The show must go on and on and on

As we speak, The Arkells are wrapping up their tour with The Waking Eyes with a last dash across the western provinces. It comes to a halt March 7 in Winnipeg, the Eyes' hometown. They put a lot of work up on stage and seem to be in constant tour mode - after less than a week's rest they're off to festivals and award shows and all that kind of fun stuff. At least they're giving themselves a break in April.

Singalong action with Max Kerman, bandanna aficionado Mike DeAngelis and keyboardist Dan Griffin.



Headbanging with Nick Dika.



This is about as much of Dan as you're going to see ... they had a big crowd of devoted fans out for this show. Zaphod's was so packed I was stuck off to the left of the stage.



Feedback action!



Mike bends it.



A lady at front was kind enough to let me duck in to quickly snap this photo.



Tim Oxford prepares to hit.



Faceoff action!



Max works the microphone.



More Nick.



Harmonica action!



There was also an attempt to set a world finger-snapping record.





Miking an audience is always tricky.



For an encore they had The Waking Eyes back on stage for a cover of The Beatles' Don't Let Me Down. They're a band one can predict will get much bigger with little risk of being wrong.

• Show reminder: East of Gatineau performs at The Rainbow. There's some singing and songwriting and circling at The Elmdale House with Ray Harris, Lefty McRighty, Shannon Rose and Lynne Hanson

Half awake

Sunday doesn't usually draw a big crowd, but it was not a surprise to see Zaphod's dancefloor quite full as I walked in around 9 p.m. The Arkells had a good portion of the crowd at Barrymore's opening for Matt Mayes' last year in their corner, and many of them apparently decided to show for this gig as well - maybe they all have today off (unlike me).

The Waking Eyes had just started their set as I entered. I received a copy of their debut many years ago when I was writing reviews for the Ottawa Sun. I found the songwriting and musicianship quite capable, but thought it was neutered by a glossy production. Even live they're a very tight combo with a good ear for late 1960s- early 1970s pop. Think of The Move, or a more polished Dr. Dog. As you can see from guitarist Rusty's Manitoba tattoo, they're proud Winnipeggers and took time out to mock their skating trail's trumping of the Rideau Canal as the world's longest span of man-made ice, even though it's too skinny to play hockey on and too wide to put in your drink.


The Waking Eyes, Zaphod Beeblebrox, February 15, 2009

I knew The Arkells would make a better impression in a smaller, sweatier club than they did at Barrymore's, and so it proved to be. Their chunky indie rock sound and vaguely leftist lyrics were a big hit with the audience.


The Arkells, , Zaphod Beeblebrox, February 15, 2009

They finished things off by inviting the members of The Waking Eyes back on stage for a rousing version of The Beatles' Don't Let Me Down. Then they probably headed off to the Elgin St. Diner to eat poutine.

• Show reminder: Just Like Before, Ben and Me and Bad Road play Zaphod's tonight. People You Know perform at The Rainbow.

The unstationary Arkells

If you're quite recovered from Hollerado's February 13 show at Cafe DeKcuf, you might want to head over to Zaphod's on the following Sunday - I'll give you the Saturday for free - and check out Hamilton rockers The Arkells. They put on a fun show at Barrymore's last year opening for Matt Mays and can only be better in the smaller venue. The Waking Eyes are also on board.


The Arkells, Barrymore's, November 5, 2008

Now if you'll excuse me I'm off to sulk because Neko Case's tour for her new album isn't passing through Ottawa (unless you count the drive from Toronto to Montreal).

• Show reminder: Matt Ouimet releases his new CD at Zaphod's. Streetlight Manifesto, A Wilhelm Scream, The Swellers and The Stitch Up play Babylon (already sold out, I see); M. Mucci's and Jozef van Wissem play the Avant-Garde Bar. East of Gatineau perform at the Elmdale. They have a song called Honky Tonk a Baudelaire, which should be reccomendation enough.
  

Steel yourself

The Arkells are a robust rocking combo from Canada's Steeltown, Hamilton. Their working class town origins has led a few folks (myself included) to lump them into the current vogue among indie rockers for Bruce Springsteen. After listening to their music outside a live setting I can't say the comparison is entirely incorrect, but The Boss is just one of a few influences. I think they sound a bit like Joel Plaskett. Fun fact: A few weeks after this show they played the Vanier Cup halftime show at Ivor Wynne stadium.

Max Kerman is the main singer and also plays guitar.



A very shadowy Nick Dika rocks the bass.



Mike DeAngelis puts his SG through its paces.



Dan Griffin puts his weight on the keyboards.



Tim Oxford selects a drumstick.



Face to face action!



Rockin' stage right!





Rockin' stage left! (Sorry it's a bit fuzzy - they moved.)



And finally some clapping action.



They were back on stage later on to help Matt Mayes with a big finale.

• Show reminder: The Market Fever and The Weeds perform at Zaphod Beeblebrox; The Hammerheads get funky at The Rainbow; The Bible Allstars play Irene's; The Essentials, Hot Damn and Nick Zubeck play the Elmdale House. Corvus and The Rattlesnakes play the Bytown Tavern.

Mays in November

I caught the second night of Matt Mays and El Torpedo's Barrymore's gig; he's acquired a good following in Ottawa since I first caught his act at a free Zaphod's showcase years ago - good enough for one sold-out show Tuesday and what looked like a very full house on Wednesday.

Hamilton rockers The Arkells opened the show. The shaggy roots rockers have a similar sound to Mayy Mays and Co, with an identical instrumental lineup. They deviate a little from the standard course with a reddish tinge to their lyrics and song titles like No Champagne Socialist and Ballad of Hugo Chavez. They're going to be back in town in just a few weeks time - November 22, that is - for a show at Zaphod's.


Arkells, Barrymore's, November 5, 2008

Matt Mays went with the all-white look for this show. It was the usual raucous Bruce Springsteen-influenced roots rock he's been trafficking in of late, performed with a lot of gusto by El Torpedo. He did segue into a bit of acoustic work with a Gordon Lightfoot cover (Carefree Highway? I'm not enough of a Lightfoot fan to recognize anything but The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald by ear) he'd originally hoped to debut for his dad ... he didn't have it ready in time for the gig his parents showed up for, did did bring it out for the local crowd.


Matt Mays, Barrymore's, November 5, 2008

The show ended with The Arkells coming on stage for the encore, which included a cover of The Rolling Stones' Wild Horses and the longest band introduction ever.

• Show reminder: The Acacia Strain, Through The Eyes of the Dead, See You Next Tuesday, Pray For Tomorrow and Caramel Waltz punk it up at the New Bayou; Attack In Black, Ladyhawk and Shotgun Jimmy play Zaphod Beeblebrox;in a last-minute announcement, The Goodnight Loving drop in on the Rock'n'Roll Pizza Party at the Bytown Tavern.