shakey Aches at Babylon

Darrell frets!

Shakey Aches at Babylon

The end!

Shakey Aches at Babylon

They're playing next at the Rock'N'Roll Pizza Party Oct. 7 ... it'll be something of a Desecrators reunion since Mississippi Grover is also on the bill. An EP is also in the works.