Thursday, June 25, 2015

Positive destruction

I missed a good chunk of Thursday's Ottawa Explosion action: I spent a good chunk of the afternoon in the dentist's chair and didn't get a bite to eat until nine o'clock. When I arrived at the SAW Gallery courtyard it was Coliseum's turn to bring some heavyweight sound. They have a new album out and are doing the rounds behind Anxiety's Kiss. Here's frontman Ryan Patterson and his stack'o'amps.

Coliseum at Club SAW

Kayhan Vaziri rocks the low end.

Coliseum at Club SAW

Kayzan sings!

Coliseum at Club SAW

Colossal action!

Coliseum at Club SAW

Ryan adjusts.

Coliseum at Club SAW

Carter Wilson hits!

Coliseum at Club SAW

Gesticulating action!

Coliseum at Club SAW

Even more Kayzan!

Coliseum at Club SAW

My actual goal for the evening was to catch a big heap of power-pop at the Avant-Garde. Apparently this was everybody else's plan, too, since the place got completely packed and I spent a good chunk of Average Time's set standing on stage next to Todd. Some extreme twisting went into getting this next shot.

Average Times at Avant-Garde Bar

Hair-tossing action from Seiji!

Average Times at Avant-Garde Bar

Stef hits!

Average Times at Avant-Garde Bar

More Todd!

Average Times at Avant-Garde Bar

Curtis sings, Seiji bends.

Average Times at Avant-Garde Bar

Pick-comparing action!

Average Times at Avant-Garde Bar

Exiled audience action!

Average Times at Avant-Garde Bar

Seiji sings!

Average Times at Avant-Garde Bar

Gripping action!

Average Times at Avant-Garde Bar

Welcome to the sardine can.

Average Times at Avant-Garde Bar

Well, one band like that was enough and I figured I could catch The Jeanies on Friday in the Mugshots courtyard, so why not pop back to Club SAW and check out Chicago's Meat Wave and Los Angeles Obliterations? Meat Wave really impressed: They have a killer drummer and come of like a The Marked Men on steroids. Here's singer Chris Sutter.

Meat Wave at Club SAW

Rhythm section action with bassist Joe Gac and drumer Ryan Wizniak.

Meat Wave at Club SAW

Ryan hits!

Meat Wave at Club SAW

Extra Chris!

Meat Wave at Club SAW

Joe sings!

Meat Wave at Club SAW

The whole lot!

Meat Wave at Club SAW

The end!

Meat Wave at Club SAW

Obliterations played a very strong set. It features a bunch of music veterans: Stephen McBean of Black Mountain and Pink Mountaintops fame plays guitar, Sam James Velde of Nighthorse sings, Austin Barber of Saviours plays bass and Flo Schanze, also PM's current drummer, handles the traps. There's a whole lot of Black Flag in the band's DNA, and the band generally rips it up like a shredded version of West Coast hardcore. Here's the band's Mountain men.

Obliterations at Club SAW

Velde gets a grip.

Obliterations at Club SAW

Austin is under there somewhere.

Obliterations at Club SAW

Obliterating action!

Obliterations at Club SAW

There was a mid set break after Stephen's gear quit and everyone went looking for a head and cab. Then it was back to your previously scheduled destruction!

Obliterations at Club SAW

Sam works the bar!

Obliterations at Club SAW

Headbanging action!

Obliterations at Club SAW

Cool stuff for the select few who went.

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