Pony express

From Raw Raw Riot we go to the ever-crazy antics of Party Knives.



Pat hits!



Lee handles the low end.



Owen climbs on stuff!



But what does the audience think?



Drumming action! Note the pony, soon to be used and abused.



Owen takes a leap from the top of Lethal Enforcers.



Sammy mosies along.



Who knows when theyll strike again?

Out with it

On to an orphans. Not that Big Dick are the last of their line, but the photos of the other band from this show, Metz, have already been posted in advance of their return to Babylon. Since this gig they've released their LP, which has done quite well on the college charts, and played a bunch of shows. On to the snaps!

Dave sings!



The whole lot!



Johnny sings!



And now for a couple of photos without the flash.



Extra Dave!



More extra Dave!



More Johnny!



Closeup action!



They play again April 27 at Mavericks, opening for Single Mothers.

Ride your pony

It was a might chilly out last night, but not cold enough to stop the rock'n'roll denizens of Bytown from trekking to the House of Targ and listening to some punk and rock courtesy of power-pop titans Mother's Children, crazed quintet Party Knives and new-ish punk combo Raw Raw Riot. All three bands put on fine sets, and there was plenty of wacky crowd action to go with it.

First up Raw Raw Riot with some shouty punk!


Raw Raw Riot at the House of Targ, December 28, 2012

Singalong action! They covered The Runaways I Wanna Be Where The Boys Are.


Raw Raw Riot at the House of Targ, December 28, 2012

Party Knives were on next, and as usual chaos resulted, largely thanks to the rambunctious denizens of the Fun Boy Clubhouse, anda big stuffed pony - always a mercurial combination! But first, Owen takes a stand!


Party Knives at the House of Targ, December 28, 2012

Eh, he's always climbing on stuff!, this time it's Lethal Enforcers!


Party Knives at the House of Targ, December 28, 2012

Sammy rides the pony, crowdsurfer style.


Party Knives at the House of Targ, December 28, 2012

On to Mother's Children, and more pony!


Mother's Children at the House of Targ, December 28, 2012

Ken sings! They unveiled a lot of new tunes slated for the next album.


Mother's Children at the House of Targ, December 28, 2012

Needless to say, things finished off with yet more crowd-surfing.

Keep the beet

Ottawa Explosion wrapped up with a typically crazed performance from Party Knives. A bunch of these guys were in Token (and later Grizzlar, Million Dollar Marxists, etc.).

Owen in shorts, plus some manner of root vegetable.



Both Johnny and Dave from Big Dick take part.



Also Pat from Army of St. Joan, et al.



Rhythm section action with Lee!



Dual drumming action!



Now with extra Owen.



Owen sings .. or maybe rants.



And so on!



Owen works the crowd!



Keyboard action!



It's quite the balancing act.



Since then they've gigged at the Dom.

Ottawa Explosion, Day 5

The final day of Ottawa Explosion is a chance for everyone to see who didn't survive the previous four days. Fortunately I only felt half-dead by Sunday, and actually managed to drag myself out of bed to see some bands melt off the pounds.

When I arrived Average Times were just finishing their last song. You've got Tim Ostler, Todd Faux ... is that Stabatron from Hellbros? and a lady drummer I don't know (or was perhaps too blitzed to recognize).


Average Times at Club SAW, June 17, 2012

New Swears is another new band I haven't seen before, but filled with folks from The Polymorphines and The Girlfriends/Rat Tales massive. Drums were abused, shoes were destroyed, misbehaviour was misbehaved ... as you'd expect from this collection of miscreants! They also had a strobe light going in broad daylight - so they're bad for the environment too!


New Swears at Club SAW, June 17, 2012

Roberta Bondar also performed a tight set. My brain was no longer working at this point, which is why I forgot to get a copy of their new tape from them.


Roberta Bondar at Club SAW, June 17, 2012

Montreal's Solids (no "The", thank you!) are a hard-hitting duo with a loud fuzz sound that made me think a bit of a two-man Dinosaur Jr. at their droniest.


Solids at Club SAW, June 17, 2012

While that was going on, New Swears were causing havoc, or maybe having group sex.


New Swears fooling around at Club SAW, June 17, 2012

Then I went over to the grass for a quick nap. While I was reclining, the couple near me were watching what the News Swears guys were up to and giving a play-by-play ("They tried to stand on each other's shoulders ... they just fell over.") - but soon enough it was time to arise and watch Owen from Party Knives beat up vegetables and run around shirtless.


Party Knives at Club SAW, June 17, 2012

See all the survivors next year!

• Show reminder: Sadia Afreen, Sad Guru, Static Revolt and Funk Jammersters 2012 perform at The Rainbow.

Let's knife

Just a couple of days ago I mentioned how The Soupcans would be great on a bill with Ottawa's own Party Knives. And now here we are with a recap of that very same cutlery-loving combo, featuring members of such swell outfits as The Million Dollar Marxists, Grizzlar, Big Dick, Token, Uranium Comeback, and so on!

Owen and Lee!



A couple of Big Dicks ... actually, all of Big Dick, Johnny O and Dave Secretary.



More Owen!



More Johnny!



Pat Johnson fills the second drum stool.



Keyboard action!



Microphone swinging action!



Gripping action!



Singalong action!



Pat is an island of normalcy.



The whole fisheyed lot!



Bendy action!



Owen's not-last stand!



And so on!



Dave is a man of great aplomb.



Mighty swell! They'll be killing off whoever survives Ottawa Explosion this year at the Sunday, June 17, show at Mugshots.

• Show reminder: Joe Pug, David Wax Museum and Black Dogs perform at Mavericks; upstairs at Cafe DeKcuf you'll find Useless ID, Fortune Cookie Club and Rydell. Danny Laj & The Looks perform at the Elmdale (at the 3 p.m. show you can check out Jonesy and their new CD).