Top gear

Victoria B.C.'s Immaculate Machine impressed me with their recent Mint album Ones and Zeros. Since singer Kathryn Calder is also part of the New Pornographers massive nowadays, there's a temptation to think of them as that band's little sister group. In this case the younger child listened to more new wave and less power pop than its elder. The Machine's songs have a highly developed melodic sense, but their performance is a bit brasher, a lot less concerned with rough edges, and isn't trying for a "wall of sound." With only a keyboard, guitar and drums, they hardly could. They have some family here in Ottawa (at least, Brock does) and apparently spent the day in a game of street hockey before heading over to the club.

Kathryn Calder, noted niece.



Guitarist and singer Brooke Gallupe.



Shirtless drummer extraordinaire Luke Kozlowski.



Singalong action!



Tambourine action!



That keyboarding can be mighty tiring.



Some mild kicking, swooping and swaying, clapping, and so on.









And what the heck, another shirtless drumming shot.



They played a good set, and finished off with a two-song encore which included a cover of Good Vibrations.

• Show reminder: Sharp Like Knives, Windom Earle and Bangkok perform at End Hits; Ohbijou, Kat Buns & Forest City Lovers and Night Danger play at Irene's Pub; the Burt Neilson Band and Peter Elkas perform at Mavericks.

That's the theory

I wish I'd popped around to Babylon a bit earlier than I did last Friday. Granted, I was feeling pretty rough, but after catching the good part of The Ride Theory's set, I didn't want to miss even one song. For some reason I was under the impression the RT was a Britpop or shoegazer style band (don't ask me where I get these odd ideas). Well, maybe they are a sort of Britpop band, but that's the pop of the 1960s, since the Hamilton quartet boasts a sizeable modbeat influence. Were they to gaze at their shoes, they would see pointy Cuban toes. They covered the theme from Batman ... need I say more?

Lead guitarist and singer Aron D'Alesio.



Drummer Noah Fralick.



Rhythm guitarist Kyle Kuchmey.



Bassist John Smith - there's a name you don't see everyday - works the floor.



Faceoff action!



Not facing-off action!



Rider action!



Singalong action!



Possibly influenced by The Action action!









Feedback time!



In a few weeks time they're touring with the reconstituted Yardbirds for a few Canadian dates. Should be a perfect fit. (Update: They've since changed their name to Young Rival).

In the building

F!ghtF!ght!F!ght put on an active closing set. As you can see, this was before the Stanley Cup's Game 7, and Edmonton native Kelly Shinkaruk was showing off the hometown colours. Jameson Bevison was too, though I don't know if he's from Edmonton. It also marked the release of their new EP, Paper Cranes and Building Things.



Etienne, pre-shirtless drumming.



Sebastien from the ground floor.



Jameson hops to the keyboard.



Fighting action!







Synthesizer action! Well, actually, lack of synthesizer action, due to a tetchy direct box. This was guest appearance night with band pal Steph and EP designer Pia.



Stage guest shoutalong and querying look at soundman action!



That crowd, albeit not in full.



Big finish!













Their next show is quite soon: Friday, to be exact, as they take part in Disorganized Sound's latest shindig at Barrymore's, Girls of Summer, with Syrup Girls, Women on Wax and Lady Ms Myrrh.

• Show reminder: Good2Go play the Aloha Room.

Smoking in the cave

Poorfolk held down the middle slot at F!ghtF!ghtF!ght's CD release party. I was very impressed with the band when I caught them at the aborted Avant-Garde benefit that ended up in the basement of End Hits. I sincerely dig their indie folk-rock with post rock touches. One of the best-sounding outfits in the city, in my opinion.

Jonathan Pearce - looking much as he did at the End Hits show.



Scott Freeman. Another shadowy, no-flash shot. It was just bright enough.



Matt Godin; he's an empathetic drummer, he is!



Poorfolk action!









Guest action! With various F!ghtF!ghtF!ghters and friends.



Tambourine vs. guitar action!



So far, we're two for two on the night.

Literacy drive

I was feeling chipper enough last Sunday to make a trip out to the Rainbow to catch F!ght F!ght F!ght's CD release party. They had Books on Books along to help open things up; last time I saw BoB was at the Rainbow - there was less discussion of poopage and a generally more ferocious set this time around.

Ryan shows off the moves.





The other Ryan shows off the moves.



Conrad from the stairs.



Scott gets shadowy; JoHanna guests on gourd (and later, keyboard).





Biblioactive action!







A good start to the night.