Thursday, January 31, 2013

So, so solid sounds

The VEO's National Gallery show wasn't the only music on offer that Thursday in July; there was also some punk to be had at Cafe DeKcuf, starting with Solids. They came back to town about a month after their corking set at Ottawa Explosion. Suffice to say they enjoyed performing in the Cafe's air-conditioned environs more than the sweltering heat outside the SAW Gallery.

Xavier rocks the Jazzmaster.

Solids at Cafe DeKcuf

A shadowy Louis shows the Alaskan love.

Solids at Cafe DeKcuf

Fisheye action!

Solids at Cafe DeKcuf

More Louis.

Solids at Cafe DeKcuf

Allright, time to bust out the flash.

Solids at Cafe DeKcuf

Xavier sings!

Solids at Cafe DeKcuf

The end!

Solids at Cafe DeKcuf

And it won't be too long before they're back in town: Pressed is the venue, March 8 is the date. (Edited on Jan. 30, as I fail at reading comprehension: it's Crusades that is also on the bill, not Pregnancy Scares).

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Experimental emissions

As Bluesfest faded into the distance, so did Ottawa's heat-wave. It was a very pleasant Thursday afternoon when I headed over to the National Gallery of Canada to see the Valiha Experimental Orchestra. I can't recall another live set from then that I've attended, but longtime followers of the blog may be familiar with associated acts Castor, Pollux, and Carlangas. The band specializes in a crossbreeding of the blues and Malagasay music.

And here they are: Charlie Brooks, his brother James, will Desjardins and Dave Reford.

Valiha Experimental Orchestra at the National Gallery of Canada

Will shakes it.

Valiha Experimental Orchestra at the National Gallery of Canada

Charlie strums!

Valiha Experimental Orchestra at the National Gallery of Canada

Percussive action!

Valiha Experimental Orchestra at the National Gallery of Canada

There was also some audience-participation chalk drawing.

Valiha Experimental Orchestra at the National Gallery of Canada

Some tootling as well.

Valiha Experimental Orchestra at the National Gallery of Canada

Dave goes acoustic.

Valiha Experimental Orchestra at the National Gallery of Canada

More Charlie!

Valiha Experimental Orchestra at the National Gallery of Canada

Feedback action!

Valiha Experimental Orchestra at the National Gallery of Canada

James takes a turn on trumpet.

Valiha Experimental Orchestra at the National Gallery of Canada

Yet more Charlie!

Valiha Experimental Orchestra at the National Gallery of Canada

Will shakes it some more!

Valiha Experimental Orchestra at the National Gallery of Canada

The end!

Valiha Experimental Orchestra at the National Gallery of Canada

Some fine mellow and not-so-mellow sounds.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Bluesfest: Young Empires

And now the last show - for me, anyway - of Bluesfest 2012. The band in question is Toronto electro-pop combo Young Empires, who have been enjoying a fair amount of success for a three-year-old band. They seemed pretty lively, but weren't really turning my crank.

Robert Aaron Ellingson rocks the Telecaster.

Young Empires at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

Bass action with Jacob Palahnuk!

Young Empires at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

Drumming action with Taylor Hill!

Young Empires at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

Matthew Vlahovich handles the keys and sings.

Young Empires at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

Empirical action!

Young Empires at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

More bass!

Young Empires at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

Rhythm section action!

Young Empires at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

And that's that for another year!

Monday, January 28, 2013

Bluesfest: The Postelles

After watching The Balconies, I didn't feel much need to hang around, but I did wander off to the Electro Stage to check out The Postelles, an indie band from New York. It was quite capable indie guitar rock.

Here's singer Daniel Balk and bassist John Speyer.

The Postelles at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

David Dargahi rocks the Jazzmaster.

The Postelles at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

Gripping action!

The Postelles at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

David sings, Billy Cadden mans the traps.

The Postelles at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

Extra Billy!

The Postelles at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

Closeup action!

The Postelles at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

More John!

The Postelles at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

Singalong action!

The Postelles at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

Rhythm section action!

The Postelles at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

More guitar!

The Postelles at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

They're doing a bit of touring in February and March, including a few stops in Canada - Peterborough is their closest date, on Feb. 26.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

The sweat of their brow

I dragged my heels over to the Dominion Tavern Saturday night for a bit of deja vu: A show featuring a collection of heavy metal bands, one of which has been recording in Yogi's studio. This time around it was Monobrow, not Cauchemar showing off their new record - on multicoloured wax of course. I just barely made it in the door; the woman behind me was turned away for capacity reasons. as it is, I arrived too late to see opener Electric Ruin.

Swarm of Spheres were next on stage with some jet engine roar.

Swarm of Spheres at the Dominion Tavern
Swarm of Spheres at the Dominion Tavern, January 26, 2013

Jay rocks the Flying V!

Swarm of Spheres at the Dominion Tavern
Swarm of Spheres at the Dominion Tavern, January 26, 2013

Loviatar came next. They have a new three-part song called Stygian Worm which they premiered for the dragon-loving crowd.

Loviatar at the Dominion Tavern
Loviatar at the Dominion Tavern, January 26, 2013

Stygian action.

Loviatar at the Dominion Tavern
Loviatar at the Dominion Tavern, January 26, 2013

Monobrow finished things off; they started the set with the first half of their new album, Bennington Triangle Blues.

Monobrow at the Dominion Tavern
Monobrow at the Dominion Tavern, January 26, 2013

Sam rocks the low end. The band also played a couple fo songs possibly going on album No. 3.

Monobrow at the Dominion Tavern
Monobrow at the Dominion Tavern, January 26, 2013

And now I have to find a few moments to listen to my copy.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Sleeping underground

One good thing about being gainfully unemployed - my evenings are now free and I can toodle off to the House of Targ on the last Friday of the month to see fine performers of the high volume persuasion. Last night was an excellent example, with Quebec metallurgists Cauchemar joining local black and thrashy outfits Barrow Wight and Occult Burial.

Occult Burial is new on the scene, have just laid down their five-song demo, and sounded mighty fine. They also covered both Celtic Frost and Bathory with throat-gargling intensity. 

Occult Burial at the House of Targ
Occult Burial at the House of Targ, January 25, 2013

Guitarist Daniel definitely has the metal hair, and the bullet belt to go with it.

Occult Burial at the House of Targ
Occult Burial at the House of Targ, January 25, 2013

Barrow Wight are now down to a trio, and really ripped things up.

Barrow Wight at the House of Targ
Barrow Wight at the House of Targ, January 25, 2013

Shady action behind the traps.

Barrow Wight at the House of Targ
Barrow Wight at the House of Targ, January 25, 2013

Cauchemar are in town recording their next album with House of Targ overlord Paul "Yogi" Granger (familiar to many from his work with Ukrainia and The Double Pumpers) and showed off a bunch of smashing new tunes, a few of which were getting their first airing before a live crowd.

Cauchemar at the House of Targ
Cauchemar at the House of Targ, January 25, 2013

Patrick from Asile and Bastardator keeps the beat.

Cauchemar at the House of Targ
Cauchemar at the House of Targ, January 25, 2013

By the time they were done, the crowd was really throwing itself about.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Bluesfest: The Balconies

The Balconies are another Ottawa band I can always stand to see more of. They were a Gaga Weekend revelation a few years back, and have impressed on all subsequent occasions. They now reside mostly in Toronto, but make frequent trips home, including an upcoming date at Mavericks. But first some July snaps, where frontwoman Jacquie was looking very rock.

Lipstick action!

The Balconies at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

Steve handles the low end.

The Balconies at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

Liam hits!

The Balconies at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

Closeup action! Or at least as close as I can get with my point and shoot.

The Balconies at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

They even have their own balloons!

The Balconies at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

Headbanging action!

The Balconies at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

Hair-shaking action!

The Balconies at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

Extra Liam!

The Balconies at Ottawa Bluesfest 
2012

Steve sings!

The Balconies at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

Mop-topped action!

The Balconies at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

Shirtless action!

The Balconies at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

The shouty bit!

The Balconies at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

The rocking end!

The Balconies at Ottawa Bluesfest 2012

They're in Europe right now, but are coming back for a Canadian tour in February, with a stop at Mavericks February 14.