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.

Fool's gold

Back to Zaphod's, and the headlining set from Fools Like You, a band that contrary to their name don't fool around when it comes to rocking out. Well, there are some stage hijinx, but they put their love of a wide range of rock into a very solid performance.

Steve Needham rocks the low end.



Tolsen Nicholson frets and sings.



Skylar has added a string or two.



Foolish action!



Less flashy action!



Clapping action!



Skylar works the crowd!



Monitor-standing action!



Riley Restoule on the kit.



Singalong action!



Strap-destroying action!



Torsten works the crowd!



Side-by-side action!



And one final foray into the audience.



They're working on their new album; it's release is imminent.

Four flavours of loud

I've been recovering from a cold lately and mostly avoiding the nightlife, but I was feeling chipper enough Wednesday night to head over to Mavericks to see some heavy metal. NWOCHM titans Cauldron are on their 'America's Lost tour (today is Kingston, tomorrow Toronto, then it's down to the States), and a variety of local acts were pulled in to support the imminent export of metal.

No offence to Criticull, but on a list of two words I like to see apart and hate to see together, "funk" and "metal" rank high. Well, at least they put on an energetic performance.


Criticull at Mavericks, April 17, 2013

There's no denying they do know how to work the stage.


Criticull at Mavericks, April 17, 2013

On to one of my favourite acts, Muffler Crunch! They always put on a great show. Someone gifted them with a big piece of pork, which sat on the bass drum for their set (and Black Stone Hearts'). Here Luc works Ol' Sparky.


Muffler Crunch at Mavericks, April 17, 2013

Let there be pork!


Muffler Crunch at Mavericks, April 17, 2013

Black Stone Hearts - featured on our last post - also put on a great show, with a cover of Led Zep's Rock'N'Roll to round things off.


Black Stone Hearts at Mavericks, April 17, 2013

Kamikaze action!


Black Stone Hearts at Mavericks, April 17, 2013

On to Cauldron, officially Canada's lankiest power trio. They have a new album, Tomorrow's Lost, out soon (but available now, should you wish to pop over to Vertigo Records. Somewhere it's still 1985 ...


Cauldron at Mavericks, April 17, 2103

Unfortunately the crowd was pretty sparse. "The fewer of you come, the longer we play!"


Cauldron at Mavericks, April 17, 2103

Muffler Crunch are playing a benefit at the Chevaliers de Colomb in Alymer  to help fight multiple sclerosis Friday night.

Basic black

On to Black Stone Hearts, a band very much in the Guns'N'Roses-Backyard Babies line. As mentioned earlier they boast veterans of Rat Tales, Rottaway and other such local rock combos.

Kamikaze O'Neil on lead guitars!



Gripping action with Sergei and Coupe!



Extra Coupe!



Sergei works the stand!



Bassist Kevin, plus Coupe takes a stand.



The whole lot! Drummer Straabs is back there somewhere.



Singalong action!



Straabs sings!



Extra Sergei!



Hearty action!



Some less flashy action.



Zaphod's is Ottawa's second-most-orange venue.



Bonus Sergei!



Turtle action!



Everybody get down!



Sergei goes acoustic!



Bonus Kevin!



Kamikaze action!



Guitar-lifting action!



They're onstage at Mavericks on Wednesday, opening for Cauldron.

Yesteryear

As October rolled in I went to Zaphod's to finally check out Black Stone Hearts, along with a couple of other bands. Fools Like You I saw several years back, The Dead Centuries were new to me. This was their final show with vocalist John Beaumont. Alison Murphy sings for them now, whioch I suspect will change things quite a bit.

Rock action with Bryan Needham and Homam Alattar!



Kavan Jonack is the mastermind of this operation.



John on the microphone, drummer Bryant McNamara is just a shade to the right.



Deadly action!



Extra Bryan and Homam!



More Kavan!



Clapping action!



Bryant hits!



They have a show at Cafe DeKcuf April 20, opening for October Sky, along with Neverfriend