Must be the drugs

Last time I saw The Polymorphones, at Jam For Japan, I mentioned that they were recording and suchlike with Tim Kerr. Well, the fruits of their labours has officially arrived, in the form of The Slip, their new EP. They had their CD release show with local loudsters Thunderuncle, instro-rockers The Flaps and Montreal pals Devil Eyes.

Thunderuncle were playing as I walked in - I should have left early, but Berlin Express was calling me from the DVD player - and they sounded heavier and tighter than during their Gaga Weekend set of years past. They covered Angel Witch's Angel Witch. After this set bassist Larry had to dash upstairs to play in his other band, Slim And Popular.


Thunderuncle at Mavericks, July 30, 2011

Joe returns to guitar after his drumming stint in The Middens.


Thunderuncle at Mavericks, July 30, 2011

The Devil Eyes played a killer set, as they always do with plenty of bumping about, hardcore screaming and suchlike. This time around, the guitar amp malfunctioned - it's always something! And yes, they played their cover of Johnny Kidd & The Pirate's Please Don't Touch.


Devil Eyes at Mavericks, July 30, 2011

And of course Zeelagh took a turn on the microphone.


Devil Eyes at Mavericks, July 30, 2011

Then The Flaps played and covered The Ventures (not much of a stretch for an instrumental band). They seemed quite a bit louder than the last time I saw them, which is odd since that was at Subway Stage for last year's Bluesfest as part of The Kelp showcase. Also, I am alarmed to see that Pat has changed from a Fender Jaguar to a Gretsch Brian Setzer model (not really).


The Flaps at Mavericks, July 30, 2011

And the rest all in a row.


The Flaps at Mavericks, July 30, 2011

The Polymorphines covered MC5's Shakin' Street and The Sonics' He's Waitin' on their encore. They also had Lidija from Roberta Bondar up to play tambourine. They apparently tried to recruit her as a permanent member a little while back, but the siren call of college eclipsed that of professional tambourining. Also, check out that snazzy glowing drumkit!


The Polymorphines at Mavericks, July 30, 2011

Faceoff action!


The Polymorphines at Mavericks, July 30, 2011

A fine evening of high volume entertainment. The Polymorphines are also courting EP release and tour help.

• Show reminder: Ninety Pounds of Ugly and The F-Holes play The Elmdal; The Alaska Army Band and The In-Young Jazz Band are at The Rainbow; Our Kingdom Crash, Forsaken Flesh, Accursed Spawn, Denounced and Obduracy perform at Mavericks.

Right on the mouth

Back upstairs for the last show of Ottawa Explosion 2011 at Cafe DeKcuf. Holding the floor are Moncton's Fear of Lipstick, last seen in town (by me, anyway) opening for The Creeps at The Atomic Rooster - so yes, we're talking a while ago. And now on to the punk-pop!

Perplexing action with Derek Dillema!



Cymbal action with Jerms Lipstick!



A shouty bit with Eric Neurotic and a shadowy Joe.



And who doesn't like The Replacements?



Derek sings!



Joe rocks the plaid!



Fisheyed action!



The whole lot!



More Eric!



Joe sings!



Bonus Derek!



Assorted shaking about.



Guitar action!



Emmanuel likes this song!



He's just got to get in on it.



And that's that, as mentioned before, they're back in town August 25 (when I'm at work, grumble grumble) for a show with The Visitors at The Clocktower.

• Show reminder: Bomb The Music Industry! and The Sidekicks go boom at the Montgomery Legion Hall on Kent St.; Al Tuck plays Raw Sugar; An Horse, Lightburn and Slim And Popular perform at Cafe Dekcuf; downstairs you'll find The Polymorphines releasing their new CD in the company of The Flaps, Devil Eyes and Thunder Uncle. the Glorious Moonrockets, The Bonedevil and Smiling Herald rock Atomic Rooster (for free even!); Roots Movement and Terry Gillespie play The Rainbow; Ray Harris & the BSOBs hoot'n'holler at Irene's; Sad Guru and Rug lay it down at the Avant-Garde Bar.

On a pedestal

Here's another bunch of familiar faces from the Ottawa explosion, The Statues who come through town with such frequency that frontman Rob Seaton said "I see you guy more than I see my children." This got a laugh from the crowd, though judging from some bitter remarks Seaton isn't that amused by it ... anyway, here they go!

Rob!



Jeff!



Mitch!



Rob sings!



Mitch hits!



That Quesnelle chap again!



There he goes!



Houle action!



Singalong action!



More Rob!



Kicking action!



The end!



Not the last time we'd see these blokes at the Explosion ....

• Show reminder: The Riot Before and The Hunters play Cafe Dekcuf; Take Down Frosty and Al Wood & the Woodsmen play The Rainbow; Three Times Lucky are at Irene's; The Elmdale hosts Dry River Caravan, Claude Munson and the Storm Outside; there are two shows at the Avant-Garde - starting at 5 p.m. (or thereabouts) you can catch Long Live The Kids!, Third Place and Farewell Davidson, while later in the evening Remember The Fire and The Superlative perform.

Now we fight!

Back upstairs! All this running up and down is good exercise, which you'll need for wrestling with the tough sounds of Moncton's Kamalas. Like their fellows in Fear of Lipstick they made a 13-hour drive from their hometown and made a (long) weekend of it.

I admire T-Ray's dedication to short shorts.



And here's Elle Shapiro and Jessup!



Elle sings!



T-Ray frets!



Rhythm section action!



Salty mans the traps; Like Elle, he was inherited from The Damnsels.



More Elle!



And more Jessup!



T-Ray bends!



Blurry faceoff action!



The whole lot!



Gripping action!



There was also a Pinhead Gunpowder cover in there somewhere.

• Show reminder: Animal Faces, Mountanaka and We Fled Cairo demolish the Avant-Garde Bar with volume; there's a bunch of outdoor action, with The Band Whose Name is a Symbol performing by the National Gallery of Canada between 6-8 p.m. and The White Wires playing Canal Fest at Confederation Park at 8:30 p.m.; The Elmdale hosts The Stellar Radio Choir, Stories Underground and Mobina Galore.

Keep on creepin'

I first saw The Creeps at Mavericks in March 2006, then I saw them several more Times, often at Gaga Weekend related stuff (and by often I mean "twice").  And now here they are again!

Skottie is all Smith-y.



Ian and a sartorial shout-out to travelcore.



Fo God's sake no one look at the audience.



Jordy sings!



Stubbly singalong action with Davey Quesnelle!



More Jordy!



The whole lot!



I'm wondering what portion of Ian's wardrobe is camouflage.



Creepy action!



Jordy sings!



Rhythm section action!



Their Lakeside Cabin is now available on green vinyl on It's Alive or Black Pint, depending on whether you are foreign or domestic.

• Show reminder: There's loud rock aplenty at Cafe DeKcuf with Jucifer, Swarm of Spheres and Collider and a bunch of fun downstairs at Mavericks with Gobble Gobble, Pat Jordache, Grimes and Hooded Fang. The High Dials and Ornaments perform at Zaphod's; Eigger (Arnold, that is) performs at The Rainbow; The Elmdale hosts Mark Davis , Chris Page and Sarah Wheeler.