Traffic both ways

Off to Zaphod's for some very sharp pop sounds, courtesy of Two Hours Traffic. They're on tour with Regina combo Rah Rah. Both bands have of course dropped in at Canadian Music Week, but it's more of a waystop than the reason for being in the vicinity.

 First up, Rah Rah played a knockout set, even though the Regina sextet is down a man. They apparently get compared to Arcade Fire quite a bit. They certainly remind me of Ottawa's own Jetplanes of Abraham.


Rah Rah at Zaphod Beeblebrox, March 23, 2013

There was quite a bit of instrument switching going on; Erin Passmore, the lady at right, started on drums, moved to guitar, then spent some time playing that keyboard thing she's holding in the snap below.


Rah Rah at Zaphod Beeblebrox, March 23, 2013
 
Two Hours Traffic were in town back in September - I haven't even had the chance to post more photos from then. In the interim they've released another new batch of recordings, Foolish Blood. Songs old and new alike were sounding really hot, and there was a big crowd on hand to enjoy them as well.


Two Hours Traffic at Zaphod Beeblebrox, March 2013, 2013

Fretful action!


Two Hours Traffic at Zaphod Beeblebrox, March 2013, 2013

They're both headed out west for further dates.

Muggy

It was a hot and sweaty night yesterday at Mugshots as Toronto's Teenanger joined The Yips and Average Times on Mugshots' stage. Did I stay stage? I meant "the 10-foot by 10-foot space by the exit to the bathrooms." It's a bit of a tight fight for anything but a duo, but since the rest of the place was packed with music fans, you do what you can.

Average times were first on deck with their blurty punk rock'n'roll.


Average Times at Mugshots, March 22, 2013

"Hello, we're Smashmouth!"


Average Times at Mugshots, March 22, 2013

The Yips broke out the facepaint and roses for the release of their new tape on Bruised Tongue.


The Yips at Mugshots, March 22, 2013

Things got pushy fast and I retreated to the side of the room; the smoke machine made photography pointless anyway.


The Yips at Mugshots, March 22, 2013

The crowd was even crazier for Teenanger, but I had shifted over to one of the huge pillars that divide Mugshots' space, so there was really no way to be shoved over.


Teenanger at Mugshots, March 22, 2013

On the other hand, good thing I brought my fisheye lens.


Teenanger at Mugshots, March 22, 2013

The windows were completely fogged over by the time they were done. 

Open spaces

It's a good thing Roberta Bondar were the last band on the bill at Mugshots back on August 30; it means I'm posting these photos just in time for their cassette release show at Cafe Alt tonight!

Guitar action with Alex and Lidija!



Gary shakes it!



Tyler hits!



Lidija sings!



The whole smoke-enshrouded lot!



Lidija ditches the guitar!



Rocking action!



Shirtless action!



Things got a little crazy after that.



There was even hand percussion.



Not only are they playing tonight, but if you buy a copy of their new Hiss EP, you can get into the Yips/Average Times/Teenanger gig at Mugshots free.

Have metal, will travel

A couple more CMW-bound bands were in town last night, and with a couple of local metal acts ready to rumble on the Cafe DeKcuf stage, why not field a four-act bill?

Kicking things off were Descendant. I've seen their CD around town, but haven't had a chance to check them out before now. They shred things pretty mightily, and played a hot set. Here's guitarmen Mat Brinkworth and Raf Russell rubbing shoulders.


Descendant at Cafe DeKcuf, March 20, 2013

And some faceoff action with bassist Sean Orlicky (you can just make out drummer Jamie Murray back there).


Descendant at Cafe DeKcuf, March 20, 2013

The odd ones out for this show were No Sinner. Yes they're loud and all, but in a more blues-rocking vein, with a bit of a Stooges thing going on as well. They've shared stages with The Pack A.D. Next time they come through town they should really try to swing a show with Muffler Crunch. They had a bit too much excitement en route when they rolled their van. Fortunately the contents, human and gear, were largely unharmed. Here's singer Colleen Rennison.


No Sinner at Cafe DeKcuf, March 20, 2013

Guitarist Eric Campbell rocks the Reverend.


No Sinner at Cafe DeKcuf, March 20, 2013

 On to Black Mastiff! They played to a small crowd at Mavericks a couple of years ago. They still have that cool sludgy QOTSA sound.


Black Mastiff at Cafe DeKcuf, March 20, 2013

However, they left their pointy things behind this time. "Logistics" explained bassist Clay Shea.


Black Mastiff at Cafe DeKcuf, March 20, 2013

Finally a superheavy set from Collider, a local band who really should play a lot more.


Collider at Cafe DeKcuf, March 20, 2013

Guitar action!


Collider at Cafe DeKcuf, March 20, 2013

A fine batch of bands.

Behind bars

It was the first day of Canadian Music Week yesterday, and you know what that means: Various bands en route or returning from the big shindig travelling through town and playing shows. It also happens to be  CHUO's annual fundraising drive (it runs from March 8 to March 24, so there's still time to give to a worthy cause), and the two came together - sort of - with a free show at Mugshots from Montreal's Fire/Works and Calgary's Bleachers, both of which were excellent.

Fire/Works is a two-man operation whose CMW writeup makes them sound like either Calexico or Bon Iver. It's two multi-instrumentalists, Jonathan Peters and David Lagace, doing some nice , harmonized folk, mostly acoustic guitars and a bit of percussion, with some occasional harmonica and accordion thrown in.

It's handy having a righty and a lefty if you want to play in small space, I guess.


Fire/Works at Mugshots, March 19, 2013

And the view from the other side of the room.


Fire/Works at Mugshots, March 19, 2013

As for Bleachers, I got a very heavy Interpol vibe, mostly thanks to the mellifluous vocals of singer of singer Brett Sandford. Some folks have also compared them to The Strokes. I'll throw in The Watchmen as another possible touchstone. You can also see guitarists Jourdan Cunningham (of Mountaineer fame) and Lauchlin Toms, and drummer Andrew Hamill. Bassist Logan Juke is somewhere off to the left.


Bleachers at Mugshots, March 19, 2013

There is not a lot of space for a band to move around ...


Bleachers at Mugshots, March 19, 2013

That was swell. Unfortunately I quite forgot to have one of the tacos.

Yips yup

Second band of the night - and a new one to me - was The Yips. they play a sort of post-punk, provided the punks are Siouxsie & The Banshees. As I mentioned before, they also remind me a bit of Pleasure Forever and The Detroit Cobras. It's a cool-sounding racket, and comes with an energetic live performance.

Guitar action with Jon Schofield and Zach Lebert - I think in that order.



Zach frets!



Those Yips! Kerri Carrise handles the vocals, and that's Jon Bennet on drums. They also have a bassist, Kurt Rafuse, but he wasn't around for this set.



Kerri sings!



Jon hits!



Bonus Zach!



Hair-shaking action!



Kerri gets down!



Faceoff action!



Strat action!



And now a quick pause for refreshment!



More Kerri!



The crowd goes wild!



They're at Mugshots again this Friday (an inside show, I presume), with Teenanger and Average Times.

The song remains the same

If there's one thing Ottawa is missing right now, it's Bacon Fat. The monthly outing at Mugshots was quite a treat for fans of greasy rock and music under the stars. Apart from the change in the weather, show arranger Sylvain has also decamped for New York. Perhaps some forward-thinking soul will take it over. Hopefully someone who throws Television into their DJ ses like the previous proprietor. Here's a quick snap of Sylvain - taken under the condition I not tell him I was taking his picture - with projection above by Matt Trudel.



Now on to the opening act ... Male Nurse! Davey does get around, doesn't he? And doesn't the brickwork make a nice backdrop?



Let's not forget the tree.



Fisheye action!



And one more.



No doubt he'll be spotted again shortly (wait, did I say that the last time?).