In the neighbourhood

For Day 2 of Megaphono I headed for Hintonburg. Ottawa's newest winter festival has a "Hintonburg Hangs", with various acts performing at the Record Centre and across the street at the Elmdale Tavern. It was my first visit to either venue, and the performances were all superior.

First stop, the Record Centre for a cracking set courtesy of Silver Creek, a band I never seem to get to see except at festivals. Here's main man SHawn Tavenier and guitarist Nick Gauthier.



Shane McEwan gets the window seat.



Bass and guitar action with Mark Laforest and Blair Hogan.



Nick frets!



Shawn sings!



Singalong action!



More Shane!



Closeup action!



Fisheye action!



Handclapping action!



Blair multitasks!



Guitar-lifting action!



On to Future States, who have a nice melancholy pop sound that had one wee tyke dancing enthusiastically. Here's bassist David Lacalamita, guitarist Brodie Conley, drummer Daniel Gelinas and keyboardist Nicolas Hyatt.



Singalong action with David and Chuck Bronson!



Nicolas is amused.



Chuck sings!



Backup vocal action with David!



Brodie likewise.



Mad monk action with Daniel!



More keyboards!



After that I popped over to the Elmdale Tavern to catch the tail end of Winchester Warm's set and Her Harbour. I quickly realized that, unless you plan to use flash, photography is more or less out of the question. This picture of Jonathan is about as bright as it gets.



And here's Gabrielle Giguere (a.k.a. e-tron records recording artist Her Harbour) who was joined by some of her label-mates: Olivier Fairfield on drums, Pierre-Luc Clement on Guitar and Phillippe Charbonneau on double bass. She definitely made me think of Joanna Newsom's work.



Here's Pierre!



Harbour action!



But that's it. A nice afternoon, but by the time the show ended I was really feeling wiped out, so no Diefenbunker or night shows for me.