Barefoot in the carpark

The Sun was slowly fading over Alta Vista as Steve Stacey doffed his footwear and took to the stage ... or carhole, if you prefer.

Dick Altavista gets to do the introductions this time around, as barefoot country boy Steve Stacey takes the stage.



Steve steps into the rapidly vanishing light.



I slowed the shutter speed at exactly the wrong time on this photo - 1/10th of a second, whatever was I thinking?!?






Harmonica action!



Singalong action!



Shaking and singing action!



Big barefoot action!



Things seem kind of quiet on the Stacey show front after a burst of July activity ... I suspect that'll pick up soon.

• Show reminder: The Wooden Sky perform at the Canteen (at 238 Dalhousie). The Fourteen Forty Collective and Shelter With Thieves rock Zaphod's. The Rainbow hosts Jay Spectre and Jason Lang.

Hail to the chefs

The folks of Liquor Pig Fest must have some swing with the meteorological powers-that-be. For the first time in many days, it didn't rain in Ottawa, thus allowing extended family, friends and neighbours of The Stumblers to gorge themselves on food and music without getting soaked. This was my first fest-going experience, but by bad luck I had had an unfortunate encounter with some hot and sour soup the evening before and my bowels were not allowing me to eat as much as I'd like. I only had one plate of food, not nearly enough of the swell fixings prepared for the assembly.

I should have taken more food photos.


Food, Liquor Pig Fest '09, July 4, 2009

As people were digging in, Lone Pig - a.k.a. Tim - played his opening set. There was a cover of lyle Lovett's Family Preserve in there somewhere.


Lone Pig, Liquor Pig Fest '09, July 4, 2009

Then The Stumblers took a turn. You can't really make him out, but drummer Chris did a lot of the grilling.


The Stumblers, Liquor Pig Fest '09, July 4, 2009

They were followed by Vapourizer, who looked quite a bit alike.


Vapourizer, Liquor Pig Fest '09, July 4, 2009

Next, the fifty-fifty draw. I didn't enter, which was probably a good thing since my guess would have been way off.


Fifty-fifty draw, Liquor Pig Fest '09, July 4, 2009

Steve Stacey played some country tunes next, including Johnny Cash, along with his own tunes about women, drinking and cars. It was getting a bit nippy, but he still went barefoot as is his wont. He'll be taking part in the singer-songwriters circle at the Elmdale on Wednesday.


Steve Stacey, Liquor Pig Fest '09, July 4, 2009

Then Jehan Khoorshed finished things off with some nice Beatle-esque acoustic pop. There was actually a Beatles cover, of You Can't Do That. He was joined by Matt Ouimet on guitar, lap steel, bass and drums (not all at once). Jehan's going to be at Zaphod's the very same Wednesday, by the way.


Jehan Khoorshed, Liquor Pig Fest '09, July 4, 2009

I could have gone right home (it was about 10:30), but Rob Porter's new band 40 watt Monkey was performing at Irene's so I decided to check that out since I enjoyed their new CD, The Oshawa Tree so much. They remind me a bit of Guided By Voices and other early 1990s college radio rock-pop, and they didn't do much to allay the comparison by covering both GBV (Game of Pricks, The Brides Have Hit Glass) and The Replacements' Left of the Dial.

J Todd, Rich Haller and Rob Porter are joined by Town Cryer Jeff Tanguay, who's off to the right on bass.


40 watt Monkey, Irene's July 4, 2009

A mighty fine evening.

Stumped!

I was going to see Lefty McRighty and the Boxcar Cadavers at The Aloha Room, but it doesn't take much for that place to fill up, so I was left on the sidewalk (actually, I sauntered a couple of doors down to see The Flaps and The Empiricals). Anyway, I did see Lefty at Zaphod's Sept. 14, arriving too late to catch Band No. 1, The Botched Suicides, but did see some hollering country from Steve Stacey and The Stump Splitters. Songs about girls and cars and a Johnny Cash cover, with some pretty hot playing.

Steve performs barefoot ... he'd better avoid any bills with Jake Lovetart.



Pat Robillard on pedal steel.



Drummer Jason "Muffin Man" Woodley.



Bassist Dave MacDonald.



Mandolin player Johnny, left, is a relatively new addition.



Johnny and Pat.



A pretty robust performance. They're playing Zaphod's again on Oct. 9 (Edit: Due to Thanksgiving and family commitments they've had to cancel that gig).