Bluesfest: Fishbone

I first was hepped to Fishbone via their cover of Curtis Mayfield's Freddy's Dead. Come to think of it, that was also the first time I heard of Mayfield ... thanks Fishbone! The band has been around, off and on, since 1979, with a number of lineup changes. That's not usually a recipe for keeping it real, but the bunch on stage did a first rate job, and to my ears were one of the festival's best performance.

Here's one of the originals, John Norwood Fisher.



And its best known, Angelo!



"Dirty" Walter A. Kibby blows his own horn.



On your left, rocking some serious hair, guitarist Rocky George and trombonist Jay Armant. George has also done time with Suicidal Tendencies and the Cro-Mags.



Angelo gets the crowd going!



Extra Rocky and Jay!



Extra Angelo!



Dirty and John Steward.



Fisher chats up the crowd.



Trombone action!



Dre Gipson steps out from behind the keyboards.



An ace set.

Bluesfest: Akron/Family

I wasn't really planning to seen any Akron/Family ... I've enjoyed their shows before (at Zaphod's, Barrymore's and First Baptist Church) so I figured I could check out other stuff without lambasting myself for missing their gig. Turns out they were still playing after Melvins wrapped up and there wasn't much else to do, so ...

Miles testifies!



Seth sings!



Seth! Dana! The top of someone's head!



And so on!



I confess I didn't stay long ... Fishbone awaited.

Bluesfest: Melvins

Melvins were one of the festivals big draws for me; they haven't played here before, and I don't get out of town much. After a "Nirvana liked them so they must be good" intro from the emcee (no doubt something they've heard way too much) they kicked into some experimental fuzz'n'fury. King Buzzo and Dale Crover have left their usual Big Business buddies behind for this tour. Instead Trevor Dunn of Mr. Bungle fame was on hand to man the standup bass for "Melvins Lite."

King Buzzo rocks the aluminum.



Dale is behind there somewhere.



More Dale!



Classical Trevor!



Buzzo is a wizard.



Rhythm section action!



Buzzo sings!



Trevor sings!



Forked action!



Extra Dale!



The whole lot!



And the view from the other side ...



Well worth the wait, and an excellent turnout. I suspect a good chunk of the crowd went just for them.

Bluesfest: Loon Choir

On to Loon Choir. I was really knocked out by what I caught of their set. There may have been actual brain damage since I completely forgot I'd seen them before, at Maverick's in March 2011, opening for Young Galaxy.

Nicole Yates rocks the keys.

Kathleen Cauley on violins; I don't recall her at the Mavs show.

Closeup action with Dan Larmour!

The shouty bit with Derek Atkinson!

Keyboard action; I assume by the process of elimination that that's Brad Sheffield on the right.

Loony action!

Jamie Leclair handles the low end!

More Kathleen, plus drummer Julien Jacobi - I think that's everyone in the band covered ...

Guitar action!

Dan sings some more!

More guitar!



And so on!



Julien hits!



The end!



Next up, Melvins!

Bluesfest: Fet. Nat

Shortly after the Ottawa Explosion exploded Ottawa, it was time for yet another marathon of music. Of course, since this is the Ottawa Bluesfest, the enjoyability of it varied quite a bit - I don't think I'll be warming up to dubstep any time soon. I did however quite enjoy the first band on the bill, Hull's Fet. Nat. As I said before, they made me think of Cleveland's weirdo punk scene - most notably Pere Ubu, but also the Mirrors and Eyes.

JFNo sings!



Daniel Boivin handles the low end.



Singalong action with Pierre-Luc Clement!



Olivier Fairefield hits!



Pierre-Luc frets!



Running about!



Bonus Boivin!



Extra JFNo!



Singalong action!



Meanwhile, on the other side of the stage ....



Olivier sings!



Then it was time to head over the hill to see Loon Choir rips things up.