Make it a double

I set off for Zaphod Beeblebrox last night around 8:30, which I figured would be plenty of time to see Did You Just Hex Me? Mekhaya, two local metal combos I wanted to see since this was a year I returned to listening to heavy metal in a big way and it seems silly to ignore the local variety. What I failed to consider was the possibility there was a third band on the bill. I didn't recognize them at first, but as it turned out it it was Biipiigwan - they've undergone a lineup change from a trio to a quartet since I saw them at the Bytown Tavern in May last year, and Musky has also grown his hair. They were starting their last song as I dug my camera out of the bag, so I'll share the handful of decent shots I took right away ...

Mike sings! He's switched to guitar.


Biipiigwan at Zaphod Beeblebrox, December 12, 2009

Mike, a shadowy Scotty of Alaskan on drums, Denis on bass and Musky.


Biipiigwan at Zaphod Beeblebrox, December 12, 2009

I didn't even recognize the guitar.


Biipiigwan at Zaphod Beeblebrox, December 12, 2009

Big finish!


Biipiigwan at Zaphod Beeblebrox, December 12, 2009

Then it was on to Did You Just Hex Me? a screamy hardcore metal quartet. Singer Brandon and guitarist Mat are seen below. Brandon dedicated one of the songs to "a little orange cat who got me through Saturday morning cartoons" - namely Garfield. They did however reject a request to cover Miley Cyrus.


Did You Just Hex Me? at Zaphod Beeblebrox, December 12, 2009

Mekhaya's metal took a proggier, jazzier turn, though the vocals were just as growly as those of Hex Me? Let's just say it's no coincidence guitarist Sebastien is wearing a Dillinger Escape Plan T-shirt.


Mekhaya at Zaphod Beeblebrox, December 12, 2009

The night wasn't over yet: It was just a few blocks to the Rainbow where Harvey Cartel were holding their CD release show. To think I almost headed home to watch the rest of World of Drunken Master. Gah! I missed the opener, Three Pillars of Rock, but witnessed a ferocious set by Harvey Cartel. The band plays some first-rate roots-rock, and frontman Chris Landry can really burn up the frets.


Harvey Cartel at the Rainbow, December 12, 2009

I've been seeing the Polymorphines' name a lot in the last year or two without realizing - once again! - that I had already seen a couple of the members perform. And yes, once again this was due to a lot of hair-growing (and thw passage of a couple of years). Frontman Jeremy Brisebois and drummer Jordan Potechin are, of course, veterans of the more country-oriented outfit Crowded Skies. The Polymorphines are a more raucous outfit, and bluesier to boot. They covered The White Stripes Hotel Yorba and have a full time tambourine shaker, backup vocalist and harmonica player in Jefferson Airship.


Polymorphines at the Rainbow, December 12, 2009

They'll also be playing Zaphod's New Year's show.