There's a pattern here

Fractal Pattern kicked out the instrumental rock with a couple of manic guitarists and a French horn player - don't see that every day. Their guitarists set up their gear in front of the stage instead of on it and were very active; horn-player Jordan asked the audience to step up and said she'd never been hit by an errant guitar player ... just the bassist. The audience did not move up - but they did enjoy the show.

Andriko takes a bow. Jimmy Page would be proud.



Nathan shakes it all about and plays harmonica - sometimes at the same time. There was also some jumping off things, which is always nice to see.



Dallas on the drums.



Jordan on French horn. Not as flattering a picture as she deserves.



Hank on bass. His hair isn't normally like that, he was just giving it a shake.



"We're giving dance lessons up here!" says Andriko. Can't argue with that.



They're a motivated band.



If G!YBE jumped around a lot, they'd be a bit like FP.

• Show reminder: As it happens, one of the bands that couldn't make the show, Swingset Champion, are playing at Irene's Pub tonight. City of a Hundred Spires, who did perform as scheduled but came on to early for me to catch also perform, as does In Medias Res.
  

Where Eagles dare

The Mighty Eagle Band certainly kicked there sound and performance up a notch at this Babylon gig. After some patch cord and amplifier trouble was resolved they got down to some serious rock'n'roll.

Some group action ...



Ian Tolton was really showing off the moves tonight.



Neal Johnstone exercises the neck veins while Shawn "Jams" Hill exercises his hair.



Shawn on distortion and daft song introductions.



Adam Frasier; my best shot of him of the night - darn cymbal.



Some even more active group action!



After this I zipped off home because my eyeballs were starting to wander, missing The Hi Lo Trons and Double Pumpers.

• Show reminder: Folks raved about Books on Books' performance at Irene's May 21; if you missed them then you can see them, along with Readable Ink, Kris Ward Band and Winston Brigby Pop Experiment at Zaphod's. Or you can miss them because you have to work late and already bought your ticket to Brant Bjork And The Bros at Babylon - that's my excuse.
  

Crazy man with a crazy band

A few blasts from the past; since I've already posted some of Yogi's latest rockestra, it's a good excuse(?) to publish some pictures from a show they did opening for The Candidates ... it was a last minute occasion since someone from The Bitchin' Camaros busted a limb. Thus Yogi and Co. were drafted to fill the spot. (Update: This post was edited July 29, 2008.)

Paul gets all bendy in a beanie.



Damien on bass. I think he was in five or six different bands at this time. I believe he's now down to four ...



Drummer Mary Granger, sister of Paul.



They even had a guest cowbeller. Why don't all rock bands have a dedicated cowbell player? It's a mystery. In addition to copious band duties, Paul also runs band rehearsal joint and studio Sawed-Off Records.

Shawarma!

Gee, I remember when Yogi and The Lunatic were down to a twosome. Now we get Yogi (not Yogar, as previously reported) and the Hill People - or, as Tom Werbowetski puts it: "This is Yogi ... and these ... are ... the Hill People!" You get two drummers (Damien Sawka and Mary Granger, Yogi's sister); two guitarists (Yogi himself, who also handles the vocals, and well-known booze-slinger Cameron Terrell); one bassist, Dave Martendale; and two percussionists, including Tom. That's a lot of folks. Two more and they're in White Cowbell Oklahoma territory, and closing in on the Silver Hearts (Update: This post was edited July 29, 2008).

On your left: Tom, Cameron, Yogi, Damien.



On your right: Mary and Dave.



Rhythm and more rhythm.



Werbowetski sans flash.



Some dual vocalizing from Yogi and Dave.



Cameron plays guitar while Werbowetski werbowetskis ("To behave oddly with unusal vigour in a musical settling; may include heckling" says my Oxford English Dictionary).



More Damien ...



And the man himself ... Yogi. Likes his seafood, yum!



Definitely a way-cool show. The more the merrier.

• Japanese head trip news: Acid Mothers Temple, Sept. 16 (not Sept. 19 as stated in an earlier version of this post) at Babylon. It's like a dream come true! And here I had scheduled a trip to B.C. ... call my travel agent!
  

Wedding show

Janice Hall has been MIA for some time, but she came back for a little prenuptial action (someone else's pre-wedding party, that is) at Babylon. She was joined by Phillip Bova of The Hi Lo Trons and Brian Simms on bass. There was a nice if not entirely accurate rendition of The Poppy Family's Where Evil Grows.

Janice at the microphone.



Bassist Brian Simms, Bova in back ...



And up close ...



All together.



And a happy end to the show.



Last time I saw her, I seem to recall The Recoilers were her back up band. Was it a Shed Session? It was few years ago, that's for sure ...

• Show reminder: Kelp Records festivities continue this morning at the Clocktower Pub at 11 a.m. with Greenfield Main and Ball and Chain. I've heard tell of these mysterious times before noon .... Later on, The Acorn, Camp Radio, The Flaps, Andrew Vincent & the Pirates and The Banditas take to the Barrymore's stage. Next door The Matadors and Big Jeezus Truck rock out. Last but never least, Washboard Hank returns to Irene's.

Golden standard

The Golden Famile were at the loudest and hardest rocking at their Irene's gig May 20. They were loose'n'loud. I've already posted a ton of pictures, so I'll just put in the highlights.

Darrell: "La-la-la-la-la-ah-la-la-la-la-lah!"



Rich gets in the groove.



Getting down ...



Rocking out!



And a group shot for those neglected members on the far right and left. And the post.



And speaking of Irene's ...

• Show reminder: Blackball, Gesundheit and The Expatriates play there tonight. It's a CD release party for Blackball, and Gesundheit are one of Brian Cram of z'Howndz and Do Make Say Think's many, many musical projects. Melvins with a trumpet, I hear. Flecton, Detective Kalita, South of 78 and The Golden Seals play the Navy Club; it's all part of Kelp Records' 11th anniversary celebrations. There's a bunch of other stuff going on through the weekend.

Opposites attract

The Collapsing Opposites are a one-man band; that one man is Ryan McCormick who makes his music by looping the sound of guitar, saxophone, drum machine, his voice and that of his audience.

Ryan lays down the guitars ...



Adds a bit of saxophone ...



Tracks a few willing audience members (including myself, in black, and Michael D. Wieland of St. Bernard of Love with his back to the camera - this picture was taken by Ryan Hough).



A fun idea that worked out really well.

• Show reminder: Priestess, who impressed opening for Motorhead last month and the Long Timers - who have a fine new EP out - return the rock to the Dominion Tavern.

Good match

Heather from Holy Hell teams up with Natasha and Nina from Sophomore Level Psychology and Christina of no previous musical address in Les Allumettes for a sort of loose indie-pop a la Pavement or Yo La Tengo circa I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One.

Natasha on bass and floral print.



Nina and Heather.



Christina and a nicely reverbed Telecaster.



More Heather.



Some group Allumettes action (minus Christina, out of sight on the other side of the post).



Natasha breaks out the maracas.



I threatened to send them some questions for the first-ever National Capital Rock interview and may actually get around to it this weekend. Any suggestions?

The Stumblers Story

It's been about a year-and-a-half since I last saw the Stumblers play: Dec. 13, 2003, in fact! They squeezed into The Aloha for this show of roots rock and stories about how Dave got those white spots falling off a teeter-totter, falling into the Sydney tarpits (along with his Siamese twin, who has the same marks in reverse), running into one of those iron posts they use to keep young trees growing properly, and accidentally flambee-ing himself. Hmm ...

Dave and Richard.



Rich takes a vocal and lifts a leg.



Tim and Jim.



Chris on drums and bourbon. My apologies for terrible picture quality.



Stumblers and drinkers.



Their own annual Liquor Pig Fest will be the band's next gig.

• Lower Class Brats, Clit 45, The Sweet Janes, The Rookers play Mavericks; this is an all ages show with the doors at 7 p.m.
  

The sounds of silence

Merle Knurling. Also known as Pat Shanks, head honcho of The Glads and (as the name might suggest) once of the The Knurlings. He was assisted at this performance by some very robust drumming by John Sproull (a.k.a. The Silent K), also of run.stop.restore. It was a pseudonymous good time at ye olde Manx.

Merle likes his women strong as a wood bison.



John forsakes the usual stool for a comfy couch.



Some not-so-Silent K action.



And note the handy drinks holder. Is the a professional operation, or what?

• Show reminder: The Flaps play The Manx tonight. Could be a tight fit.