Muffler, not muffled

All good things must come to an end (I forget why), but at least if the end in question involves Muffler Crunch you know it'll be good. Angie and Luc of Muffler Crunch certainly delivered maximum firepower, once again demonstrating why they're the heaviest duo in the land.

Luc makes preparation for footwork.



Farewell glasses!



Angie prepares to hit!



The whole lot!



Angie sings!



Them again!



Guitar lifting action!



Luc sings!



Angie hits!



Fisheye action!



The crowd goes wild!



Luc likes to jump up on stuff like amps, tables, drunkits, Angie ... but since the Avant-Garde makes that difficult he settled for a stool near the back.



Tongue-twanging action!



Behind the back action!



More guitar-lifting!



Final feedback action!



I saw them just a few days later at Yogi's, but we'll get to that later ... there next scheduled show is at Zaphod's with Gypsy Chief Goliath August 13.

• Show reminder: Dave Andrews, Call Me Katie, Scary Bear Soundtrack and docweissband perform at the Westboro Masonic Hall; JF Robitaille and Musk Ox are at Raw Sugar Cafe; Evil Farm Children and The Gerry Alvarez Odyssey rock around the Clocktower; Mayday! Mayday! Sound Injection Noise Addiction and Brothers Through The Hill play Zaphod's; Dylan Wickens & The Grand Naturals and Tortoise Blue grace the Rainbow's stage; Ron Hawkins from Lowest of The Low does the solo thing at the Elmdale with Marc Charron. Some folks from The Hilotrons and Friends On Friends will be performing the King of Pop's hits at the Avant-Garde in cooperation in honour of the late, be-gloved one. Lonesome Paul and the Valley Ramblers ramble into Irene's.

Tittilations of industry

I normally confine myself to one past a morning (I keep my spelling mistakes in the double digits that way) but I now have a huge backlog that will only grow when Bluesfest hits in two weeks. More importantly, the middle act at the Avant Garde Bare, Pretty Little Death Machine, have a show tonight at Zaphod Beeblebrox, so you might as well see what you might see tonight (on a much larger stage).

From left to right we have guitarist Matt "Tricky" Lamothe, guitarist and vocalist Ty Black and bassist Matt Lepoidevin. Ike McFaul mans the drums.



Fretful action!



Tyler sings!



Singalong action!



Faceoff action!



It was a hell of a job getting a good photo of Ike.



The whole lot!



Back-to-back action!



Shirtless action!



And so on!



Tyler frets!



Final translucent action!



As mentioned earlier, they'll be sharing a bill with Time Giant Project Mars and The Cowards.

• Show reminder: The Dead Zone unleash their new CD with the help of four-stroke and Black Market Candy at Babylon; Good2Go and The Bible All-Stars rock the Clocktower Pub; speaking of the Avant-Garde, The Mark Inside, Celery Troff and Static Revolt play their tonight; Train Jumpers, The Stone Sparrows and Double Entente are at The Rochester Pub; Cervix, Asile, Antimony and Dead Lights are playing an outdoors show if the weather is nice (ask a punk where) if there's rain, which seems likely, the show will be at 654 MacLaren. Kelly Prescott performs at Irene's; The Sinners reunite at The Elmdale.

Motor on

I walked over to Zaphod's last night because I was curious to see Moncton rockers Motorleague. Ian Blurton had a hand in the creation of their new album and that's usually a good sign. With them on the bill was Love Banshee of Kitchener, formerly known as The Music Box.

I can see why a band might want ditch a fairly generic name, but Love Banshee? I just hope no one thinks they're a Cure tribute act. The band is actually a mishmash of country, surf and punkish rock. They're now headed on a brief spin down to the U.S.


Love Banshee at Zaphod Beeblebrox, June 23, 2011

They're trying to swing another Ottawa show since they accidentally played Montreal last night, having actually booked a show for July 22.


Love Banshee at Zaphod Beeblebrox, June 23, 2011

The Motorleague sounded a bit to me like Fu Manchu with modern punk vocals. I like the Fu Manchu part; not so keen on the latter. They do have a motoring rhythm section and some good chunky riffs, though to my ears the guitar sounds sounded a bit mushed together.


Motorleague at Zaphod Beeblebrox, June 23, 2011

They do get extra points for an extra active bassist, though.


Motorleague at Zaphod Beeblebrox, June 23, 2011

They've got some southern Ontario dates before heading off to Cape Breton.

Empire state

As nice as free music is, I'll take a dry place and a modest entry fee any day - particularly if the bands on the bill rock with the vigour of Pretty Little Death Machine, Tiny Empire and Muffler Crunch. Every band plays loud, with PLDM favouring the hard rock I'll forever associate with the early output of The Hellacopters, Muffler Crunch leaning toward monster mutant blues thunder and Tiny Empire stripping rock down to its bones and then beating you with them.

And hear they are! Gen Jones on vocals, drummer Spencer Warren and bassist Alex Seliger.



Alex has also played with The Frenetics, though he joined after I caught that band playing a show at the Dominion (I think).



Gen rocks the Dusenberg.



Rhythm section action!



Alex sings!



Gen sings!



Hair-flipping action!



Singalong action!



Spencer hits!



The shouty bit!



More Alex!



More Gen!



More Spencer!



The end!



Now I want to see some recorded material ...

• Show reminder: I see that Ian Blurton had a part in recording The Motorleague's latest sounds, so I think I'll zip over to Zaphod's to see them play with The Music Box; Prett Melberts and the Best Friend Patrol, Miss Polygamy, Hot Jupiter, Tyler Bell Band, The Five Georges are at the Avant-Garde Bar; A Wilhelm Scream, Cunter, Fractures and Sparrows play Mavericks; The Elmdale hosts John Pippus and Marie Josee Houle.

Return of the Pack

Back when I first saw The Pack A.D., it seemed that bluesy rock duos were all the rage, what with your Black Keys 'n' White Stripes and Kills n' whatnot. Naturally enough The Pack A.D. got lumped in with them, but despite the obvious similarities, such as the blues roots and staff numbers managed to develop a distinct personality all their own. Four years later and the band's as fierce as ever, winning new converts at West fest.

Maya Miller and Becky Black prepare to rock out.



I could have, and should have, gone for a nice reflection shot.



Becky sings!



Closeup action!



Maya hits!



Becky shows off her moves!



Feed back action!



Tongue action!



The shouty bit! Plus a shout out to Lightning Dust.




More hitting!



And from the other side of the stage.



Time to break out the hollowbody.



The whole lot!



Becky strums!



Faceoff action!



At least the rain was easing up as I split for drier parts.

• Show reminder: Struc/tures, Arsonists Get All The Girls, Volumes, Fall In Archaea and Not Even Death play Mavericks; I hope that the many exploded Ottawans will be back at Babylon tonight to catch JEFF The Brotherhood, Peach Kelli Pop and Uncle Bad Touch; Molly Sweeney and Glenn Nuotio perform at the Elmdale.