Mish-mash

I have been hearing many, many good things about Mike Essoudry's Mash Potato Mashers, but haven't had an opportunity to catch them live so I was glad that our schedules finally coincided - that they were opening for the Hi Lo Trons was also a major plus, so off to Babylon on a snowy Friday.

Mike Essoudry's combo did a good job warming things up; It's a nine-man parade style band, and no doubt you'll recognize such drum'n'brass troopers as drummer-to-many Matt Ouimet, saxophonist Linsey Wellman and only-sousaphonist-in-town Brian Sanderson from previous National Capital Rock appearances (Hi Lo Tronist Mike Schutz also contributes trombone). They're music features a lot of klezmer and New Orleans influence - though I did hear some warming up to Kraftwerk's The Robots before the show.


Mike Essoudry's Mash Potato Mashers at Babylon, January 15, 2011

They're a brassy lot!


Mike Essoudry's Mash Potato Mashers at Babylon, January 15, 2011

It's been quite a while since I've seen The Hi Lo Trons live - the 2008 edition of Bluesfest to be precise. Anyway, they served up a tasty dish of their patented new wave sound, along with a bevy ofnew songs.


The Hi Lo Trons  at Babylon, January 15, 2011

Paul gets twangy on the other side of the stage.


The Hi Lo Trons  at Babylon, January 15, 2011

Lots of dancing going on at this show, and a big turnout like you'd expect.

• Show reminder: Bad Doctor, The Primetimes and Boxhands are at The Rainbow.