Saturday, April 30, 2011

In training

The Train Jumpers finished off the "folk" section of Jam for Japan. Frontman Chris Landry was also the guy who kickstarted the idea (as far as I recall from various Facebook postings).

But first, some thrilling raffle prize awarding, featuring Brady!

Train Jumpers at The Rainbow

Chris sings!

Train Jumpers at The Rainbow

Tara sings!

Train Jumpers at The Rainbow

Stuart makes his return to the stage for some banjo-pickin'.

Train Jumpers at The Rainbow

Singalong action!

Train Jumpers at The Rainbow

Slide action!

Train Jumpers at The Rainbow

More Tara!

Train Jumpers at The Rainbow

The view from above!

Train Jumpers at The Rainbow

The view from the side!

Train Jumpers at The Rainbow

Their next show is May 14 at Zaphod's.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Out the door

Next on deck for Japan was Cluade Munson - "my name and the name of the band" - which in this case was just himself and drummer Pascal Delaquis; guitarist Jean-Francois Delaquis was unavailable so they might sound less ethereal on other occasions.

Claude.

Claude Munson at The Rainbow

More Claude and a bit of low-resolution Pascal.

Claude Munson at The Rainbow

A somewhat better version of Pascal.

Claude Munson at The Rainbow

Claude frets!

Claude Munson at The Rainbow

More Pascal!

Claude Munson at The Rainbow

Claude sings!

Claude Munson at The Rainbow

A bit of cymbal stickage didn't seem to stop Pascal.

Claude Munson at The Rainbow

The end!

Claude Munson at The Rainbow

His next show is at the Trailhead April 30.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Evening star

Looking about for something to do last night, I stumbled over The Treasures. The Toronto outlaw country syle band were sharing a bill with Laurent Bourque, who I've seen and enjoyed before opening for Old Crowns at Mavericks, and Sam Bradley who has been enjoying some success in the pop-soul-folk genre thanks to his inclusion as a cowriter of one of the tunes on the Twilight soundtrack (although the movies are alleged to be atrocious, the music selection doesn't seem half-bad). However, I mostly marched off to Cafe DeKcuf on the merits of The Treasures' Tried So Hard.

Laurent was already up an running when I got in the door. Last time I saw him he was accompanied by Jamie Kronick - this time he was truly solo, and sounding quite good. He did have to compete with the loud rumble coming from the all-ages punk rock show coming from downstairs - "I told the promoter I should be on that bill," he joked.

Laurent Bourque at Cafe DeKcuf
Laurent Bourque at Cafe DeKcuf, April 27, 2011

As for The Treasures, this is their  first trip to Ottawa, which they seemed to enjoy. I can think of a bunch of local acts they should get on a bill with for their promised return (The John Henrys would suit just fine). They certainly lived up to my advance listening.

The Treasures of Cafe DeKcuf
The Treasures at Cafe DeKcuf, April 27, 2011

The Treasures of Cafe DeKcuf
The Treasures at Cafe DeKcuf, April 27, 2011

Finally Sam Bradley closed things off with a set that made me think of J.J. Grey and Mofro, who also blend folk, rock and soul, albeit with a far more southern, swampy feel.He has a very adept backing band in guitarist John Notto, drummer Mark Kerrey (also responsible for some of the songwriting) and bassist Jeff Riedlinger. Perhaps the convivial feeling was due to about half the audience being family members: "My grandfather is here, my mom, my cousins ... my dog, my cat ..." he joked between songs.

Sam Bradley at Cafe DeKcuf
Sam Bradley at Cafe DeKcuf, April 27, 2011

And a less-flashy photo.

Sam Bradley at Cafe DeKcuf
Sam Bradley at Cafe DeKcuf, April 27, 2011

A pleasant way to spend an evening.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

To L. and back

On a dark and dreary Wednesday I popped over to The Rainbow to do my bit for Japan by standing around and listening to a bunch of local folk and rock acts brought together to help out the tsunami-earthquake-nuclear-accident-plagued nation by raising a few bucks. First on the bill was L. Poushinsky, who has been slugging it out in the coffee shops, clubs and bars of our fair capital for a few years now.

And here she is!

L. Poushinsky at The Rainbow

That's Dave Edwards behind her helping out on drums.

L. Poushinsky at The Rainbow

Mallet time!

L. Poushinsky at The Rainbow

Closeup action!

L. Poushinsky at The Rainbow

Bonus Dave!

L. Poushinsky at The Rainbow

Lisa rocks the frets!

L. Poushinsky at The Rainbow

Train-jumper Stuart Rutherford helped out on a few tunes.

L. Poushinsky at The Rainbow

Extra Stuart!

L. Poushinsky at The Rainbow

At the time of the show, she was looking for musicians for an upcoming East Coast tour.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

But no quiet

Vancouver's Peace are a band it's impossible not to like ... because after all, you have to be a total bastard to walk around saying "I hate Peace!" Also in its favour are the declamatory post punk the band has honed to a sharp point. Despite a recent interview with White Lung's Mish Way where they claimed to "only play bad shows," this one was quite good.

On our right, guitar men Daniel Geddes and Michael Willock.

Peace at Capital Rehearsal Studio

At left, the mighty rhythm section of Connor Mayer and drummer Geoff Dembicki.

Peace at Capital Rehearsal Studio

Shadowy action!

Peace at Capital Rehearsal Studio

Daniel sings!

Peace at Capital Rehearsal Studio

Guitar action!

Peace at Capital Rehearsal Studio

Drumming action!

Peace at Capital Rehearsal Studio

To heck with it, I'll provide my own extra lighting!

Peace at Capital Rehearsal Studio

More guitar!

Peace at Capital Rehearsal Studio

More bending!

Peace at Capital Rehearsal Studio

The shouty bit!

Peace at Capital Rehearsal Studio

Peaceful action!

Peace at Capital Rehearsal Studio

More Geoff!

Peace at Capital Rehearsal Studio

Behind the back action!

Peace at Capital Rehearsal Studio

Their album My Face is swell, too.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Crosss purposes

Here's what I now about Cross. They like Black Sabbath, are very fuzzy, hail from Montreal and Halifax, they have a track on the much-recommended Khyber Compilation and there are three of them. They played quite a good set with Peace at Capital Rehearsal Studio April 9 - far more interesting than the pictures would suggest.

It's not easy when you've only got one green bulb to work with ...

Crosss at Capital Rehearsal Studio

All thecool kids play Hagstrom these days ... though I think it's the first bass I've seen in some time.

Crosss at Capital Rehearsal Studio

Drumming action!

Crosss at Capital Rehearsal Studio

Upside down guitar action!

Crosss at Capital Rehearsal Studio

Green fuzz action!

Crosss at Capital Rehearsal Studio

Shadowy drumming action!

Crosss at Capital Rehearsal Studio

Shadowy bass action!

Crosss at Capital Rehearsal Studio

Happy drumming action!

Crosss at Capital Rehearsal Studio

Fretful action!

Crosss at Capital Rehearsal Studio

On the plus side, you can eat off the Capital Rehearsal Studio's floors.

Crosss at Capital Rehearsal Studio

That's a handsome bandolier.

Crosss at Capital Rehearsal Studio

There was also an exciting finish I completely failed to capture.
  • Show reminder: If you were at the Peace/Cross show, you probably want to be at Cafe DeKcuf to see Long Long Long, Total Crush and Dream Friends; you can bang your head at The Rainbow to Kill It Opous and Arch Spire.