National Capital Rock: But who's counting?

Saturday, June 14, 2014

But who's counting?

Normally at this time of year you would find me parked outside the SAW Gallery catching the acts under the big top at Ottawa Explosion.Since recent events and my educational pursuits have vetoed any serious advance planning and I didn't pick up an OXW pass, I figured my chances of getting into the tent this year Friday night were close to nil, so I headed over to the House of Targ to check out The Guggenheimer Quintet and Les Petits Four.

Les Petits Four is actually a sextet, and have at least one of their feet firmly planted in the swinging sounds of 1960s Paris, as evidenced by their cover of France Gall's Laisse Tomber Les Filles near the start of their set. Here's some sharp-dressed men: Bassist Joel Carlson and guitarist Mike Mike.

Tim Connolly works the cymbals.

Greg Langille on keys, Gerard Tevlin on guitar.

Here's a bit more Gerard.

And last but not least, chanteuses Erin S. and Vicky Aubry.

Flautist action!

Vicky sings!

Singalong action!

Backup vocal action!

On to the Guggenheimer Quintet. Pre-blog, Patrick Lawlor of The Flaps and Paul Hogan of The Hi Lo Trons and Empiricals made surfy sounds in Polaris. Now they're back together as a guitar-slinging duo. As you might expect, their set featured a couple of Ventures covers, a George Barnes tune, some songs from their other bands,The Coasters/Jim Reeves/Sadies chestnut It's Nothing To Me and so forth. Here's Paul!