Redheaded stranger

I'm a huge Neko Case fan, so naturally I went to see her perform last night at Bronson Centre. This was a no-photography event, so I'm just going to decorate it with a shot from her Bluesfest set two years ago. I's not like she's changed much.



She does like the zip-up athletic sweaters, doesn't she? This show was kicked off by Lucy Wainwright Roche. Lucy is off course half-sibling to Rufus and Martha, and the daughter of Suzzy Roche of Roches fame. She gets her talent from both sides of the family and there was plenty on display. She likes to introduce her songs and is quite amusing, regaling Ottawa with tales of brotherly postcards, dates that ended up in the ER and other song-inspiring moments.
As for Case, she was in great form and quite ebullient. In addition to the folks she had with her at her Bluesfest set, she was joined by John Covertino of Calexico on drums - oh, and Kelly Hogan was on hand this time as well. The band previewed three new songs slated for the next album and they all sounded good. The show hit a few rough patches, but all together it was 90 minutes of great sounds.

• Show reminder: Bat Sabbath (Cancer Bats playing Black Sabbath, that is), The Comeback Kids, Hunter City Madness and Texas With A Dollar Sign rock Mavericks; Tanya Davis and Sarah Hallman perform at The Elmdale Tavern; Molly Sweeney and Kristen Bussandri play at Raw Sugar.

Black and beastly

I jiggled my schedule to be off work when Animal Collective was in town since I'm so fond of their avant-garde harmony pop weirdness. Also it was a chance to visit my old high school stomping ground. Eric Copeland, formerly of Black Dice, opened the show. The two outfits have an intertwining history. Animal Collective's first U.S. tour was with Black Dice and AC's label Paw Tracks is releasing their new record along with Copeland's Hermaphrodite. Copeland uses loops to create a monolithic rhythm, often at crushing volume. Grinding squawks and hammering breath noises were laid over Copeland’s indecipherable utterances, and while he performed a steady trickle of show-goers could be seen heading back to the lobby for relief from his slurred industrial lullabies. I overheard someone say the bass made his nose bleed.

Knob-twisting action!



Shadowy action!



During the intermission a man dressed as a puffin handed out promo cards for another show. Then it was time for Animal Collective. They're on the fringes of pop, where The Flaming Lips used to be before they became inexplicably popular (I love 'em, but never thought they'd hit it big). They are one of the few bands that are neither aimed at the teen pop market nor KISS likely to attract fans in facepaint.

Avey mans the keys while Panda makes an adjustment.



Geologist is ready to mine.







The whole lot, plus coloured lights!



More Bear.





Some of their rhythms had me thinking of disco and afrobeat – after a half-hour the sitters were up and dancing, much to the inconvenience of the folks who remained in their front row seats. Avey Tare jumped off stage to dance along, and you can just make out his striped shirt in this photo to the right of the blurry clapping hands.





Even more Bear! Plus one of the band's two taffeta-clad skeletons.



Singalong action!





Although the venue wasn't ideal – this is not a band to be enjoyed sitting down – and their accompanying light show veered between the unnecessary and annoying, there were still plenty of high points including Walk Around With You, their new single Peacebone, the even newer Material Things and a medley of Essplode and Fireworks. After the show I leapt on my bike and pedalled off to Irene's for another show.

• Show reminder: Buro 40, The Colour Surround and Alan Ganev perform at Zaphod Beeblebrox. Ball and Chain give it up for Hank Williams at Irene's.
  

In with the old

I can say something about the Bronson Centre Theatre stage that I can say of no other venue: I've performed on it myself. Many years ago I failed to dazzle Mr. Kehoe's Grade 10 drama class with my dance interpretation of McCavity from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats (back then the Bronson Centre housed Immaculata). Animal Collective had better luck. Also a bigger draw.

Eric Copeland, formerly of Black Dice, got a decent reception from the crowd when he opened, but I noticed a slight trickle of folks heading out to the auditorium. Maybe they were unimpressed, or perhaps they had neglected to bring earplugs and were feeling the effect of massive, brain-shredding volume. "I think that made my nose bleed" I overheard one concert-goer say.



Avant-pop outfit Animal Collective had the crowd up and dancing at the front of the stage by the half-hour mark.



Following their well-received set, I bicycled to Irene's I got there just in time to see Sonic Avenues clear their gear from the stage. Boston's Muck & The Mires were up next with a set of back-to-basics rock and matching duds.



Ottawa's own Sick Fits closed the evening with a short set (it was getting on) including their traditional cover of TV on the Blink, a run through Dead Flowers and a show-closing manhandling of I'm Eighteen.



That was interesting, and I haven't even mentioned the guy dressed as a puffin yet.

• Show reminder: David Macleod and Orillia Opry perform at Florence Gardens (that is, 209 Florence St., off Bay). Diablo Red and The Unavowed perform at Zaphod's; Dopamine, A Plot Against Me and Hell Bros perform at Barrymore's.