Cruisin' for a bruisin'

In the early years of the 21st century, a group of musicians came together in Toronto to perform as a Fall tribute band. They dubbed themselves The Creeping Nobodies and soldiered on with varying lineups until around 2009. Some former Nobodies brought their subsequent bands - Karaoke and Bruised Knees - up to Ottawa for a show with locals Caymans, put on by the Bruised Tongue folks.

The Caymans made me think a bit of Royal Trux, early-to-mid period. Guitarist Blake Hargreaves I saw last performing as 50% of Thames at Sounds Unlikely.


Caymans at Raw Sugar, January 20, 2012

Drummer Joni Sadler was of course part of the Sounds Unlikely crew in addition to working at CHUO.


Caymans at Raw Sugar, January 20, 2012

As unlikely as my Caymans-Royal Trux comparison might sound, I thought Karaoke reminded me of antipodean odd-rockers Tall Dwarves. Seriously brain, what are you thinking?!? Anyway, there's something in the vocal cadences and rhythms of Michelle Breslin and Derek Westerholm that put me in mind ...


Karaoke at Raw Sugar, January 20, 2012

It's a two-guitar combo that really works.


Karaoke at Raw Sugar, January 20, 2012
 
Quartet Bruised Knees closed the night with a somewhat more conventional band performance, making me think a bit of postpunks Joy Division and others of that era, as well as more modern chillwave combos.


Bruised Knees at Raw Sugar, January 20, 2012

Lots of cool guitar noises from every act...


Bruised Knees at Raw Sugar, January 20, 2012

Great sounding sets from everyone!

• Show reminder: Kingdom Shore, The James Annett Trio, CPI and DJ Jairus Khan will be providing some more out-sounds at Raw Sugar; Flying Fortress, Criticull and Muffler Crunch rock The Brass Monkey; Danny Rebel & The KGB, Freshly Cut and The Sentries play Club SAW; Bludgeoned, Sofistifucks and Asile make some noise at HasselHouse on 295 Powell. The Souljazz Orchestra performs at Mavericks; The Back Talk Organ Trio are at Irene's; the Elmdale hosts The Steve Thomas Band and The Jimmy Roy Band.