They're out there

Crowded Skies graciously deferred their set until after Casey's, and put on a robust performance. No Neil Young cover this time, though an audience member did try to get them to play a Brian Setzer song - this is what happens if you have a Bigsby-equipped guitar, I guess. "You might try The Rainbow. I believe they occasionally play covers there," was John Trude's reply.

Jeremy Brisebois breaks out the harp.



John Trude, in one of many non-Brian Setzer-covering moments.



Sebastien Dupont.



Jordan Potechin.



Crowded action!



Singalong action!





Big finish!



The whole lot!



Their next show is May 11 at Irene's.

• Show reminder: Constantines, Jon-Rae and the River and Shotgun and Jaybird perform at Barrymore's.

Town and country

Spring has sprung! That means I biked to work and back. On the plus side that means I don't have to cool my heels waiting for the bus. On the minus side my legs were a little wobbly. I arrived at Babylon in time for the final half of Casey Comeau and the Centretown Wilderness Club's set and spent most of the time nonchalantly propped up against the club speakers so as to avoid tipping over.



Although technically the headlining act, the Centretown Wilderness Club handed the finishing set off to Crowded Skies so that Casey's parents could catch her set.



Unfortunately I missed Violet Lyal's set. Next time. I also missed an opportunity to prep any Isis pictures, so they'll come a little later in the day.

• Show reminder: KnifeHammer, Muffler Crunch, The Suicide Pilots, Critical Convictions, Belligerent and Andy-Tap kick it at 61 Argyle Ave; The Hi Lo Trons and Great Aunt Ida play Babylon; Bloodshot Bill and The Solid Senders rock and roll at Irene's; Menomena, Land Of Talk and Field Music perform at Zaphod's.

Somewhere up there

When I got to Zaphod's a couple of Saturdays ago someone was already strumming away. I don't recall Nathan Hunter's name on any of the listings, but it was he, taking a journeyman turn on stage despite a broken finger. I only caught a couple of tunes (one aided by Eric Vieweg's piano player J.J. Ipsen) but what I heard sounded good.





Next up, Crowded Skies, and some robust country rock action, including a cover of Neil Young's Ohio. The lead guitar certainly sounded fuzzier than usual for this sort of thing.

Guitarist Jeremy Brisebois. Not shown: Extra fuzz.



John Trude in the red.



Drummer Jordan Potechin, with appropriate headgear.



Bassist Sebastien Dupont of F!ght F!ght F!ght fame.



Crowded action!



Singalong action!



The whole lot!



The band's next show is at Babylon with Violet Lyal and Casey Comeau and the Centretown Wilderness Club.

Crowded and clouded

Another night at Zaphod Beeblebrox, but no dance-rock in sight - unless line-dancing is your thing (and even that's dubious). No, it was country and country rock time at Zaphod's. First up, a brief acoustic set by Nathan Hunter. I only caught his last two songs.

Nathan played this set with a broken finger.



Next up Crowded Skies (Jeremy Brisebois and John Trude for this photo); solid country music with some fuzzy guitar leads.



And finally some serious country rockin' from Eric Vieweg and The Silver Lining.



An excellent way to end the night.