You must remember this

A few years back Jon Kiely of Harshey told me about his new band that was just coalescing ... it was a chance for him to step out from behind the drum kit and play guitar. Since the band was really just "okay" they were going to call themselves The Allrights. And so it came to pass! Except that circumstances once again put Jon on the drummer's seat. Well, now a bunch of Allrighters have formed a new band, and darn it if this time around Jon is playing guitar and singing. Dave Banoub, Chris Cook (also of the late Centretown Cripplers) and Colin Majid of Garaga are also on board, along with Brian on drums. They lake that 1990s indie rock and sounded mighty fine opening up for Weezer tribute artists Sheezer.

Shadowy Jon action!



Dave works the Jazz-master



Colin sings!



More Jon!



Chris works the Gretsch.



Chris sings!



Dave takes a walk on the riser.



Dave bends.



Faceoff action!



Gripping action!



Brian mans the traps.



Shadowy fisheye action!



Singalong action!



Jon sings!



Memorable action!



More guitars!



Jumping around!



Everybody bend!



The bendy end!



Their next show is Jan. 14 at Cafe DeKcuf.

• Show reminder: It's New Year's Eve, and that means shows aplenty around town, starting with I Spell It Nature and The City Above at Zaphod's; Year Zero and Male Nurse (celebrating the end of his song-a-day odyssey) perform at Babylon (followed by Shameless); Good2Go and The Bushpilots rock The Elmdale Tavern; The Hammerheads hold the funky fort at the Rainbow. The Souljazz Orchestra will keep the afrobeat at Mavericks; The Dusty Drifters perform at Irene's.

Word on the street

The show schedule is getting a little sparse as winter truly descends on Ottawa (except for the weather, which seems to think it's still November ... where did I put that umbrella?) but at least the switch over to 2011 gives bands an excuse to put on year's-end shows. This gig at Zaphod's last night was a bit peculiar ... you had the big fuzzy rock of The Big Muffs, the indie-rock of Those Gulls and the electro-rap of Street Meat. One of these things is not like the other.

The Big Muffs sound a lot harder-riffing than when I saw them a year ago. I could definitely see them a bill with a band like Torche. They also have a new drummer.


The Big Muffs at Zaphod Beeblebrox, December 29, 2010

I saw Those Gulls back in April; they were a four-piece with a violinist then. There was no violin in evidence this time around and they were sounding like a cross between Bailter Space and Eric's Trip.


Those Gulls at Zaphod Beeblebrox, December 29, 2010

I picked up Street Meat's debut CD a little while ago. The band features Lee from Daiquiri, but instead of guitar he's playing drums behind a couple of lady toasters. Sort of a strange end to the night, but less mysterious given that there is a room-mate connection with Gulls bassist Pierce.


Street Meat at Zaphod Beeblebrox, December 29, 2010

Well, it was different from what I usually go see ....

• Show reminder: Slyde, We Surrender and Aerith are at Mavericks.

High timber

Toronto's The Wooden Sky are one of those many bands on the indie rock scene that have risen to prominence while I've been out devoting my attention to bands more dedicated to headbanging. Despite a joking claim online to be black metal, folk rock is more their thing. The like it in both electrified and acoustic styles and put on a good show for their dedicated fans.

Gavin Gardiner sings!



Andrew Kekewich shakes it.



Simon Walker slings some Telecaster.



Singalong action with bassist Andrew Wyatt  - I should note that while the band is frequently joined by others, this time it was down to the core four.



Simon sings!




He also multitasks on piano.



Andrew hits! This is a well-signed band.



The other Andrew basses!



Wooden action! Actually, very un-wooden action - these guys do like to jump about.



Dog-eared action!



Melodica action!



Xylophonic action!



The whole over-exposed lot!



Simon shouts!



Feedback action!



The Yukon Blonde guys joined them on stage for a few tunes.



Percussion action!



Working the substantial crowd ....



Meanwhile, back on stage.



And now it's time to take things outside ...



Hmm, a bit too gloomy to not use flash.



Banjo action!



More singalong action!



There's one thing you can't do indoors ...



Brushed action!



The end!



Hopefully they'll get down to a full-length soon.

• Show reminder: Street Meat, Those Gulls and The Big Muffs get the year-end shows started early at Zaphod's; The Maria Hawkins band does the same at the Rainbow; The Black Donnelly Sisters (aka Lynn Miles and Rebecca Campbell) are at Irene's.

One potato, two potato

Up next were Yukon Blonde, who I was expecting to headline since they've been wafted aloft by a heap of buzz in recent years - shows how much I've been following the Canadian indy rock scene (that is, not much). The trio were supplemented by a touring bassist who I presume is Andy Bishop for this gig. Their harmonious, mellow sound strikes me as being very rooted in the 1970s.

Brandon Scott sings some.



Jeff Innes handles guitar No. 2, while Graham Jones plays drums.



Jeff hops about!



Graham and his cymbal.



Singalong action!



Jeff sings!



Andy handles the low end.



Faceoff action!



Jeff frets!



Fishy action!



The whole lot, sans flash.



Faceoff action!



Guest appearance action from members of The Wooden Sky.



Whole lotta' singin' along!



They're going on tour with Plants and Animals in February, and will be at Mavericks again March 4.

• Show reminder: The JD Edwards Band and The Trippers are at The Rainbow; The Bamboozlers, Erin Lindsay, Alison Snedker and some other kind folks are playing a benefit for the Food Bank at the Elmdale House.