Mandolins and madness

Winnipeg's D'Rangers are Manitoba's "Bluegrass Madmen" - and let's face it, if you tour the nation to play bluegrass in nightclubs, you're definitely at least a little bit wacky. Their performance was very energetic - and the first gig in some time that I've witnessed from the front row where I didn't feel the need to use earplugs. I have my doubts that everyone in the club could hear what was going on, but certainly enough people picked up on what was going down for some vigorous applause and very genuine demands for an encore. They covered Neil Young's Dangerbird and The Good Brothers' Uncle Billy's Breakdown - dedicated to songwriter Larry Good's nephews in The Sadies - alongside a slew of strong originals.

No doubt you're asking "Who are the men behind these matching shirts - and just how crazy are they?"



Jaxon Haldane plays banjo and guitar, sings the lead - moderately nuts.



Aaron Goss - certified off the deep end.



Tom Fodey, maestro of the "muckbucket" - vaguely kooky.



Chris Saywell - bonkers.



Don Zueff - crackers.



Shutter speed experimentation is totally inappropriate for a band like the D'Rangers, but what the heck.





Watch that frailing!



Bluegrass action!











Aaron left the audience with the following words: "You can buy us a beer ... we like that ... or whiskey ... we like that too ... maybe smoke some J with us ..."

• Show reminder: Emergency Broadcast System, The Habit, Poorfolk, EZ3, River City Junction play Zaphod Beeblebrox' free showcase.

Bluegrass'n'billy

A nice eclectic show from self-proclaimed "Bluegrass Madmen" The D'Rangers; The Sadies, playing the shortest set from them that I've ever witnessed; and Heavy Trash's strutting take on rockabilly.

Three of the D*Rangers (not shown, their fiddler and washtub bassist).



Two of the Sadies (not shown, one brother and one Snake).



And the core of Heavy Trash - Matt Verta-Ray and Jon Spencer (not shown, The Sadies working as their band).



Good fun from all three bands. More later.