Do the explosion

It's Explosion time in Ottawa; the city's most rocking festival kicked off Wednesday at Club SAW with an eight-band bill featuring linked combos Quaker Parents, Heaven For Real and Old & Weird, touring Calgarians Crystal Eyes, Montreal scuzzers Towanda and locals Scattered Clouds, The Yips and Expanda Fuzz. This was also Expanda Fuzz's first gig as a band, but you're sure to recognize the folks involved if you've been on the scene for any length of time. Here's Colin (Garaga, Stand GT and others), Leila, Jim (run.stop.restore, The Glads) and Chris Page (Stand GT, Camp Radio).



Chris sings!



Telecaster action with Leila!



Bass action with Colin!



Singalong action!



Leila sings!



Jim hits!



Fuzzy action!



Feedback action!



The whole lot!



Towanda are a tough-sounding trio with some doomy sonics. Here's singer Rosie!



Rhythm section action with Claire and Rose!



Hair-tossing action!



Rosie sings!



Rose hits!



Claire sings!



Extra Rose!



The festival moved inside for a set from Halifax's Quaker Parents and their Jonathan Richman-esque tunes. Here's Mark on vocals and guitar.



Percussive action with Scott!



Nathan awaits his moment!



More Mark!



Extra Scott!



Percussive assistance from Nathan!



The whole lot!



Baritone action!



Back outside, Crystal Eyes brought some shoegazy jangle to the stage. Here's Erin and Matthieu!



Bass action with Chris!



The whole lot!



Extra Erin!



More Mathieu!



Crystalline action!



Even more Mathieu!



Bonus Chris!



Eyeful action!



Then it was time to head back inside ....