Saturday, February 28, 2015

Death, doom and drone

Since the weather inched out of the minus-30-with-windchill zone Friday night, I decided to make a short trip to the basement of 612 Gladstone and check out more heaviosity at the House With No Name (not its actual name). Toronto doomsters IRN were passing through town, house resident Tom of Spilt Guts has a new band and Topon Das of Fuck The Facts has some drones, so everything came together quite nicely.

First up, some gripping action with Tom (of Spilt Guts fame, like everyone else in the freshly minted combo)!

small DEATH at 612 Gladstone

Evan frets!

small DEATH at 612 Gladstone

Phil hits, offers Vulcan salute!

small DEATH at 612 Gladstone

Deathly action!

small DEATH at 612 Gladstone

The whole see-through lot!

small DEATH at 612 Gladstone

And so on!

small DEATH at 612 Gladstone

I feel like I've seen quite a bit of Topon Das lately - in addition to Fuck The Facts, I've caught him solo and with Merdarahta. I'm really liking his drone stuff, too.

Topon Das at 612 Gladstone

Adjusting action! He's certainly doing his part to keep the folks at Fairfield in clover.

Topon Das at 612 Gladstone

I admit I fooled around quite a bit with the shutter speed ... can you tell?

Topon Das at 612 Gladstone

Well, it was a good idea in theory.

Topon Das at 612 Gladstone

IRN crushed the rest of the night away with some Sleep-y metal molasses.  It's well worth checking their "sludge sewer drone" out on Bandcamp. Here's some hairy action with guitarist Ken and bassist/growler Jeff.

IRN at 612 Gladstone

Headbanging action!

IRN at 612 Gladstone

Close-up action!

IRN at 612 Gladstone

Sludgy action!

IRN at 612 Gladstone

Will hits!

IRN at 612 Gladstone

Extra Ken!

IRN at 612 Gladstone

Barefoot action!

IRN at 612 Gladstone

And so on!

IRN at 612 Gladstone

Great sets from all concerned, and a good crowd too.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Slo pokes

I've been avoiding going out to shows - winter has finally worn out my tolerance for walking home in below minus-20 weather, but I braved the polar vortex on Thursday anyway to check out Waterloo singer Lynn Jackson and Slo' Tom at Raw Sugar.

First up Slo' Tom, embracing his inner novelty song.

Slo Tom at Raw Sugar

"We're going to brave the harmonica."

Slo Tom at Raw Sugar

The entirety of Slo' Tom!

Slo Tom at Raw Sugar

The Whistler (patent pending)! For when you want to have a whistling solo. Sometimes it works, sometimes not so much.

Slo Tom at Raw Sugar

Guitar-lifting action!

Slo Tom at Raw Sugar

Lynn got on stage to join in for a song or two.

Lynn Jackson and

Singalong action!

Lynn Jackson and

Lynn sang a bunch of her own songs, a Bob Dylan cover and Leonard Cohen's Tower of Song.

Lynn Jackson at Raw Sugar

"There\s a light in her guitar!"

Lynn Jackson at Raw Sugar

And so on!

Lynn Jackson at Raw Sugar

Also a demonstration of Lynn's butter-churning technique.

Lynn Jackson and

Lynn takes the judge's side in one of Slo' Tom's prison songs.

Lynn Jackson and

A cosy show.

Friday, February 20, 2015

This one goes to 10

Things have been a little rocky in blogland for the last year, what with school, work and whatnot, but nonetheless today marks the day that National Capital Rock turns 10.

Amplifier

"This one goes to 10."

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Creep cults

Halifax certainly has been sending a lot of good bands to Ottawa this winter - perhaps they're trying to escape the East Coast snowfall. Tuesday night it was Mauno and Vulva Culture bringing their fuzzy and poppy sounds to Mugshots as part of their Rolling In The Creep tour, along with locals Baberaham Lincoln.

Baberaham Lincoln were first up. Unfortunately, guitarist Jenna's gear was nicked earlierr in the week, so she was playingon a borrowed guitar.

Baberaham Lincoln at Mugshots

Jenna sings!

Baberaham Lincoln at Mugshots

More guitar!

Baberaham Lincoln at Mugshots

Percussive action!

Baberaham Lincoln at Mugshots

Extra Jenna!

Baberaham Lincoln at Mugshots

And so on!

Baberaham Lincoln at Mugshots

Vulva Culture make me think of My Bloody Valentine, Mazzy Star and other bands I listened to when I was at college (the first time, that is). Here's Amy, Bianca, Evan and Kayla (regulation bassist Hannah had to stay in Nova Scotia)!

Vulva Culture at Mugshots

Kayla prepares to step on a pedal.

Vulva Culture at Mugshots

Amy sings!

Vulva Culture at Mugshots

Bianca hits!

Vulva Culture at Mugshots

Evan also drums in Mauno.

Vulva Culture at Mugshots

Yep, it's a bit dark in Mugshots for flashless photography.

Vulva Culture at Mugshots

More Bianca!

Vulva Culture at Mugshots

More Kayla and Evan!

Vulva Culture at Mugshots

Cultural action!

Vulva Culture at Mugshots

Guitar action!

Vulva Culture at Mugshots

Mauno played a very heavy set; in addition to his bass duties in Vulva Culture, Evan is also a monster drummer. Nick Everett has played under his own name and in Burdon, and bassist Eliza Niemi has kept busy out East as well. As Mauno they've been compared to Grizzly Bear, which I can hear, but I can't recall Grizzly Bear being as loud or propulsive when I saw them at Barrymore's eons ago.

Mauno at Mugshots

Nick sings!

Mauno at Mugshots

Evan hits!

Mauno at Mugshots

Nick frets!

Mauno at Mugshots

Eliza rocks the plaid.

Mauno at Mugshots

The shouty bit!

Mauno at Mugshots

Singalong action!

Mauno at Mugshots

Candlelit action!

Mauno at Mugshots

Eliza sings, takes a turn on guitar.

Mauno at Mugshots

Great sets, and a good crowd for a chilly Tuesday.