National Capital Rock: March 2015

Friday, March 27, 2015

The musical kind

Another Thursday, another night at the House of Targ. This time to celebrate a 10th anniversary - not of National Capital Rock - but Dick Altavista's similar vintage radio show on CKCU, Both Kinds of Music. Various Liquor Pig Fest associates helped with the commemorating: Lone Pig and The Rhythm Sucklers and Vapourizer offshoot G. Rogers & The Capital Dominion Radiators. Also on hand, Chris Page and Co.

First up Lone Pig & The Rhythm Sucklers, that being Tim from The Stumblers, along with Jimmy, Dick and Jeb Bond of Evil Farm Children.

Hollowbody action with Jimmy!

Jeb hits!

Dick also plays drums for the Radiators.

Tim sings!

Jeb in the red!

Scrunching action!

Extra Jimmy!

Lone action!

And so on!

On to G. Rogers & The Capital Dominion Radiators. There's no one named G. Rogers in the band, but there are three-quarters of Vapourizer, plus guitarist Mike Delion. Here's Jimmy, modelling the Both Kinds of Music T-shirt.

G. Rogers & The Capital Dominion Radiators at House of Targ

Fellow Gretsch fan Mike Delion!

Jimmy sings!

Mike grimaces!

Extra Altavista!

Mark handles the low end.

The whole lot!

Extra Mike!

Chris Page wrapped things up with some tunes, both old and new (he's got an album due in April).

Blue action!

Closeup action!

He had Sarah from The Johnnies and Yuma County and Stand GT mate Colin Majid up to help things out on later tunes.

Colin strums!

Sarah shakes!

Dave Aardvark gets a few words in.

Colin harmonizes!

Greenish action!

The whole lot!

Backlit action!

All very entertaining.

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Clap your hands, say yeah

Saturday I had a chance to check out a couple of bands I've heard good things about at the House of Targ. Stella Ella Ola was the headliner, but judging ffrom the the ebb and flow of the audience I'd guess that Mackenzie Rhythm Section was the real draw for a lot of folks. They traffic in blue-eyed soul, plus some lashings of surf and ska and seem like a most capable party band, so no surprise there.

Here's some vocal action from frontman Conor Kehoe.

Mackenzie Rhythm Section at House of Targ

Handclapping action with bassist Nicolas Sobzcak!

Carl Hageraats handles the keys (and also played some guitar later in the set.

JF Chevrier hits!

Rhythm section action!

More guitar!

Bonus JF!

Extra Conor!

Carl sings!

On to Stella Ella Ola. I was particularly interesting in catching them live since a couple of members _ the Boyd brothers, that is - are also in one of my favourite bands, Hollerado. The band is fronted by singer-guitarist Anne Douris, who also did some art and design work for Hollerado, and also features drummer Vince Rice. They're a really fun, peppy band - it's unfortunate that the audience dwindled a bit during their set.

Here's Nixon and Anne!