Out and down

It was a lovely night to be out and about in Ottawa, and a good night to take in Zaphod's free showcase with a trio of local bands doing their part for the O-Town Hoedown. As I walked in the door Use Every Part of the Deer were just wrapping up their set.

I don't know if they broke out the "stink organ" they used the last time I saw them live in May 2008, as I only caught one-and-a-half folky numbers by the duo of Matt McLennan and Susanna Wiens.


Use Every Part of the Deer, Zaphod Beeblebrox, September 21, 2009

The Dusty Drifters played a knockout set of bluegrass to a whooping crowd. Lots of excellent solo work from the sextet. It really was a sharp performance, and all miked acoustic instruments.


Dusty Drifters, Zaphod Beeblebrox, September 21, 2009

Train Jumpers finished things off. They played a cover of The Highwaymen's Devil's Right Hand. "The message is guns are bad and so is drinking before you play," said frontman Chris. I don't think the original featured the lyrics "Something, something, something."


Train Jumpers, Zaphod Beeblebrox, September 21, 2009

A swell evening, and there's much more hoedown action to come, with Prescott and Jehan Khoorshed performing at Irene's tonight.