Beat it!

It's just before noon and I'm listening to Mail Nurse's Spiders - it's an acoustic guitar tune with some wordless bawling and rain drop piano, they also have a lo-fi disgruntled disco track on their site; they play this evening at Club SAW with Crystal Eagles and Les Angles Morts. I'd go if I didn't already have a ticket to see The English Beat at Babylon. Tomorrow there shall be Bellrays pictures. Then Tangiers pictures, then Deadly Snakes pictures. But there will be no Tricky Woo pictures because The Dominion was too full to get in. I knew I should have caught them in Nelson, B.C. ...

Play the flip side

Another Babylon show, another cancellation! This time Montreal's Sunday Sinners didn't make it to their show with The Bellrays, so Four'n'Givr once again stepped in to fill the gap. And once again part of John Westhaver's Frankendrumkit broke (first time it was his snare, then it was the kick pedal - this time it was one of his cymbal stands). They were pretty rocking this time around ... Bob Hell's guitar was particularly thick, perhaps because he was using Tony Fate of The Bellrays' guitar cab.

Bob Hell from a scary angle.



John beats on his kit.



Jake Heartbreak takes a mid-song stretch.



Hell and Feck!



"Do I know you?"



This time around I scribbled down something about Half Open Door (a holdover tune from Holy Hell) sounding like an early Wire tune, while Work Work made me think of the Hombres' Let It Out (Let It All Hang Out) or the nutbar Nobody's Children song Good Times.

• Show reminder: Get your daily dose of punk at Cafe DeKcuf with The G-Men, the Bella Bombs, Psychopathos and four-stroke. Pianosaurus Rex, Books on Books and Fight!Fight!Fight! play the Avant-Garde Bar. Tangiers and The Deadly Snakes play Zaphod's. Right next door (and slightly later) Tricky Woo, From Fiction and Jesus Mullet rock the @#$! out. Finally, the Songbird Music folks bring a whole lot of free music to Babylon with The Super Awesome Club, Manpower, Hot Dam, The Golden Seals, The Empiricals, The Fucking Machines, The Flaps and Room For Rent.

Across the border

The Gris Gris didn't make it over the border thanks to the ever-vigilant men and women of Canada Customs (or at least, that's one version of events - apparently the GG managed to make it to their Montreal show). Fortunately The Expatriates turned up, in both sense of the phrase. They rocked even harder than usual, and I'd say this was my favourite performance by them to date.

Those Expatriates in full!



Damien Thompson and Bill Guerrero got rhythm.



Michael D. Wieland (and his Eko foot organ) makes a quick return appearance to NCR after his solo Avant-Garde Bar show.



Tonight's episode is brought to you by the letter "E".



Chris Landry aims for a higher frequency.



Darn shame about those California boys, but the Expats did a fine job of making up for the loss.

• Show reminder: CloseDown, The Nads, Finkelstein Shit Kids, The Intruders and Eugene and the Eugenics play a benefit for CKCU at Cafe DeKcuf, it's an earlier AA show. Bands from points south and west converge on Zaphod's: The Shout Out Out Out Outs, Luke Doucet, Fembots, and Whitey Houston (who totally rocked when they played Mavericks a short while ago) are converging as part of Exclaim!'s Four for Fall tour.

Flaps flop flipped

Just picked up a few rolls of film from the developers. These ones did not get jammed in the innards of their photo-making contraption, so pictures of The Expatriates show on Sunday shall be forthcoming, as will shots from The Bellrays and Four'n'giv'r gig on Wednesday. There was even a Flaps picture on the first roll:



Huzzay!

If Then Don't

I went to see The Flaps at their swanky CD release party at the Avant-Garde Bar, along with openers If Then Do Oct. 15. Here's how the pictures turned out:



Not very well. There were a few technical difficulties at the developer's. Thus, the only two surviving pictures from the remnants of the role depicted above were ...

1. John Higney rocking on out on the closing number and ...



2. Pat Lawlor holding up one half of the evenings' fabulous prize: A pair of flaps!



If Then Do made a good opening act, with some moody extended tones - courtesy of Ross Birdwise - giving way to bass rhythms from Nathan Medema, along with abrasive electronic noises for extra flavour. John Higney provided some unintentional humour when his tossed jacket yanked the duo's power source from the wall, bringing their first song to an abrupt halt. Actually, it was quite an icebreaker. Every band should try it. ITD will be playing again Oct. 27 at Club SAW as part of Sul Pont label showcase with Le Lecteur, Sinequanon and Element Kuuda. As always The Flaps really hit the spot with their finely honed instrumental prowess and equally swell covers and originals. They have two upcoming gigs: They make a "guest appearance" at The Songbird Music hoe-down Oct. 22, and are putting on a Halloween show with Jon Bartlett singing at Irene's Pub Oct. 29.

• Show Reminder: The Bellrays and The Sunday Sinners, (who I heard feature Mark Sultan, a.k.a. BBQ - but apparently not so; his Sexareenos-mate Work With me Annie is there, though) and other trash rock vets from Montreal in their ranks play Babylon (EDIT: or not. They cancelled. Four'n'Giv'r play in their stead). The Acorn hold a release party for their EP Blankets! with Snailhouse. The Fucking Machines play The Aloha Room.
  

He is Damo Suzuki!

So, a cult favourite artist from the 1970s goes from town to town, performing with a bunch of musicians he's never worked with before. If that isn't a recipe for disaster, I'm not sure what is.
Fortunately, former Can vocalist Damo Suzuki is a vocal alchemist par excellence, and with three quite different backing units performed a trio of exciting and dynamic sets at the Avant-Garde Bar Oct. 14.
Although Suzuki's voice is tuneful enough that you can make out what he's saying, even with his accent, the effect of word-riffs is to make the ear (or, at least, my ear) listen to it more as music. Sure, you could direct your brain to string the syllables together into words, but the rhythm the tone, the melody - that's what it really wants to absorb.

His first accomplices were Brad Crowe and David Jackson of Kerista (they've also played together in Anorak). While Crowe manipulated a device of unknown provenance, a keyboard and a Danelectro pedal with extreme finishing wear, Jackson gave his Apple laptop intent study.

Damo himself!



And Jackson, Damo and Crowe, and some gadget with different coloured buttons.





The IDM and sound manipulation was mostly low-key, though there were a few moments of harshness, some heavy groove, vaguely orchestral harmonies ... a lot of grist for Damo's mill as he switched from a heavy growl to the more melodic vocal riffs familiar to anyone who's bought one of Can's classic albums Tago Mago, Ege Bamyasi, Future Days or Soundtracks.

For his second set he called on Unireverse (Brian Damage of Phycus, Michael Caffery of Daydream Square and Beautifuzz, Alex Moskos of Goa! and Kubelka) and Joel on drums (who also appeared with Goa! when they played the Avant-Garde this summer). The members of Unireverse likes their Moogs, and they like their krautrock (they covered Brainticket on their recently released album, Plays The Music) so they might have been the most "appropriate" of the enlisted ensembles.

Damo, and just visible behind him, Michael's ghostly image.



Here's the whole bunch ...



Joel got squeezed into the corner; I wedged myself under a table for this picture.



Alex Moskos gets down on the keys.



Mr. Damage in a very snazzy shirt.



More Damo and a less spectral Michael!



A brief break, and group No. 3 was up. Mike Dubue (Hi Lo Trons), Jamie Gullikson (The Flaps), Adam Fogo, Steve Matylewicz and Brendan Allistone (although Adam did try to convince me everyone's first name was "Jan", for some reason ...). It would take too long to go through all the bands the various members are involved in, but there are ties with Burti Lasky, Pleather, Wax Mannequin, Gammahoochee (or whatever it's calling itself nowadays), et. al. For pure instrumental chops I think you have to hand the ribbon to them, and their second "song" with Damo, fuelled by Jaime's fast'n'funky drumming was probably the show's highlight.

On your left: Fogo, Gullikson, Damo, and a bit of Allistone ...



On your right, more Damo and Allistone, plus Matylewicz and Dubue.



Drumsticks - they're not just for breakfast.



The explosive finale!



Damo really was amazing - his ability to sing for 20 minute stretches without a drink is remarkable all in itself, if you ask me ...

Romantic rescue

Saint Bernard of Love wrapped up the Oct. 8 show at the Avant-Garde Bar with a brief set of Velvet-Underground influenced strum and drone. It was Michael T. Wieland by himself, with a foot organ to help out on the bass parts.

Michael croons!



Some fancy footwork. Well, not so fancy.



He's just released a full length CD-R.

Famile reunion

Always good to see the folks from the Golden Famile again - the first band I photographed, when they opened for The Asteroid No. 4. They released their third album at a show in June and then took a breather for a few months, at least as far as public performance goes. They sounded really sharp at this gig.

The whole Famile.



Darrell Angus gives a yell as Ryan Hough saws and Caseau Comeau tickles the ivories.



The Avant-Garde Bar's "stage" is not ideally suited to sextets, so Richard was stuck off on the left.



I bounced the flash for this picture of Nate Hurlow. It didn't work.



Mike Sheridan in motion.



All their hard work (plus a reference to Russia in the closing number) got them shirts and shots from the AGB staff. The Famile play at Barrymore's Nov. 18 - the CKCU show with The Black Keys, Nathaniel Mayer, and others.

• Show reminder: The Bell Orchestre and Kepler perform at the Black Sheep Inn in Wakefield, Que. The Gris Gris and Expatriates perform at Babylon; as with most Mod Club night shows, expect an early start (EDIT: Just got back from a fine show by The Expatriates; apparently Gris Gris didn't make it over the border).
  

On with the shows

A short post to say: Damo Suzuki at the Avant-Garde Bar was excellent! Pictures in a few days. Tonight you can see The Banditas, Casey Comeau, Muffler Crunch, and Chris Page at Irene's Pub - it's a benefit for the Peace and Environment Resource Centre - or check out The Flaps as they release their new CD at the Avant-Garde.

"A fat chud"

Hamilton's B.A. Johnston is a rather self-deprecating fellow who sings songs about deep frying, being paid in pirate booty and hapless Dungeons & Dragons fans. He accompanies himself on guitar and keyboards and sounds a bit like The Mountain Goats. He's also damn funny, a very engaging performer and really, really hates squirrels ...

Hamilton's frying-est makes his explosive entrance! (At this point you should hum the Ride of the Valkyries - even if you're at work.)



Hot keyboard action! Which is appropriate, since this song probably featured deep-frying in some way.



That guitar has seen better days.



Arr, he wants pirate booty!



Like I said: Funny, but not just a joke by any means. The opening act for this show (at the Avant-Garde Bar, incidentally) was Allie Hanlon who I arrived too late to see. I did snap a couple of photos outside with her Casio, though ...



... and you can always check her Myspace page to see what she sounds like.

• Show reminder: The Setbacks and The Red Arrows play Zaphod's - apparently if you go to this show you get to make government policy for the next year, or something like that! Former Can singer and krautrock legend Damo Suzuki performs at the Avant-Garde Bar with members of the Unireverse. The Fiftymen perform at Barrymore's with Chris Page, Dave Draves and Scott Terry - a.k.a. Camp Radio - along for the ride.

Through an eye, glassily

Reverend Glasseye returned to his/its second spiritual home in Ottawa to rock the crowd (and a few dozen photographers, it felt like) at Irene's Pub with its gothic carnival music and wild arm flailing. They have a new album, Our Lady of the Broken Spine, out on Ottawa's Music for Cats label. In fact one of its members, Piet Masone, is moving here for romantic reasons, so this was his last Canadian show with the band (I presume that means he'll be doing some U.S. touring with the band in support of their shiny new disc).

Might as well start off with Piet himself, so you can say hi if you see him around town.



The Reverend Adam Glasseye rocks the 12-string.



Tim Maher preapares to give his kit a thorough malletting.



Paul Z. Dilly fiddles about.



Cassandra Lomas and Jon Wobesky handle the brass ...



Along with the always energetic Kevin Corzett.



Dave Aardvark was called on stage half way through the set to introduce the band. "It's fulfilling a rock dream of mine," said the Rev.



Two-four rhythm action!



Cassandra sings - and shows off the choppers, too.



Wild arm flailing! It's not a Glasseye show without it, as Adam observed. And note the "REV" belt buckle.



Ric action!



I was impressed with their new album, and they really kicked things up a few notches on stage.

• Show reminder: a northern chorus and my dad vs. yours play Irene's Pub. And Reverend Glasseye fans would be well-advised to check out Elliott Brood at Zaphods, along with Lefty McRighty and the Boxcar Cadavers. They also have a super new album entitled Ambassador.