National Capital Rock: September 2011

Friday, September 30, 2011

Bluesfest: Jimmy Bowskill Band

Watching Jimmy Bowskill, one could be forgiven for thinking that there'd been a wrong turn back to 1972. Or perhaps that should be right turn, since J.B. and his rhythm section of Ian Wilson and Dan Rieff really kick out the hard-rock blues a la Cream and Nazareth with great skill. Here we are, Peterborough's pride and joy ...

Jimmy B. in Black and white.

Jimmy Bowskill Band at Ottawa Bluesfest 2011

Never mind the 1970s, that amp must date back to the middle of the century.

The rockin' rhythm section, Ian (on drums) and Dan.

Les Paul action!

The shouty bit!

The whole lot!

Dan sings!

Bass-shaking action!

Rhythm section action!

Jimmy's under there somewhere.

Ian hits!

Extra Jim!

Extra Dan!

Bending action!

And finally a picture of Ian that isn't terrible.

No word on what's Bowskill's been up to lately.

Show reminder: Sandman Viper Command, The Paint Movement and Celery Troff rock Cafe Dekcuf; Napalm Raid, Asile and Truncheons beat up 295 Powell. Ross Neilsen & The Suffrin' Bastards play The Rainbow; the O-Town Hoedown continues at The Elmdale with sets by Sick, Sick, Sicks, Big Tobacco and the Pickers and King Rattler; Rocksnake rocks and likely snakes at Irene's; Eagleson and The Northerns perform at The Avant-Garde Bar.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Bluesfest: Ukrainia

And now on to a band I do seem to see quite a bit of (19 posts and counting, at least), Ukrainia. I didn't catch a whole lot of their set, but grooved along to a couple of numbers and snapped a few photos.

Gripping action!

Yogi sings! (Also, Tom hits, Dave handles the low end.)

Closeup action!

The shouty bit!

Let there be cowbell!

Ukrainian action!

Sunny action!

I must have done a fair bit of running back and forth during this set.

Tom takes a stand!

More Tom! Images may not be as sunburned as they appear in real life.

Guitar action!

Then I popped over the hill to go and see Jimmy Bowskill.

Show reminder: Protest The Hero, Today I Caught The Plague, Denounced and Perjury rock Ritual; The Hobo Outlaws and The Mudplots perform at Zaphod's as part of the O-Town Hoedown; The Elmdale hosts Sean Burns and Brothers Through The Hill.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Bluesfest: Big Jeezus Truck

For man who runs a blog called National Capital Rock, I probably don't see Big Jeezus Truck as often as I should, given that they are one of the capital's longest-serving rock bands. Maybe a little Truck goes a long way. Here they are getting grilled by the Sun on the Subway Stage. At least a couple of them have cowboys hats to shield them from the terrible glare ...

Tom E. Hawk frets!

Slim sings!

Capt. Kildrums can play the gong with his hair!

Guitar raising action!

More Slim!

Fretting and hitting action!

Even more Slim!

Tom leaves no monitor unstood on!

Mat Spag! Most recently seen in these parts fronting his other band, Knives For Kids.

extra drum killing!

Just missed the kick ...

Hard to get a good pic of Spag at this distance with all his running about.

The whole lot!

They're off to Europe at the end of September for shows in The Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland.

Show reminder: Solomon Dean performs at The Rainbow; old-timey groovers Oh My Darling plays a rare Wednesday show at Irene's; the O-Town Hoedown invades the Elmdale with sets by The Train Jumpers, London's The Woody Allens and Hank’s Hangover. Gin & Juice play The Avant-Garde Bar.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Bluesfest: Ornaments

The rearrangement of of Bluesfest's main stages has been what I'd call a mixed success. I'd say the main unfortunate effect has been on the sound, which now reverberates off the War Museum, but the fact that the sun beats down on the performers more directly has to be a bit of a downer, too. Lets just say Ornaments were both cranking out their classic-rock-with-modern-twist sound and working on their tans when I walked in through the gate to catch a bit of their set.

Drummer Kevin Kozachanko is almost lost in the glare.