Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Creeping around

Last Friday I headed over to the House of Targ to celebrate a pop-punking anniversary as The Creeps celebrated their 15th year in action. Also on hand were Feral Trash and The Steve Adamyk Band.

Feral Trash played a very sharp set. I thought they were pretty good when I caught them at the Ottawa Explosion in 2013, but they've definiteyl stepped up their game. Here's bassman Jesse.

Feral Trash at House of Targ

Eric Neurotic of Fear of Lipstick fame sings! First time I saw that band, they were opening for The Creeps at The Atomic Rooster back in 2009.

Feral Trash at House of Targ

Rhythm section action with Ilisha!

Feral Trash at House of Targ

Feral action!

Feral Trash at House of Targ

Ilisha sings!

Feral Trash at House of Targ

The shouty bit!

Feral Trash at House of Targ

Trashy action!

Feral Trash at House of Targ

Fisheye action!

Feral Trash at House of Targ

And so on!

Feral Trash at House of Targ

And finally a bit more of Ilisha.

Feral Trash at House of Targ

Steve Adamyk noted that his pre-Million Dollar Marxists band had played a show with The Creeps ... egad, that is a long time ago!

Steve Adamyk Band at House of Targ

David hits!

Steve Adamyk Band at House of Targ

Davey sings!

Steve Adamyk Band at House of Targ

More Steve!

Steve Adamyk Band at House of Targ

Bass-lifting action!

Steve Adamyk Band at House of Targ

Steve sings!

Steve Adamyk Band at House of Targ

Knee-knocking action!

Steve Adamyk Band at House of Targ

Singalong action!

Steve Adamyk Band at House of Targ

They finished things off by segueing into a Cheap Trick cover.

Steve Adamyk Band at House of Targ

The Creeps zipped into their birthday set; unfortunately I was filling none-to zippy myself (I spent a good chunk of the day digging post holes and was feeling on the tired side). Here's Skottie!

The Creeps at House of Targ

And here's Ian and Jordy!

The Creeps at House of Targ

Skottie sings!

The Creeps at House of Targ

Jordy hits!

The Creeps at House of Targ

Fisheye action!

The Creeps at House of Targ

Then I was actually starting to nod off, so I headed on home.

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Close to freezing

Not contenrt with ruling the summer, the folks at Ottawa Explosion cooked up the Ottawa Implosion Weekend to keep things going in fall. There was a bunch of events, but I only managed to make the Saturday show at Gabba Hey, where tourmates Father Murphy and Iceage shared a stage with locals and former locals Roberta Bondar and Holy Cobras.

Roberta Bondar were up first, sounding even louder and heavier than before; they've recently released a new album, Caustic. They started things off with some feedback ...

Roberta Bondar at Gabba Hey

Tyler hits!

Roberta Bondar at Gabba Hey

Smokey action!

Roberta Bondar at Gabba Hey

Lidija sings!

Roberta Bondar at Gabba Hey

More Gary!

Roberta Bondar at Gabba Hey

Alex strums!

Roberta Bondar at Gabba Hey

More guitars!

Roberta Bondar at Gabba Hey

Extra Lidija!

Roberta Bondar at Gabba Hey

More Gary!

Roberta Bondar at Gabba Hey

And so on!

Roberta Bondar at Gabba Hey

Holy Cobras made the return trip to Ottawa to split up; Dan told me post-show he's working on a hardcore outfit with bassist Matt, but who knows how these things turn out?

Holy Cobras at Gabba Hey

That's the nicest thing Daniel's ever written on himself.

Holy Cobras at Gabba Hey

Kristal hits!

Holy Cobras at Gabba Hey

Rodney fets!

Holy Cobras at Gabba Hey

Dan works the crowd.

Holy Cobras at Gabba Hey

Rhythm section action!

Holy Cobras at Gabba Hey

More Daniel!

Holy Cobras at Gabba Hey

Extra Rodney!

Holy Cobras at Gabba Hey

Bonus Kristal!

Holy Cobras at Gabba Hey

The end! For real!

Holy Cobras at Gabba Hey

Last time I saw Father Murphy, the offbeat Italian outfit was opening for Xiu Xiu, and doing an excellent job of it, too. The crowd was similarly enraptured this time around by their Valerie And Her Week of Wonders-loving sound. Here's Freddie and Ciara (no drummer Vittorio this time around).

Father Murphy at Gabba Hey

Freddie frets!

Father Murphy at Gabba Hey

Ciara jingles.

Father Murphy at Gabba Hey

Freddie sings!

Father Murphy at Gabba Hey

Ciara sings!

Father Murphy at Gabba Hey

Eye-contact action!

Father Murphy at Gabba Hey

Shouty percussive action!

Father Murphy at Gabba Hey

Freddie hits!

Father Murphy at Gabba Hey

Iceage inspired lots of crazy moshing at their appearance in 2013, warming things up for that year's Ottawa Explosion with a Monday Babylon gig; there was even more of it this time around.

Iceage at Gabba Hey

Percussive action with Dan Kjaer Nielsen!

Iceage at Gabba Hey

Elias Ronnenfelt works the crowd, he seems to have dropped the guitar for plain old frontman status.

Iceage at Gabba Hey

Johan Wieth works the frets.

Iceage at Gabba Hey

The crowd goes wild!

Iceage at Gabba Hey

Bass action with Jakob Pless!

Iceage at Gabba Hey

Extra Elias!

Iceage at Gabba Hey

A well-imploded evening,