Can't stop standing still

Gardens have a retro-1960s sound, more toward the beat end of the spectrum than the fuzz'n'psyche end. Much like The Singles, say. That brings us to opening act Mannequin, another of Matt Oxley's brainchilds, which is very much about fuzz and psyche.

Oxley and Andrea turn things into the red.



Andrea hits!



Shouldn't this be louder?



Fisheye action!



I barely recognized Jesse in curls.



Oxley sings!



Extra Andrea!



Rhythm section action!



Extra Jesse!



They have a new tape - their debut, in fact - out on redoubtable cassette label Bruised Tongue.

• Show reminder: Laurier, Charmian Devi and Erika Wood perform at The Rainbow Bistro.

Is it obvious?

For our final trip to the Montgomery Legion Hall (so far, anyway), we have the mighty M.O.T.O., fronted by Paul Caporino, who should be beatified as the patron saint of lifer pop-punk rockers if he hasn't already been. For this gig he recruited Ottawa's own Allie Hanlon to beat the skins.

That M.O.T.O.!



That Allie!



The whole lot!



Monochromatic M.O.T.O. action!



Black and white Allie action!



Reflective action!



Extra Allie!



Well-lit action!



Close-up action!



Flashy action!



Allie hits!



The many sides of Paul.



The end!



Looks like Paul's back on the road this summer for some West Coast dates.

• Show reminder: The Caroline Fe Blues Collective performs at the Rainbow.

Get the point!?!

Back to the basement, or whatever the Montgomery Legion Folks call their lower show space. Needls//Pins are a couple of ex-Ontarians and a Vancouver lady who like their pop-punk rough.

Guitarist Adam Ess, drummer Macy and bassist Tony X.



Ess sings!



X sings!



Macy hits!



Pointy action!



The shouty bit!



Rhythm section action!



Adam frets!



Singalong action!



More monochromatic Macy!



The whole black-and-white lot!



They've been quiet for the last few months, but played a show in Vancouver last night.

• Show reminder: Bum Ticket and The Mudplots rock The Daily Grind on Somerset; W!nslow, SayWeCanFly, Carry Yourself and Landslider play Mugshots. Annie Becker and Stacy Ricker are at the Rainbow.

Sharp and round

I stomped through the mush over to Yogi's Meatlocker - a.k.a. The House Of Targ - to check out Swarm of Spheres' EP release show alongside Djanguar and Klovenhoofs. Someone was making a terrific ruckus as I approached, and as it emerged it wasn't Djanguar, who couldn't make it.

In fact it was Spilt Guts - last seen on this blog in the opening slot for KEN Mode at Cafe DeKcuf - crushing the audience with some hardcore shoutiness and a rolling wall of low end.


Spilt Guts at Yogi's Meatlocker, January 27, 2012

Guitar action!


Spilt Guts at Yogi's Meatlocker, January 27, 2012

DJ Gary Voicemail - a.k.a. Ian Manhire was spinning tunes between sets.


DJ Gary Voicemail at Yogi's Meatlocker, January 27, 012

Spilt Guts were followed by Klovenhoofs, who were down to three members for some reason. With Shawn Jam Hill not in evidence, Davey switched over to his new Fender Jazzmaster (It's a feedback monster - not that there's anything wrong with that") for a raucous set.


Klovenhoofs at Yogi's Meatlocker, January 27, 2012

Scott sings!


Klovenhoofs at Yogi's Meatlocker, January 27, 2012

Swarm of Spheres was born from the ashes of Jesus Mullet, unleashed a new album of heavy psyche (more heavy than psyche, I should say) and have been giving it away online. Seems like excuse enough to get several dozen people down to the Meatlocker and pummel them with noise.


Swarm of Spheres at Yogi's Meatlocker, January 27, 2012

Mark hits! There was much end-of-show snare drum abuse.


Swarm of Spheres at Yogi's Meatlocker, January 27, 2012

Great sets and a great crowd, too.

• Show reminder: The Nils FC, Mothers Children, Benevenstanciano and Shot Nerves go to jail like they all deserve! Seriously, the show is at the hostel bar (next door to the SAW Gallery, that is), Mugshots. Speaking of Club SAW, you'll find Rae Spoon and CPI there tonight. And speaking of unusual venues, The Kingmakers perform at Fatboys Southern Smokehouse. Camp Radio and the lovely Great Aunt Ida perform at Irene's; Organ Eyes and The Matt Farriers look in at Raw Sugar. The Mackenzie Rhythm Section is at the Rainbow; The Flats  and No Fly List keep it on the level at the Elmdale;art-rocking oddballs Zeego Circle play the Avant-Garde.

Thar she blows

It seems there are a bunch more punk rock shows going on of late at the Montgomery Legion Hall; this one featured folks from Lethbridge, Alberta, a scene I hear punches above its weight. You may recognize a couple of these folks from their service in Endangered Ape at one of the Royal Oak Rock'N'Roll Pizza Parties.

Joel sings and hits!



Paul sings!



Evan frets!



Singalong action!



Extra Paul!



And so on!



Black and white action!



The whole monochromatic lot!



Tambourine action!



No news lately.

• Show reminder: There's goth aplenty at the Montogomery Legion with Red Death Masquerade, Liisa Ladouceur, DJ Th'Elf and DJ Reverie. Plaster Babies, Static Revolt, Black Market Candy, and International Maniac Institute play Baseline Station. Swam of Spheres unleash their new EP at Yogi's Meatlocker with Djanguar and Klovenhoofs. Bum Ticket and The Mudplots perform at The Daily Grind on Somerset. Kayla Howran releases her new CD at the Rainbow with Uncle Sean and the Shifty Drifters. Sunfields light up Raw Sugar. Jack Pine & The Fire and The John Punch Band perform at Irene's. Rudeboy skanks at the Elmdale. Claude Munson, Lora Bidner, Kaleigh Watts and Liam Meagher play the Avant-Garde Bar.

Semiprecious stones

First time I saw Adam Waito, he was with Telefauna at The Rainbow - a fine show! Since then he's moved on to fronting his own band as Adam & The Amethysts, releasing the well-received Amethyst Amulet in 2008 and the even more appreciated Flickering Flashlight in octopber 2011 on Ottawa's own Kelp records.

That Adam! Also bassist Scott Johnson Gailey and drummer Jordan Cramer, a.k.a. Owl Loris.



Robert Lessard plays the cellow while Kelp supremo Jon Bartlett works the board.



Adam bends!



Let me just turn that flash up a bit.



Roberta switches to the keys!



The whole black and white lot!



More Adam!



Bonus Rebecca!



Barefoot action!



More Scott!



The end!



No word on what they're up to lately.

• Show reminder: Orchid Thieves, New Age Soldier and Cardiopanic perform at the Elmdale. Cam Jones plays the Avant-Garde.