Saturday, December 31, 2011

Bluesfest: Mama Kin

@011 must have been Bluesfest's Year of the Australians. I saw three myself. Well, okay, three isn't a lot, but Australia's quite far away, isn't it? We had the reggae act, the ska act, and now the slightly bohemian jazz department pops up in the shape of Mama Kin. Known as Danielle Caruana to her folks, she's the wife of John Butler, a fairly big name in Oz musical circles.

Some precise drumming from George Servanis.

Mama Kin at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

It's a stripped down outfit - here's Brother Michael on keys and Ms. Caruana.

Mama Kin at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

It's all about the snap brims, you know.

Mama Kin at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

Mamma sings!

Mama Kin at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

Gripping action!

Mama Kin at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

George brushes up.

Mama Kin at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

Caja action!

Mama Kin at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

More Mama!

Mama Kin at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

Looks like she's touring again in March - in Australia and New Zealand, anyway.
  • Show reminder: There are New Year's Eve shows hither and yon, the heaviest is probably Alaskan, Rough House, Currents, Shahman and We Fled Cairo at 446 Lisgar. Monkeyjunk rings in the New Year at The Rainbow; Electric Six does the same at Mavericks; The Ya-Yas do it Stones style at The Elmdale; Dry River Caravan is at Irene's.

Friday, December 30, 2011

Bluesfest: Ben Cooper

Back in the depths of 2005, I chanced to see a pleasant performance at Zaphod Beeblebrox by Stone Melodies. I noted in my writeup that they had one a slot at the previous year's Bluesfest. This year I had a chance to see guitarist Ben Cooper on his own.

Harmonica adjusting action! (That's bassist Dan Joseph to the left of Cooper)

Ben Cooper Band

The omnipresent Tyler Kealey lends a hand on the keys.

Ben Cooper Band

Hail Satan!

Ben Cooper Band

Ben sings!

Ben Cooper Band

Extra drumming from Dan Loach!

Ben Cooper Band

And so on!

Ben Cooper Band

He'll be at Grace O'Malley's on Ogilvie Rd. for a New Year's Eve show with The Jackson Miles Band.
  • Show reminder: Critical Convictions, Avon Dealer and Spilt Guts rock Cafe Dekcuf; Holy Cobras, Roberta Bondar, Grime Kings and Boyhood play the Capital Rehearsal Hall at 240 Bank St.; Mark Crissinger and some other folks will perform at Irene's; Maria Hawkins is in the house at The Rainbow; Old Stereo with opener Sean Duhaime Trio are at the Elmdale.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Bluesfest: The Brothers Dube

The Brothers Dube have done a lot of good work with their fundraising efforts, gigging outside the Bluesfest gates and elsewhere - I hear their latest tally is in the $135,000 range. They also got quite a bit of attention after last year's Bluesfest when Arcade Fire went out to jam with them (the brothers reportedly had no idea who they were). For this Bluesfest, they got some stage time (and also a big check from the Claridge Homes folks earlier in the festival).

Them brothers! Guitarist Liam, drummer Quinn and bassist Jan.

Dube Brothers

Jan chats up the crowd.

Dube Brothers

Quinn mans the traps.

Dube Brothers

Liam frets!

Dube Brothers

Jan sings!

Dube Brothers

Then I once again took a powder, this time to check out Ben Cooper. You can check out their website for the latest news and to give them a hand.
  • Show reminder: There's furious fundraising action at the Elmdale with Furious Gord and Dirty Little Secret.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Bluesfest: Amanda Rheaume

Amanda Rheaume's another Ottawa performer who I only seem to ever catch at Bluesfest; I didn't see her last year but have been able to catch her upward arc in previous years.

Amanda strums and sings!

Amanda Rheaume at Ottawa Bluesfest

Steely action!

Amanda Rheaume at Ottawa Bluesfest

Bass action!

Amanda Rheaume at Ottawa Bluesfest

More Amanda!

Amanda Rheaume at Ottawa Bluesfest

Organ action!

Amanda Rheaume at Ottawa Bluesfest

Faceoff action!

Amanda Rheaume at Ottawa Bluesfest

Extra bass! And you can tell it's sunny out by the fare ... that didn't last!

Amanda Rheaume at Ottawa Bluesfest

Guitar action!

Amanda Rheaume at Ottawa Bluesfest

Harmonica action!

Amanda Rheaume at Ottawa Bluesfest

It was just a quick stop, then I rushed off to see The Dube Brothers do their thing. Edit, Dec. 30: So quick I forgot I came back to watch more of the show and take a few more photos ... here's some clapping action with sundry guests and tots.

Amanda Rheaume at Ottawa Bluesfest

Olympian action!

Amanda Rheaume at Ottawa Bluesfest

Amanda's next big scheduled gig in town is April 21 at the Masonic Hall, but I suspect they'll be more on her calendar in the New Year.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Bluesfest: Mother Mother

Mother Mother have been around for almost seven years, based aroubd the songwriting and guitar of Ryan Guildemond and have garnered quite a bit of attention from the young'uns, and have released three albums, the latest Eureka on the Last Gang label.

Jasmin Parkin gets things in order.

Mother Mother at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

Jeremy Page gives the order.

Mother Mother at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

Ryan rocks the quiff.

Mother Mother at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

That's Guildemond's sister Molly at left.

Mother Mother at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

The whole lot, including a mostly obscured Ali Siadat on drums.

Mother Mother at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

Singalong action!

Mother Mother at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

Bonus Ryan!

Mother Mother at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

They're currently prepping for a trio of shows at Vancouver's Commodore Ballroom December 29-31.
  • Show reminder: Take Down Frosty and 3MD perform at The Rainbow.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Bluesfest: Nicole Atkins

Nicole Atkins and The Black Sea are a Brooklyn-based combo with a serious jones for the cool-yet-sultry sounds of 1970s female singer-songwriters. I compared her to Stevie Nicks. Roy Orbison has also been cited as an influence. I can't disagree with that, but live the addition of guitarist Irina Yalkowsky changes the formula a bit: Yalkowsky definitely likes to stray from the straight and narrow when it comes to the slide.

Black and white tambourine action!

Nicole Atkins & The Black Sea at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

The sunny side of Atkins.

Nicole Atkins & The Black Sea at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

Iria slides!

Nicole Atkins & The Black Sea at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011
Irina Yalkowsky and bassist Jeremy Kay. Along with drummer Ezra Oklan

Bassist Jeremy Kay. Well, mostly a microphone stand, but also Kay.

Nicole Atkins & The Black Sea at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

Drummer Ezra Oklan.

Nicole Atkins & The Black Sea at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

It was quite sunny.

Nicole Atkins & The Black Sea at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

Nicole goes acoustic!

Nicole Atkins & The Black Sea at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

Irina does not go acoustic.

Nicole Atkins & The Black Sea at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

Guitar action!

Nicole Atkins & The Black Sea at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

Bonus Jeremy!

Nicole Atkins & The Black Sea at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

Extra Ezra.

Nicole Atkins & The Black Sea at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

The whole lot!

Nicole Atkins & The Black Sea at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

It's all quiet on the Black Sea front right now.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Bluesfest: Thornetta Davis

Detroit's Thornetta Davis first came to my attention as a backing singer for Big Chief (a post she's also filled with Kid Rock), but ever since her first album she's hewed more closely to traditional R&B and blues. She does it so well, who could complain?

Guitar action with Paul Carey!

Thornetta Davis at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

Conga action with James “Jamalot” Anderson! (Also Davis's husband, as it happens.)

Thornetta Davis at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

You can't say Paul doesn't enjoy his work.

Thornetta Davis at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

"And now, the lady we've all been waiting for!" (Or words to that effect.)

Thornetta Davis at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

I'm not sure who was manning the kit for her this go-around.

Thornetta Davis at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

Thornetta Davis, at last!

Thornetta Davis at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

Hmm ... I'm not sure tie-die is her thing.

Thornetta Davis at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

Scarf-waving action!

Thornetta Davis at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

Black and white blues action!

Thornetta Davis at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

And a wee bit more Paul.

Thornetta Davis at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

No word on recent activity.
  • Show reminder: It's Christmas, for Christ's sake! Although apparently there is Spagnog at Zaphod's ...