Sunday, July 31, 2016

Doves and dirt

A while back I went Bar Robo for a show that included local trio Doves and was intrigued by their shoegazing sounds (I also wondered how long their name would last, since it also belongs to a fairly prominent British pop band). Well, they're still Doves and sounded even better this time around at Pressed, opening for Owen Sound psych monsters Psychedelic Dirt. Here's Kyle and SCott!

Doves at Pressed

Jess sings!

Doves at Pressed

Scott sings!

Doves at Pressed

Extra Kyle!

Doves at Pressed

Singalong action!

Doves at Pressed

Extra Jess!

Doves at Pressed

The whole lot!

Doves at Pressed

Kyle sings!

Doves at Pressed

The whole lot!

Doves at Pressed

I didn't know what to expect from Psychedelic Dirt, but they absolutely killed it with some Bardo Pond-meets-Sunburned Hand of the Man style jams. Here's Kevin!

Psychedelic Dirt at Pressed

Percussive action with Jeremy!

Psychedelic Dirt at Pressed

Dirty action with Jeremy, Michael and Kevin!

Psychedelic Dirt at Pressed

Rhythm section action with Isabel!

Psychedelic Dirt at Pressed

More guitar!

Psychedelic Dirt at Pressed

Extra Isabel!

Psychedelic Dirt at Pressed

The whole lot!

Psychedelic Dirt at Pressed

Jeremy sings!

Psychedelic Dirt at Pressed

Isabel sings!

Psychedelic Dirt at Pressed

I suspect a lot of folks at the previous nights Radiation Flowers gig would have dug it.

Symbols and flowers

One of the good things about catching a show at Zaphod's is you can sometimes pop next door and catch whatever is going on there as well. A week ago Saturday Saskatoon fuzz monsters Radiation Flowers came through town, and were joined by The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol and David Jackson. I missed David but caught most of TBWNIAS's set. Here's some side-stage action with guitarist Dave.

The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol at the Dominion Tavern

Trumpet action!

The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol at the Dominion Tavern

Rhythm section action with Nate and John!

The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol at the Dominion Tavern

Guitar action with Bill!

The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol at the Dominion Tavern

Adjusting action with jason!

The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol at the Dominion Tavern

Extra Nate!

The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol at the Dominion Tavern

John hits!

The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol at the Dominion Tavern

More Bill!

The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol at the Dominion Tavern

More Dave!

The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol at the Dominion Tavern

Electronic action!

The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol at the Dominion Tavern

Symbolic action!

The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol at the Dominion Tavern

Radiation Flowers used to traffic under the name Powder Blue before some lineup changes; they like their sounds fuzzy and grungey and stretched out beyond the mind's eye. Here's singer and guitarist Shelby!

Radiation Flowers at the Dominion Tavern

Amber hits! This isn't the first time Amber's been on the blog a decade ago when she drummed for Ultimate Power Duo at their Zaphod's gigs (her husband Barrett also recorded the group's album).

Radiation Flowers at the Dominion Tavern

Bass action with Jay!

Radiation Flowers at the Dominion Tavern

More guitar with Christopher!

Radiation Flowers at the Dominion Tavern

Radioactive action!

Radiation Flowers at the Dominion Tavern

Jay sings!

Radiation Flowers at the Dominion Tavern

Rhythm section action!

Radiation Flowers at the Dominion Tavern

Twelve-string action!

Radiation Flowers at the Dominion Tavern

Cool stuff!

Friday, July 29, 2016

Mortal remains

Unknown Mortal Orchestra's Zaphod's gig was one of the more exciting surprises of the summer's show lineup; an even better surprise (for everyone except the many local bands champing at the bit for a spot on the bill) was that they brought Switzerland's Klaus Johann Grobe along with them to provide a bit of motorik to the proceedings. Here's singer and keyboardist Sevi!

Klaus Johann Grobe at Zaphod's

Extra Sevi!

Klaus Johann Grobe at Zaphod's

They brought a bassist (Ernst, I think?) to broaden their sound.

Klaus Johann Grobe at Zaphod's

Daniel hits!

Klaus Johann Grobe at Zaphod's

Daniel sings!

Klaus Johann Grobe at Zaphod's

And so on!

Klaus Johann Grobe at Zaphod's

Unknown Mortal Orchestra really rocked out live; frontman and main brain Ruban was really burning up the frets.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra at Zaphod's

Ruban sings!

Unknown Mortal Orchestra at Zaphod's

Bass action!

Unknown Mortal Orchestra at Zaphod's

Unknown action!

Unknown Mortal Orchestra at Zaphod's

Drum solo!

Unknown Mortal Orchestra at Zaphod's

Keyboard action!

Unknown Mortal Orchestra at Zaphod's

Some fun!

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Mountains and Millions

If you had told me a few months ago I'd be seeing Black Mountain in the cozy confines of Zaphod's, I'd have assumed you were off your rocker, but here we are on a Friday watching Stephen McBean's psychedelic warriors, along with Kid Millions of Oneida's project Man Forever. As it happens, the booking was originally for the somewhat more spacious Ritual, but for whatever reason all the acts scheduled for their have been moved elsewhere. Kid Millions, accompanied by a trio of drummers (including Joshua from Black Mountain), started the evening off with a 30-minute percussion piece.

Man Forever at Zaphod's

Snare drum action!

Man Forever at Zaphod's

Bongos action!

Man Forever at Zaphod's

More percussion with Joshua!

Man Forever at Zaphod's

More Millions!

Man Forever at Zaphod's

Vocal action!

Man Forever at Zaphod's

And so on!

Man Forever at Zaphod's

The whole lot!

Man Forever at Zaphod's

Grimacing action!

Man Forever at Zaphod's

On to Black Mountain; it's been a decade since I saw the Vancouver outfit perform (at Babylon), but I've seen frontman Stephen McBean more recently as part of Obliterations, at Ottawa Explosion in 2015, as well as a while back with Pink Mountaintops. They knocked down the lighting a bit, and the swell of the crowd meant I couldn't really move, but it was a fine-sounding show. Here's the band's best-lit member, bassist Colin!

Black Mountain at Zaphod's

Stephen works the white.

Black Mountain at Zaphod's

Gripping action with Amber!

Black Mountain at Zaphod's

Stephen sings!

Black Mountain at Zaphod's

Joshua hits!

Black Mountain at Zaphod's

Colin sings!

Black Mountain at Zaphod's

Keyboard action with Jeremy!

Black Mountain at Zaphod's

Singalong action!

Black Mountain at Zaphod's

A dynamite night.