Strange flesh

The first time I saw Dark Meat at Zaphod's, they didn't play and I didn't recognize them. They were actually just there to watch their pals in The Evangelicals perform they day before they themselves were slated to grace the stage. A bunch of folks I know did get to see them and praised the show. I already had their debut album, Universal Indian and had already figured they'd be up my alley so when for their return I made sure I had the day off and could get to see them. They played a really scorching set of psychedelic mantra rock to a fairly small audience of a couple dozen.

Lots of guitar action, starting with frontman Jim McHugh.



Ace lead guitar courtesy of Kris Deason.



Drummer Jason Robira goes yeah!



Brass photos are always more amenable to black and white, as is the case with trumpeteer Charlie Estes ...



... And trombonist Aaron Jollay.



Ben Clack has one heavily decorated instrument.



Last but not least, piccolo player Emily Armond.



Singalong action!



"This song is about what great houseguests we make."



More singalong action!



The whole lot!



Feedback finish!



If I didn't already have a copy I'd have bought the CD. As is, I bought the seven-inch ... though come to think of it I might already have a copy of that too.

• Show reminder: Oi! The Business, The Rookers, Nummies and Germ Attak are putting the boot to Mavericks; The Social Icons (featuring Nick Danger) and Halifax country-rockers Maddison Avenue perform at The Rainbow; The John Henrys perform at Irene's; Push Inc. and the The Jeff Meleras Band play the Elmdale House.

Meaty, beaty, big and bouncy

The weather's been stinky of late, hasn't it? Unfortunately way too many people who should have known better failed to make it out to Zaphod's last night to catch wicked sets from Tokyo Sex Whale and Athens, Georgia psychedelic circus Dark Meat.

That is not to be mean to openers Mud Lake, a youthful quintet whose set I mostly missed. I did hear their good cover of The Who's Baba O'Riley, though.


Mud Lake, Zaphod Beeblebrox, June 1, 2009

Tokyo Sex Whale were up next and their stacks quickly pummeled Zaphood's into submission with one of their heaviest sounding sets to date. I don't recall any of their tunes coming off of their LP. The closer Sleep was definitely worthy of bearing the name of the acclaimed doom band.


Tokyo Sex Whale, Zaphod Beeblebrox, June 1, 2009

Dark Meat played a sonically hefty set as well. Their pyschedelic throb was alive and well, and actually sounded quite a bit more focused than on their album. Maybe that's what happens when you pare your band down to seven on the road. Unfortunately the picture below omits what makes them special, their horn section: There's a trombonist off to the right and a trumpeter off to the left, as well as a slim lady on piccolo.


Dark Meat, Zaphod Beeblebrox, June 1, 2009

A great show, unfortunately only close friends and relatives of the various bands made it out, and I'm guessing the audience topped out around two dozen.

• Show reminder: Laganza performs at The Rainbow. They like Neil Young and Bob Marley and come from Muskoka. Guy Del Villano performs at the Elmdale House.