On a bender

I went to Zaphod's expecting to see resuscitated Toronto New Wave band The Scenics and local GBV idolaters 40 watt Monkey. The Monkey couldn't make it for medical reasons, so The Big Bend jumped into their shoes. The quartet is a reasonably new outfit with a few shows under their belt, but everyone on board has appeared before on National Capital Rock: Frontman Tom Pechloff is keyboardist for The BushPilots and was one-fourth of Fourth; guitarist Ian Vance and drummer Ike McFaul are in Boom Creek and bassist Ashley Newall has guested with Elbeejay and played with Shannon Rose and The Thorns. As a combo they turn out some late 60s style classic rock influenced by folks like The Doors.

Speaking of Ashley, here he is.



And with Tom and Ike.



Tom sings! The light was actually a bit intense for no-flash shots like this.



I discussed beards with Ian between sets.



More singing and suchlike.



Rhythm section action!



Singalong action!



You have to bust out the flash for a decent drummer photo at Zaphod's.



And so on ...



The whole lot!



And a whole lot of final singing along.



A very solid set.

• Show reminder: An evening of quiet, subtle entertainment awaits at Babylon with Monotonix, The Girlfriends and Cloven Hoofs; Geoffrey The Giant and The Termights make sounds big and small at The Rainbow; Dallas Waldo, Jokers Wild and May-Jun (of Sadie Hell) perform at Zaphod's.