More in store

I seem to be hearing a lot of music in record stores lately - whodathunkit? First it was Friday's show in End Hits, Saturday I went over to Organized Sound to watch a mid-afternoon in-store performance by Cuff the Duke, who also played Barrymore's later that night.

First, here's Wayne Petti and Paul Lowman. The only photo I shot without a flash. It turned out so nicely I wish I'd shot more.



And some other folks along to help with percussion, etc.



Big finish!



They played about half a dozen tunes, heavy on the country side, including The Ballad of Poor John Henry.

• Show reminder: Ultimate Power Duo, Pernille, Mile Over Mecca and A Broken Trigger play Zaphod's.

Put up your Dukes!

Cuff The Duke have progressed quite a bit since I saw them play at Zaphod's way back when. They've also won a fair bit of acclaim for their pop-with-country, which is as it should be. Indeed, they headlined one Friday night for The Blacksheep Stage at this year's Bluesfest. They like that California pop sound, and a bit of post-rock. Sometimes they had me thinking of Calexico, whereas on songs like Take My Money and Run they reminded me of The Hold Steady.

Wayne Petti starts things off on bass.



Jeff Peers deep in thought.



Paul Lowman did most of the bass playing, switching to piano as needed.



Mysterious Matt Faris on drums ... hmm, I think he did the drumming for the Hylozoists too.



Paul Aucoin (who Sadies fans may recall, with a mustache, as Critter) played vibraphone, piano and occasional percussion.



Petti definitely likes to shake it all about.



Some acoustic guitar.



Paul at the piano.



More guitar action!



An explosive finale!



An excellent set, and a packed house, too.

• Tim Vesely of the Rheostatics has another band, The Violet Archers; they play Zaphod's tonight along with Great Aunt Ida.

The silver screen

I'm a tad peaved. No one told me that Paul Aucoin's cinematic pop outfit The Hylozoists would be opening for Cuff the Duke Sept. 17. As it is, I arrived just in time for the closing minutes or so of their last tune. I snapped a few pictures; you'll see a few of these folks in future posts ...

Such as Wayne Petti of Cuff the Duke.



If I'm not mistaken, this is Julie Penner, who I last saw wielding her violin for The Fembots.



Here's half the band's drum crew.



I stand under the threat of correction, but I believe this is Paul Lowman, also of Cuff the Duke.



Vibraphone triple-threat! Paul is centre.



I wish I'd seen more. They certainly look snappy in white - shades of The Ladies and Gentlemen ...