Fool's gold

Back to Zaphod's, and the headlining set from Fools Like You, a band that contrary to their name don't fool around when it comes to rocking out. Well, there are some stage hijinx, but they put their love of a wide range of rock into a very solid performance.

Steve Needham rocks the low end.



Tolsen Nicholson frets and sings.



Skylar has added a string or two.



Foolish action!



Less flashy action!



Clapping action!



Skylar works the crowd!



Monitor-standing action!



Riley Restoule on the kit.



Singalong action!



Strap-destroying action!



Torsten works the crowd!



Side-by-side action!



And one final foray into the audience.



They're working on their new album; it's release is imminent.

The hard stuff

Last night I was hemming and hawing over how to spend my evening when I noticed Black Stone Hearts were playing at Zaphod's; I've seen a couple of the Hearts before, rocking Rottaway (and Coupe de Ville has made a few appearances with other acts on National Capital Rock. I've also caught Perth's Fools Like You before, rocking out at the Bytown Tavern at a roller derby benefit.

Things were kicked off by The Dead Centuries.


The Dead Centuries at Zaphod Beeblebrox, October 3, 2012

I found them okay, we'll say.


The Dead Centuries at Zaphod Beeblebrox, October 3, 2012

Black Stone Hearts really rocked it, something like a heavier Guns'N'Roses (I noticed they had Night Train on the set list, but they didn't get around to it). Apart from Coupe and George's kicking guitar work, they benefit from an excellent vocalist in Sergei.


Black Stone Hearts at Zaphod Beeblebrox, October 3, 2012

More Coupe!

 
Black Stone Hearts at Zaphod Beeblebrox, October 3, 2012

Last time there was a lot of jumping around from Fools Like You. Little has changed, and they're still a pretty jovial bunch with a lot of stage presence. They did have many more originals, as you'd expect after four years.


Fools Like You at Zaphod Beeblebrox, October 3, 2012

There was also a lot of action down on the floor.


Fools Like You at Zaphod Beeblebrox, October 3, 2012

A solid night's entertainment.

Who, me?

November blows in, and I head off to the Bytown Tavern to catch a benefit for the Bytown Blackhearts. The evening started off with a performance from Perth's Fools Like You, who were more on the rock tip than the rest of the evening's more punk-oriented bands ... not that there's anything wrong with that. It was a good-sounding set - I seem to recall there being a bunch of covers.

First, Tolsen and Skylar Nicholson.



Bassist Steve Needham.



Percussionist Mike Jacobs.



Foolish action!



Note handy chair.



None of this asking the crowd top move closer stuff.



And so on!







No word on any further activities.

Rock and roller derby

Last night I trotted over to the Bytown tavern for the latest benefit on behalf of The Bytown Blackhearts Roller Girls, featuring prizes, bands, DJs, and a tasty selection of vegetarian cupcakes. There was a pretty big crowd too.

First up were Perth quartet Fools Like You, a tough sounding bunch with a throaty vocalist in Tolsen Nicholson. They did covers of We Don't Need No Education and Suzie Q.



The Misclits did a bunch of Misfits covers ... you may recall bassist Morgan from The Felines show; Felines drummer Allie was also on board, with keyboardist Barb, singer Sara and guitarist Erin rounding out the skull-desiring colection of "one part evil, one part estrogen, three parts kicking ass."



There was a raffle. (I didn't win anything. Boo! Hiss!)



The Gemini Sideshow - a.k.a. Ilona and Daisy Szabo - were spinning tunes between the sets.



The Suppositories played next and once again sounded great. Their next gig is at The Bytown Tavern for their actual honest-to-goodness record release show Nov. 13 with Savage Crimes.



Finally The Nymphets knocked out a dozen tunes of their zippy lo-fi punkrock, including a cover (as before) of Borstal Breakout. Regulation Nymphets with regulation Nymphets Jared and Johanna joined by Nathan (subbing for Ben) on bass. It seemed a lot peppier than the last time I saw them at Babylon, a staggering two years ago.



That was swell. Don't forget to turn your clocks back this morning if you haven't already ...

• Show reminder: I was hoping to see Spiral Beach at Zaphod's tonight, but apparently that show is postponed. Rachelle Van Zanten slides in to The Rainbow.