Coffee and Tea

There are a couple of shows this weekend I neglected to tell you about on my previous roundup; I'm going to tell you now because I'm wiped out from biking home and too damn lazy to work up an Electric and Western photo roundup: Tonight at Irene's, a new folk combo is going to take the stage to romp through a couple of sets. Mark McIntyre and Patrick Shanks have of course appeared on stage together in The Trudels and Solid Senders; along with Art Guise guy Jason Vaughan and glockenspieler Diane Lachapelle they are Cold Coffee and Salty Boots. Over at The Rainbow you can also see The Murder Plans, Tympanic and Tent Horizone.


Brockway Biggs, Navy Club, April 27, 2007

On Monday, hip hop connector Brockway Biggs, the relentless rap promoter formerly known as Pimp Tea, says adios to Ottawa for awhile at a Bytown Tavern show as he prepares for a lengthy cross-Canada tour.

It's gettin' hard to be a pimp out here

'Twas a dark and drizzly night when I set off for the Navy Club on Victoria Island. It's been decades since I set foot on the isle, and I had a bit of bother finding my way to the Kelp Records' 13th anniversary party show being held there, but I made it early enough not to miss any of the action. Kelp kingpin Jon Bartlett promised an evening of diverse entertainment, and he started things off on a good foot with East Coast Music Award-winning rap MC Brockway Biggs (formerly known as PIMP-T and Pimp Tea).

Biggs does some thinking.



I love disco balls ... is that so wrong?!?



BB sheds the jacket and shows off some moves. "I'm turning 27 in a couple of weeks, I don't know how much longer I'll be able to move like that" he said after a spirited rendition of Shake Ya Caboose.



Superdude gets the thumbs up!



He was also giving out free stuff (such as Pimp Juice). You'll be seeing more of that stuffed turtle ....



BB has departed from New Brunswick and taken up residence in Ottawa, so no doubt we'll hear more from him from momentarily (to say nothing of his third album, which he's finishing off soon).

• Show reminder: The Johnstones, Keepin 6 and Fleeba play Cafe DeKcuf.

By the sea

Kelp's 13th anniversary celebrations moved into high gear with a gig at the Navy Club. Not the easiest venue to find, but a hefty number of folks showed up to enjoy several excellent sets from the record label's family and friends.

First up, New Brunswick's notorious Brockway Biggs rapped over some choice Maritime beats under his Pimp Tea brand.



Waterloo's Agile Like This regaled the audience with songs about Satan, oral sex and America's Next Top Model.



The Michael Parks (formerly The Detective Kalita) had a special guest for almost every tune. Here's Chris Page on mandolin with Andy Swan.



The Flaps kicked out their usual superb instrumental rock.



The Acorn capped things with a scorching show (and numerous percussionists).



The festivities continue today with an instore performance by Chris Page at Sounds Unlikely, Andrew Vincent & the Pirates, Andy Swan, Greenfield Main, Jenny Omnichord and The Luck at the Carleton Tavern starting at 1 p.m. and Camp Radio, Rhume, Flecton and the Two Minute Miracles at the Glue Pot Pub around 9 p.m. (and finishing around 2 a.m., if last night was anything to go by).

• Show reminder: Evil Farm Children go head to head with Good2Go at Irene's Pub; The Creeps, Radar Hate, The Outbred Inlaws, The Visitors, The Annoyers and The Poulsens punk it up at Cafe Dekcuf. Various Starling veterans fill out the ranks of The Hundreds and Thousands - they play Zaphod's with The Golden Seals. Les Trois Accords and Pepe et sa Guitare rock out at the Capital Music Hall. Mackenzie MacBride and The Supermodel Syndrome perform at the Avant-Garde Bar.