Out of their heads

I was planning on just taking it easy yesterday since the social calendar was looking a little empty and my work schedule is going to be a bit hellish for the next couple of weeks, but with less than 24 hours to go I decided to check out Shout Out Out Out Out for the third time (I only learned of a nearby Creeps show after I'd bought my ticket, otherwise I'd be at The Bytown Tavern instead). Dance music is not my favourite genre, but SOOOO always put on an energetic show, and true to form Zaphod's was a sweatbox inside a quarter hour.

The opener was San Serac, who sings along to some canned rhythm, occasionally aided by some percussion or keyboard. His voice is pitched somewhere between the Cure's Robert Smith and Jonathan Richman. Some also say Bryan Ferry. I was a bit surprised to hear he used to be in Candy Machine - I'm sure I've got one of their albums kicking around. Anyway, it was a tasty opener.



The Shout Outers once again provided more bounce for the ounce and some sinus-clenching bass.



And yes, I bounced along.

• Show reminder: Crush Buildings, Relief Maps and Kwiz Massturrz play Babylon.

What a long, strange trip it's been

I confess: I enjoy the subsequent projects by Julie Doiron and Rick White to the indie-rock fuzz of Eric's Trip, the band that put them on the map. But you have to give props to the East Coast quintet for their invaluable groundwork for the independent music scene Canadians enjoy today (not to say they deserve sole credit, mind you).

Here's Rick White, once again.



Julie Doiron has been growing her bangs for the occasion.



Chris Thompson.



I snapped this shot of Mark Gaudet at the start of the show. His musical roots predate his bandmates by several years - he got his start with Purple Knight in the 1970s.



The whole lot!



And now, trippy action!











Julie takes a spin on Dick Morello's Strat while Chris uses her bass.









And big fuzzy finish!



That's one reunion under the bridge. I wouldn't mind another.

• Show reminder: Shout Out Out Out Out and San Serac play Zaphod's; The Creeps, Bombed Out, Full Blown Whores and Winslow perform at the Bytown Tavern.

Out of the fog

Rick White's kept busy since Eric's Trip splintered. He's got a slew of albums as Elevator Through Hell (and its various descendants), a super album with some Sadies as The Unintended and most recently a couple of LPs as The Rick White Album. He has a particular dreamy psychedelic acoustic sound and probably deserves to be credited as a freak folk artist before folk became freaky (or something like that). Anyway, all we've got here is one man and his amazingly painted acoustic, so no further chatter is necessary.











One audience member had to cop a feel of the guitar of the set.

• Show reminder: Bella, The Love Machine, These Electric Lives and Ennuie play Mavericks; Blue Reverb, The John Cohen Experimental and The Colour Surround play a free showcase at Zaphod's.

Once in a blue moon

It can be a bit tricky for some bands to pick an appropriate opening act. Then there's Eric's Trip. Since Three-quarters of its membership has a solo career and other bands to fall back on, they could practically run a weekend festival based around bands they're in. First up was Blue Heeler, the band Julie Doiron has former with Sir Dickie Morello following the dissolution of Shotgun and Jaybird (in a remarkable coincidence, the other guitar slinger in S&J, Shotgun Jimmie, is performing at End Hits tonight). Doiron's switched over to drums while Morello kicks out some seriously Neil Youngian fuzz on the guitar.

Morello in a most appropriate blue.





Dickie rocks the flip flops.



Good thing Julie's on stage later, because this picture of her is less than stellar.



They were followed by Moonsocket, the nom de guitar of Chris Thompson. "I normally do this on acoustic, but for tonight I'll go electric" he announced (all quotes approximate) before his brief set.









I'd like to check him out on acoustic. As an electric performer I didn't find him hugely compelling. Blue Heeler was really good, though.

• Show reminder: Baby Eagle and Construction and Destruction hit the stage - okay, the basement - along with Shotgun Jimmy at End Hits. The Heatskores, Hellbros, Goddamn Goddamns and Vanier Shank play Zaphod Beeblebrox.

Flower power

Zaphod's is a great place to see a band like Magnolia Electric Co. Not to slight Barrymore's (where they put on a fine performance last time they rolled through town), the relative intimacy of the nightclub is preferable (except in the matter of lighting). Despite a lineup change or two, the group was sounding much like they did at their Barrymore's date - a melancholy Americana that highlights Jason Molina's plaintive vocals. Anyway, get ready for a lot of dark photos with a high bassist quotient.

And here he is - Mackie Hotpepper is his name, I do believe. (Or perhaps that's just a pseudonym and he's Evan Farrell.)



Molina on the microphone.



The whole lot!



Guitarist Jason Groth, at right, is caught in a rare moment of inactivity.





That shadowy blur behind Groth is group keyboardist Mike Kapinus.







And Mark Rice on drums.



As before, a very entertaining evening.

• Show reminder: TokyoSexWhale, Mad Parish and The Suppositories rock Zaphod's; Wintersleep and The Wooden Stars perform at Barrymore's. Trophy Scars, Down On Bedford, Assembleme, Arm Your Desires and Good Night Knights rock at Cafe Dekcuf. The Grass perform at Irene's.
  

What to make of it

Off to Mavericks to see the relocated Do Make Say think show. Originally booked for Capital Music Hall, it had no problem selling out the much smaller venue. I wasn't the last guy to buy tickets - the guy behind me in line at End Hits on Wednesday might have been though, since they were down to two then. Unfortunately I thought things would be starting later than they did and only caught the tail end of Jetplanes of Abraham's set and an appreciative "Woo!" from the audience. That was at a few minutes after 10 p.m. I guess they need the early start time to accommodate all the shifting of gear. I'm no expert but I imagine being the soundman for this gig was a bit of a nightmare.

A quickly snapped picture of a few Abrahamites.



Do Make Say Think began their set with a bit of "technological difficulty banter." For all the grumbling the switch-around wasn't too lengthy and pretty soon they were into their first tune. Fifty minutes later: "And now for our second song."



I thought things took a bit to get interesting, but after they hit their stride all was good.

• Show reminder: Bela Emerson and Parade perform at Sounds Unlikely. Means, Cry of the Afflicted and Letting Go of Yesterday play End Hits. Yael Wand and Chloe Hall perform at Rasputin's. The Flaps and The Empiricals once again battle to the death at Irene's. Contrary to earlier reports triggered by a misplaced "1", Poorfolk, The Mohawk Lodge and Octoberman play at Zaphod Beeblebrox tonight. Andrew Vincent, Royal Wood and Ron Leary perform at the Black Sheep Inn.
  

Elementary, my dear Watsons

It's a good thing I had a chance to see a few shows a couple of weeks ago, because I've been busy of late with provincial elections and throne speeches and other thrilling (cough) stuff at work. Magnolia Electric Co. brought their mournful roots rock to town, and with them came The Watson Twins and matching sibling harmonies. They praised the weather and sang real pretty.

Those twins, Chandra and Leigh (Leigh and Chandra?).



Guitarist J. Soda.



Drummer Russ.



Contemplative bass-playing from someone who may or may not be Aram Arslanian or Matt Fitzell.






Singalong action!



Some harmonica too.



The whole lot!



The whole psychedelic lot!



And an assist on pedal steel from the Magnolia Electric Co.'s pedal steel player.



A very sweet-sounding bunch.

• Show reminder: Do Make Say Think and Jetplanes of Abraham perform at Mavericks. Souljazz Orchestra play the Glebe Community Centre.