National Capital Rock: February 2015

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Death, doom and drone

Since the weather inched out of the minus-30-with-windchill zone Friday night, I decided to make a short trip to the basement of 612 Gladstone and check out more heaviosity at the House With No Name (not its actual name). Toronto doomsters IRN were passing through town, house resident Tom of Spilt Guts has a new band and Topon Das of Fuck The Facts has some drones, so everything came together quite nicely.

First up, some gripping action with Tom (of Spilt Guts fame, like everyone else in the freshly minted combo)!

Evan frets!

Phil hits, offers Vulcan salute!

Deathly action!

The whole see-through lot!

And so on!

I feel like I've seen quite a bit of Topon Das lately - in addition to Fuck The Facts, I've caught him solo and with Merdarahta. I'm really liking his drone stuff, too.

Adjusting action! He's certainly doing his part to keep the folks at Fairfield in clover.

I admit I fooled around quite a bit with the shutter speed ... can you tell?

Well, it was a good idea in theory.

IRN crushed the rest of the night away with some Sleep-y metal molasses. It's well worth checking their "sludge sewer drone" out on Bandcamp. Here's some hairy action with guitarist Ken and bassist/growler Jeff.

Headbanging action!

Close-up action!

Sludgy action!

Will hits!

Extra Ken!

Barefoot action!

And so on!

Great sets from all concerned, and a good crowd too.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Slo pokes

I've been avoiding going out to shows - winter has finally worn out my tolerance for walking home in below minus-20 weather, but I braved the polar vortex on Thursday anyway to check out Waterloo singer Lynn Jackson and Slo' Tom at Raw Sugar.

First up Slo' Tom, embracing his inner novelty song.

"We're going to brave the harmonica."

The entirety of Slo' Tom!

The Whistler (patent pending)! For when you want to have a whistling solo. Sometimes it works, sometimes not so much.

Guitar-lifting action!

Lynn got on stage to join in for a song or two.

Singalong action!

Lynn sang a bunch of her own songs, a Bob Dylan cover and Leonard Cohen's Tower of Song.

"There\s a light in her guitar!"

And so on!

Also a demonstration of Lynn's butter-churning technique.

Lynn takes the judge's side in one of Slo' Tom's prison songs.

A cosy show.

Friday, February 20, 2015

This one goes to 10

Things have been a little rocky in blogland for the last year, what with school, work and whatnot, but nonetheless today marks the day that National Capital Rock turns 10.

"This one goes to 10."

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Creep cults

Halifax certainly has been sending a lot of good bands to Ottawa this winter - perhaps they're trying to escape the East Coast snowfall. Tuesday night it was Mauno and Vulva Culture bringing their fuzzy and poppy sounds to Mugshots as part of their Rolling In The Creep tour, along with locals Baberaham Lincoln.

Baberaham Lincoln were first up. Unfortunately, guitarist Jenna's gear was nicked earlierr in the week, so she was playingon a borrowed guitar.

Jenna sings!

More guitar!

Percussive action!

Extra Jenna!

And so on!

Vulva Culture make me think of My Bloody Valentine, Mazzy Star and other bands I listened to when I was at college (the first time, that is). Here's Amy, Bianca, Evan and Kayla (regulation bassist Hannah had to stay in Nova Scotia)!

Kayla prepares to step on a pedal.

Amy sings!

Bianca hits!

Evan also drums in Mauno.

Yep, it's a bit dark in Mugshots for flashless photography.

More Bianca!

More Kayla and Evan!

Cultural action!

Guitar action!

Mauno played a very heavy set; in addition to his bass duties in Vulva Culture, Evan is also a monster drummer. Nick Everett has played under his own name and in Burdon, and bassist Eliza Niemi has kept busy out East as well. As Mauno they've been compared to Grizzly Bear, which I can hear, but I can't recall Grizzly Bear being as loud or propulsive when I saw them at Barrymore's eons ago.