Short, sharp and shirtless

I had a busy Friday night: First I traipsed over to Cafe DeKcuf (and got carded at the door) to see a lot of heavy music, then slunk over to Babylon to catch the tail end of the Standard Issue benefit show. The Cafe DeKcuf show was headlined by Toronto duo Lullabye Arkestra, with a couple of hard-rockin' local openers.

First up were Doll; I saw them play a show at Zaphod's a while back. They've definitely improved in the last three years (not that they were too shabby to begin with). As before, they make me think of Love, L7, and perhaps a bit of Alanis Morissette, but loudier and heavier.


Doll at Cafe DekCuf, April 30, 2010

Next up were Klovenhoofs. They played a short set, a bit harder and faster than their show opening for Jello Biafra and The Guantanamo Bay School of Medicine earlier this month, perhaps because bassist Davey had to head over to Babylon immediately after to play in a couple of other bands that night.


Klovenhoofs at Cafe DekCuf, April 30, 2010

Partners in both marriage and music, Justin Small and Katia Taylor-Small play a straight-ahead sort of shouty punk rock. This isn't Justin's first appearance on National Capital Rock ... he played guitar at Mavericks with Do Make Say Think back in October 2007. Off course there are no guitars to be found in the Arkestra ....


Lullabye Arkestra at Cafe DeKcuf, April 30, 2010

I split soon after they finished their set, and dashed to Babylon in time to see The Steve Adamyk Band, who were headlining the evening. It was something of a Million Dollar Marxists veterans evening, since both openers - Big Dick and Pregnancy Scares - featured M$M members. The Steve Adamyk Band has both Davey (third set of the night for him) and Steve and a couple of Sedatives - Emmanuel and Dave. It also has a drunken Tim Ostler getting on stage to sing along a bit (and later fall on me). They also covered The Modernettes' Barbra.


Steve Adamyk Band at Babylon, April 30, 2010

Everyone that evening seemed to play short sharp sets, but somehow it was 2 a.m. when I left Babylon.

• Show reminder: Evil Farm Children release their new 7-inch at Irene's with The Von Drats; Devil Eyes, The Secret Loves and The Uncles rock Babylon; Silly Kissers, Postcards, Pat Jordache and Total Crush perform at Club SAW; Chris Murray, The Beatdown and The Living Soundsystem play either Mavericks or Cafe DeKcuf;  Trees, New Teeth, Intensive Care, Meadowlark 5 and Fillet Sterling play either Cafe DeKcuf or Mavericks. Mike Essoudry’s Mash Potato Mashers get mashin' at the Elmdale House;The JW Jones Band is CD-releasing at The Rainbow.