Bye bye blues

Well, here we are at the last of my Bluesfest 2008 postings ... Martha Wainwright was the final show at the Roots Stage for me. As you can see night had yet to fall, but the call of Boris was louder than the acts slated to cap off Bluesfest. Last time I saw Wainright she was accompanied by her band. On this occasion it was just her and mum and a few songs from her recently released I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too as well as her super debut.

"I decided to dress up for this show."



The many moods of Martha!







And here's her mother, noted folk singer Kate McGarrigle. Somewhat apologetic since it's been a while since she was on stage.





And finally a bit more Martha.





Wainwright is coming back to town, enlivening our chilly December with a show at the Bronson Centre with Jason Bajada December 20.

• Show reminder: Speaking of the Bronson Centre, Stars and Jenny Whiteley play there tonight in a show that is, of course, sold out. Prince Edward Islanders Two Hours Traffic and The Danks play Zaphod Beeblebrox; Will there be doubleneck SG-rockin' action at The Rainbow tonight? Only Moncton jam chap Chris Colepaugh knows for sure. Lefty McRighty is up to something - not quite sure what - at The Elmdale regularly on Wednesdays.
  

Bye bye blues

The last day of Bluesfest, and the last day of my vacation. I didn't see much on the final day ... I wanted to see Trevor Alguire and Martha Wainright again, and did, and managed to catch a couple of other shows, but most of my attention was reserved for later in the evening (about which more elsewhere). Last year Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings provided an explosive capper to my 2007 Bluesfest, the year before it was The New Pornographers. This time around the thought of Canned Heat, Robert Randolph or the Master Musicians of Jajouka weren't quite temptation enough to keep me at LeBreton Flats. I arrived at the Flats around 3 p.m. and stopped by the River Stage to listen to some blues.


Debbie Davies, Ottawa Bluesfest, July 13, 2008

The lady with the guitar was Dr. John-approved blueswoman Debbie Davies. She's highly regarded in the field, and I for one fancy her eclectic pickup choice. As with previous acts, she had some help from the Texas Horns; David Maxwell sat in on piano before his own set down on the Roots Stage later in the day. I enjoyed a few of her songs but my appetite for blues had been pretty well sated the day before, so I went off to check out Trevor James and The Perfect Gentlemen on the Giant Financial Institution Stage.


Trevor James and The Perfect Gentlemen, Ottawa Bluesfest, July 13, 2008

James was once in The Architects; as far as I can tell from my limited contact with both acts, his new project is less rock, more singer-songwriter. I like it when he tunes down the rock a bit - he has a very usable high range to his voice. His set ended around 4 p.m., which was just about when Trevor Alguire's was beginning, so the timing was perfect.


Trevor Alguire and His Roving Troubadors, Ottawa Bluesfest, July 13, 2008

This show was also the release gig for Alguire's new album, 30 Year Run. His Troubadors are stacked with talent - including Keith Glass of Prairie Oyster and Michael Ball of Ball & Chain. Alguire is playing his next gig at the Kars Fair July 19. I waited around for my last Bluesfest set of the year.


Martha Wainwright, Ottawa Bluesfest, July 13, 2008

It was a good one: Martha Wainright put on a fine show a couple of years ago, and I love her albums and her voice. She came on stage wearing a black coat, tie-die frock and a pair of silver heels that look like they could be used to stab someone.


Kate McGarrigle, Ottawa Bluesfest, July 13, 2008

She didn't have her band with her this time, but she did have her mother, Kate McGarrigle, who played piano and sang along on a few songs. I can't say her performance was note perfect, but then again as she said before the duo performed Ma Rainey's version of Oh Papa Blues, they only had a half-hour to practice it. Then I biked on home to grab a glass of water and head over to Babylon to get my ears boxed.

From New York to The Netherlands

Though there are only two originals Dolls, the foursome Sylvain Sylvain and David Johansen have drafted to fill the places of Johnny Thunders, Killer Kane and Jerry Nolan - namely guitarist Steve Conte, bassist Sami Yaffa of Hanoi Rocks, drummer Brian Delaney and keyboardist Brian Koonin - all did a super job. It was a little strange to think of The New York Dolls striding the Main Stage at any festival, with a huge light show and thousands of people singing along, but we live in strange times. The band obviously enjoys playing together, which made it all the more enjoyable.
Earlier in the day I popped in to watch Daniella Cotton, who capped her main set with versions of Red House and AC/DC's Back in Black. She put a lot of rock in her blues.
I caught a few songs from Tena Palmer (of Chelsea Bridge fame). Since she once lived in the Netherlands and sang a song composed while on a freighter between Reykjavik and Rotterdam, my lame post title is therefore justified. Honest.
I witnessed some of Parisian Keren-Ann's set. "I did not know playing in Ottawa was like a sauna!" She was good, but I cut my stay short to head home for a bite to eat so I could get back in time for Calexico. Last time they played Ottawa, I was in Nelson, B.C. I swore I'd catch them this time, and so I did. Unfortunately, the band's set was bifurcated by some overenthusiastic weather. Though distant lightning forced a shutdown after a half-dozen tunes, the break was brief and they returned to give everyone their money's worth.
Then, after 45 minutes to set up, The New York Dolls came on and knocked everyone out.

And now for some of Friday's highlights; first American (not Irish as I thought) singer-songwriter Josh Ritter.



Here's a picture of his organist - Sam Kassirer, I believe.



I left before the end of his show because I wanted to get a good spot for Martha Wainright's set, which came with the added benefit of a hot set from Tony D (who also plays the ADCN Stage Sunday at 4:45 p.m). Here's Tony - "I want to be B.B. King when I grow up."



Saxophonist Zeek Gross was in excellent form.



Most of the band (sorry, Matt Sobb once again gets the short end of the drum stick); Sean Burke on bass.



After that, it was Martha Wainright's turn. I confess, part of what made her latest CD one of my favourites of the year was its luscious 1970s production - not something easily replicated on stage. That said, I was more than satisfied. Her voice is great live - so cutting and "real."



Incredibly enough, keyboardist Tom Mennier and drummer Tony Mason are not brothers.



Bassist Brad Albetta - also responsible for some of the guitar and much of the production on her album.



You can just make out backing vocalist Lily Lankin at right.



She was originally scheduled to play an earlier slot - the Bluesfest folks certainly did the right thing by bumping her up to headlining status. I also enjoyed her covers of Cole Porter and Leonard Cohen's Tower of Song, even if the latter has been aired a few times too often.