Ottawa Bluesfest 2013: Day 3

Saturday's Bluesfets lineup was quite a deal for fans of indie music. Undisputed college radio heavyweights Belle & Sebastien were the big draw for me. I've been a fan since the days of If You're Feeling Sinister - I actually had my Dad fetch me a copy back from Britain on one of his trips there when it seemed like it was taking forever to be released in North America). You also have Sharon Van Etten making a return trip to the capital, Cold Specks, Fitz & The Tantrums ... everyone delivered, so it was fun in the sun.

My first stop was the River Stage to see Camp Radio romp through a brisk set. No introduction necessary, blah, blah, blah ...


Camp Radio at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 6, 2013

With no particular act on my radar, I popped over to see Asutralian guitar phenom Joe Robinson on the Main Stage. He can certainly play; he'll also be on the Black Sheep Stage today.


Joe Robinson at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 6, 2013

I also checked out local electronica/hip-hop hybrid NDMA on the aforementioned Black Sheep Stage.

NDMA at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 6, 2013

Then off to an act I was looking forward to, Cold Specks. She kicked things off with a solo a capella number that really showcased her fine voice.


Cold Specks at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 6, 2013

I paid a brief visit to the River Stage to see a couple of songs from Justin Townes Earle.


Justin Townes Earle at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 6, 2013

There was an even briefer stop to check out techno guy Adrian Lux.


Adrian Lux at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 6,  2013

Next I went to the Main Stage for a blast from Bluesfests past. Once upon a time sundry world music acts could be found, usually on the Black Sheep Stage. That was where I first saw blind Malian couple Amadou & Mariam play a superb headlining set in 2006. They were back and as entrancing as ever.


Amadou & Mariam at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 6, 2013

Then it was over to the Claridge Stage for a fun set from Fitz & The Tantrums of get up and dance pop music. Their Eurythmics cover really took me back.


Fitz & The Tantrums at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 6, 2013

Neko Case is one of my favourite performers, and was sounding in excellent form as she bantered with Kelly Hogan and zipped through old favourites and a bunch of tracks from her next album, ending with its first single, Man.


Neko Case at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 6, 2013

It's always nice when a band entirely fulfills one's expectations, and Belle & Sebastien did not disappoint. They sounded super, played great songs old and new and filled the space in between with charming chat about bus rides, sunglasses and free houmous.


Belle & Sebastien at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 6, 2013

They also had some folks up on stage to dance during their renditions of The Boy With The Arab Strap and Legal Man.


Belle & Sebastien at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 6, 2013

Finally it was back again to the River Stage for Sharon Van Etten. She also had a new song or two to show off, including one where she played bass for the first time. It came off pretty well.


Sharon Van Etten at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 6, 2013

Sharon rocks the omnichord!


Sharon Van Etten at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 6, 2013
 
 Today isn't quite as stacked; I know I'm going to see The Joy Formidable, and can of course recommend local lights The Steve Adamyk Band and The Fenton Brothers. The rest of the day is quite varied - everything from Wu-Tang to one man bands.

Redheaded stranger

I'm a huge Neko Case fan, so naturally I went to see her perform last night at Bronson Centre. This was a no-photography event, so I'm just going to decorate it with a shot from her Bluesfest set two years ago. I's not like she's changed much.



She does like the zip-up athletic sweaters, doesn't she? This show was kicked off by Lucy Wainwright Roche. Lucy is off course half-sibling to Rufus and Martha, and the daughter of Suzzy Roche of Roches fame. She gets her talent from both sides of the family and there was plenty on display. She likes to introduce her songs and is quite amusing, regaling Ottawa with tales of brotherly postcards, dates that ended up in the ER and other song-inspiring moments.
As for Case, she was in great form and quite ebullient. In addition to the folks she had with her at her Bluesfest set, she was joined by John Covertino of Calexico on drums - oh, and Kelly Hogan was on hand this time as well. The band previewed three new songs slated for the next album and they all sounded good. The show hit a few rough patches, but all together it was 90 minutes of great sounds.

• Show reminder: Bat Sabbath (Cancer Bats playing Black Sabbath, that is), The Comeback Kids, Hunter City Madness and Texas With A Dollar Sign rock Mavericks; Tanya Davis and Sarah Hallman perform at The Elmdale Tavern; Molly Sweeney and Kristen Bussandri play at Raw Sugar.

The lady in red

Neko Case has been having a pretty good year; her latest album Middle Cyclone debuted at #3 on the Billboard charts and judging by the size of the crowd who braved the wetness to see her at this year's Bluesfest she's got more than a toe in mainstream acclaim. As an unabashed Neko-worshipper I'm glad to see her getting some of the fame she deserves, and even gladder to hear her give a knockout live show. She's a great singer, and since she eschews studio trickery what you hear on her albums is just as melodious live.

The lady herself.



Bassist Tom V. Ray ... for some reason I though he was in the V-Roys ... which would be sort of appropriate.



Guitarist Paul Rigby has worked with a bunch of folks, including The Band's Garth Hudson. He kept his hat tilted like that for the entire show.



Drummer Barry Mirochnick is artfully concealed by a bunch of tenor guitars.



Then there's Jon Rauhouse, needs no introduction, etc.



I'm not sure if you'd call this an overgrown ukulele or a slimmed down parlour guitar.



A wider view of the proceedings.



Neko sings.



Normally Kelly Hogan plays the hole-punch doodad. She was away dealing with family matters, so Neko gave it a go. It broke.



Jon rocks the steel.



Neko rocks the SG.



Banjo action!



A final shot of shadowy Paul.



And a final shot off a luminescent Neko.



A great performance.

• Show reminder: Arctic, We Were Lovers, Saskatchewan roots rockers The Sheepdogs and The Swingers grace Zaphod's free showcase.

Rain, rain, go away!

So much for my weather-predicting capabilities. Not only did it rain, it was rather cool, never a good combination. At least things stayed pleasant enough for the first part of the day.

I arrived as The Balconies were starting their set. I was very impressed by their Gaga Weekend set, and they were just as good this time around. A sizable crowd gathered to listen to their new-wave sounds, and there was a good turnout at the autograph tent later on. It was still warm and sunny enough for Jacquie Neville to note that wearing black was a mistake.


The Balconies, Black Sheep Stage, Bluesfest, July 12, 2009

Following their set I went off to buy a copy of their new CD and to go to the Music-Themed Eatery Stage to watch The Sedatives. Ian Manhire appeared to be getting a primer on the operation of the Hammond Organ as I arrived.


Sedatives, Hard Rock Stage, Bluesfest, July 12, 2009

Then they were off an rocking, with a very hard-hiotting set. Apparently copies of their new album have arrived, but Ian forgot to bring them. He did promise to make a cover and bike one over to whoever was interested though.


Sedatives, Hard Rock Stage, Bluesfest, July 12, 2009

Since their set only lasted about 30 minutes I alsom managed to pop over the hill to see most of the Sunparlour Players set. Hmm, I'm not completely sold on their somewhat hectic take on Americana. The triple kick-drum lineup is kind of nifty, though.


Sunparlour Players, Black Sheep Stage, Bluesfest, July 12, 2009

And one can't fault the amount of energy the players - particularly accordionist/drummer Michael Rosenthal.


Sunparlour Players, Black Sheep Stage, Bluesfest, July 12, 2009

The New Mastersounds followed The Sedatives on the Music-Themed Eatery Stage. They're a Leeds-based funk-soul-R&B combo. I can't say they held my attention, but they did seem to have some of the audience grooving along.


The New Mastersounds, Hard Rock Stage, Bluesfest, July 12, 2009

Casting around for something to watch I passed by the Fast Food Chain stage, where the Homemade Jamz Blues Band was performing. Not hugely fascinating, but I dig those custom instruments.


Homemade Jamz Blues Band, Bluesfest, July 12, 2009

They're a family outfit, drummer Taya, 10, is the youngest.


Homemade Jamz Blues Band, Bluesfest, July 12, 2009

I decided to go and see Land of Talk since I enjoyed their Zaphod's set with Menomena and Field Music. They played a similarly fine set, and like the Sunparlour Players before them praised The Balconies' show.


Land of Talk, Black Sheep Stage, Bluesfest, July 12, 2009

Then I headed back over the hill to catch The King Khan and BBQ Show, which is when things turned nasty. I don't mean musically nasty, I mean meteorologically nasty. with a lengthy rainshower. Bleaaah. Not too good for the camera, either. At least King Khan and BBQ were entertaining as usual, with their between-song banter even more cracked than usual. Also, King Khan kicked the crap out of those heads mounted along the front of the stage, an act I heartily condone.


King Khan and BBQ Show, Bluesfest, July 12, 2009

I went looking for an umbrella for sale, but had no luck, so soon enough I was back at the Music-Themed Eatery Stage getting wet. At least I had a plastic bag to wrap my camera in. Bloodshot Bill and his new wife also showed up to bop along around this time. That done, I headed off to the Telecommunications Giant Stage to fulfill my main reason for sticking around through the rain - seeing Neko Case, one of my favourite singers, perform.


Neko Case, Rogers Stage, Bluesfest, July 12, 2009

It was well worth the wait and slight sogginess, she put on a super set, which lasted about 80 minutes, including a cover of Harry Nillson's Alimony and an encore performance of Sook-Yin Lee's Knock Loud.


Neko Case and Tom V. Ray, Rogers Stage, Bluesfest, July 12, 2009

She was joined by her usual backing band, including Jon Rauhouse (below on banjo), but usual co-conspirator Kelly Hogan couldn't be there due to a death in the family.


Jon Rauhouse, Paul Rigby, Rogers Stage, Bluesfest, July 12, 2009

After that, I sped on home - I've got an early day today, and I'd prefer to be reasonably dry when it comes time to greet it.

Here they come

The lineup for this year's Bluesfest is out, and as often the case, it's a combination of cool, ho-hum, and what the @#$! were they thinking? This year Neko Case and Drive-By Truckers are the big score for me. Hopefully I'll be able to snap a better photograph than the one below this time.


Neko Case, Ottawa Bluesfest, July 8, 2005

I'm certainly going to check out British prog titans Van der Graaf Generator, odd pop Californians The Dodos, Okkervil River, Mali diva Omou Sangare; blues offspring Cedric Burnside and Lightning Malcom, Aussie guitar champs The Church; The Zombies are allegedly still cool, and I figure I'll have to see the latest iteration of The Yardbirds as well. It's never a bad thing to catch Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings; Papa Mali put on a killer performance last time around too, and Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women and Crystal Castles should be fun. Hollerado are back, which is also cool. There are also several local bands I'll be glad to check out again. As for main stage headliners ... well, I want to hear Jeff Beck.
They don't seem to have switched the layout around much this year, so I'm hoping they're working the schedules so sound-bleed isn't as much of an issue - I don't want to think about how might affect Iron and Wine's performance ...
There doesn't seem to be too many acts I haven't heard of on this year's list, but can anyone suggest a performer I might want to check out?

• Show reminder: As for this evening, Todd Menzies performs at the Umi Cafe; Elise Von Teichman releases her new CD at The Rainbow and The Kingmakers perform at The Elmdale House. Adam Saikaley goes electronic at the Avant-Garde with Montrealers Birdsacrosswater and Sick Friend.

What I did on my vacation

I finally had a chance to get my film developed, so now I can over some photographic evidence of my travels: All the way from Hawaii to the U.S.S.R.! Okay, The Aloha Room to the Avant-Garde Bar.
First, on July 6 I went to see the Lords of Vanier. I first head the mysterious group on Friday Morning Cartunes on CKCU 93.1 FM. I thought the vocalist sounded a bit like Damien Sawka, but it's not like he'd have time for yet another band, right? Uh, wrong ... the threesome is rounded out by Paul "Yogi" Granger and Jordy Walker of The Hi Lo Trons. Here's a photo, with extra lighting courtesy of the guy who videotaped the proceedings. (Update: This post was edited July 29, 2008.)



More photos and some yak about their new EP next week.
The following day I went to the first night of Bluesfest to catch the tail-end of Southside Steve Marriner, The Architects and War. I didn't get any photos of those folks, but I did snap a few of Tinariwen and Neko Case on Friday.
Here's Tinariwen - or five-sevenths of them, anyway.



And another view ...



Then it was Neko Case and The Sadies turn.



After examining these photos I've decided that blue lighting is better than red and yellow.



Then I zipped over to The Avant-Garde Bar and saw *Expatriates.



They were opening for Montreal's GOA! Here's main man Monstre and a few of his Boredoms-loving bunch.



(You're going to have to wait for next roll of film to get back from the developers before you see the others.)
Last but not least, in my post about Quarter Life I said I didn't have any good photos of drummer Shane McEwan from their July 3 show at Zaphod's . Now I do, so here you go:



And a bonus photo of bassist Jason Leen and guitarist Anders Drerup on backing vocals.



They've acquired a slot opening for David Gogo and ZZ Top at Bluesfest July 12.