Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Unborn rights

The latest edition of the Ottawa Implosion came to an explosive end with the first set from new combo Sick Nurse (featuring fellow snapper Darryl Reid on vocals), Montreal's Subsistench and the last set from local faves Pregnancy Scares. Unfortunately I was delayed getting out of the house and missed Sailor Jupiter's opening set. Here's Sick Nurse kicking things off with some screamy streetpunk.

Sick Nurse at Gabba Hey

Next, a special guest appearance from the late Ronald Reagan, wrestling an audience member.

Sick Nurse at Gabba Hey

Guitar action!

Sick Nurse at Gabba Hey

Percussive action!

Sick Nurse at Gabba Hey

Rolling around action!

Sick Nurse at Gabba Hey

On to the rough and ready sound of Subsistench. They manage to be hugely distorted and melodic at the same time. Here's Matt from Thee Nodes and Fuzz!

Subsistench at Gabba Hey

The whole lot!

Subsistench at Gabba Hey

Singalong action!

Subsistench at Gabba Hey

Camouflage action!

Subsistench at Gabba Hey

Masked action!

Subsistench at Gabba Hey

Vocal action!

Subsistench at Gabba Hey

Feedback action!

Subsistench at Gabba Hey

Well, it's been a good run for Pregnancy Scares - I first caught them at Nine back in June 2010 alongside White Lung (with whom they've performed several times since) and The Blind Shake. They made a good first impression, and made a good last impression as well. On to some microphone testing action with Craig!

Pregnancy Scares at Gabba Hey

Emmanuelle adds smoke.

Pregnancy Scares at Gabba Hey

Let the shouting begin!

Pregnancy Scares at Gabba Hey

David hits!

Pregnancy Scares at Gabba Hey

Hair attack action!

Pregnancy Scares at Gabba Hey

Bendy action!

Pregnancy Scares at Gabba Hey

Davey frets, Craig takes a stand!

Pregnancy Scares at Gabba Hey

Craig gets a little carried away.

Pregnancy Scares at Gabba Hey

It was a touchy-feely occasion.

Pregnancy Scares at Gabba Hey

Extra David!

Pregnancy Scares at Gabba Hey

The bendy bit!

Pregnancy Scares at Gabba Hey

Huuuuuuuuugs!

Pregnancy Scares at Gabba Hey

Doom was on hand to provides some extra noise (and sparks)!

Pregnancy Scares at Gabba Hey

Headbanging action!

Pregnancy Scares at Gabba Hey

More sparks!

Pregnancy Scares at Gabba Hey

A fitting end to both band and weekend.

Bringing up bruises

Ottawa Implosion shenanigans continues at Gabba Hey Friday night, with Toronto's Plasmalab making the trip north for their first show, alongside Ultrathin, throwing their album release show, Birds of Paradise (featuring Hannah and Choyce from Red Mass) and Ottawa's own Chloroform.

Plasmalab played a great first set, with a sound that I'd guess owes a debt to The Wipers, albeit with a harsher guitar tone.

Plasmalab at Gabba Hey

Bass action!

Plasmalab at Gabba Hey

Vocal action!

Plasmalab at Gabba Hey

Rhythm section action!

Plasmalab at Gabba Hey

Bloody action!

Plasmalab at Gabba Hey

Perrcussive action!

Plasmalab at Gabba Hey

Laboratory action!

Plasmalab at Gabba Hey

Next up were Chloroform, sounding even more like Motorhead than usual as they tour through a great set.

Chloroform at Gabba Hey

Bass action!

Chloroform at Gabba Hey

I always break out the flash for these guys since they're too fast for my lowlight primes.

Chloroform at Gabba Hey

Scott hits!

Chloroform at Gabba Hey

Rick sings!

Chloroform at Gabba Hey

Rhythm section action!

Chloroform at Gabba Hey

The whole blurry lot!

Chloroform at Gabba Hey

Birds of Paradise are another musical outlet for Red Mass mainstays Hannah Lewis and Roy "Choyce" Vucino; it played its first shows in August of 2014. I think that they sound like what Royal Trux would have sounded like if they listened to a lot of the Paisley Sound bands like Dream Syndicate - and I mean that as a compliment. They were releasing a lathe-cut disc on Bruised Tongue.

Birds of Paradise at Gabba Hey

Choyce action!

Birds of Paradise at Gabba Hey

Hannah sings!

Birds of Paradise at Gabba Hey

Guitar action!

Birds of Paradise at Gabba Hey

Percussive action!

Birds of Paradise at Gabba Hey

Tambourine action!

Birds of Paradise at Gabba Hey

Roy sings some more!

Birds of Paradise at Gabba Hey

Ultrathin are always fun, and this gig, celebrating their new Bruised Tongue LP (it's been out a month or so) was pretty hot. Here's Shaun and Matthew!

Ultrathin at Gabba Hey

Mark sings!

Ultrathin at Gabba Hey

Percussive action!

Ultrathin at Gabba Hey

More guitar!

Ultrathin at Gabba Hey

Double-vision action!

Ultrathin at Gabba Hey

Bass face!

Ultrathin at Gabba Hey

Psychedelic action!

Ultrathin at Gabba Hey

The whole lot!

Ultrathin at Gabba Hey

Mark runs around!

Ultrathin at Gabba Hey

And so on!

Ultrathin at Gabba Hey

Mighty fine sounds.