Dog Day afternoon

Next up at the Ottawa Explosion were Dog Day. The first time I saw them they struck me as being more of an "indie" rock band than you'd expect to see at Ottawa Explosion, but stripped down to the husband-and-wife team of Seth Smith and Nancy Urich they fit in just fine.

Nancy sings!



Closeup Seth!



Singalong action!



Extra Nancy!



Further Seth!



Even more Nancy, because how often does one get a chance to take good drummer photos?



Faceoff action!



The other side of Seth.



I took a bunch of other nice shots, but let's just call this one .. the end!



A wicked set; if I didn't already own all their records I would have bought one.

Ottawa Explosion, Day 4, Part I

Well, Day 4 just about killed me. I actually headed off to Club SAW instead of the House of Targ largely because I knew I'd have a place to sit down. It was a hard task getting out of bed, I tell you ...

Fortunately I did, since Hollywood played a really great set; Big Neck records is always a sign of quality, I tell you ...


Hollywood at Club SAW, June 16, 2012

Another reason to go to Club SAW: A chance to check out First Base again. They played a great set of bedroom pop at the last Gaga Weekend and were just as good this time around.


First Base at Club SAW, June 16, 2012

I've seen Dog Day a few times in different configurations. For this show husband-and-wife team Seth Smith and Nancy Urich have stripped down to drums and guitar, and it really works too.


Dog Day at Club SAW, June 16, 2012

Lipstick Homicide also killed it with some hard-charging punk rock - a really great set from this Iowa City trio.


Lipstick Homicide at Club SAW, June 16, 2012

The Visitors wrapped things up at Club SAW to an appreciative crowd


The Visitors at Club SAW, June 16, 2012

After that one could check out some videos, or go and see Cold Warps and Dry Feet at Vertigo Records or go and grab some dinner and a quick nap (which I did).

The better bark

I've seen Halifax combo Dog Day twice now; the first was an excellen set at Zaphod's as part of the  free showcase along with The Murder Plans. Their show this time was even better, perhaps because they were louder and fuzzier.

The whole lot! Bassist Nancy Urich, her husband guitarist Seth Smith,  drummer Robbie Shedden and keyboardist Crystal Thili.



Rhythm section action!



Crystal shakes hair, eludes good photo.



Shedden rocks the hoodie; He's a relatively new addition.



Nancy bends.



Singalong action!



Crystal shakes.



Staring action!



Seth goes down.



Faceoff action!



They're a cute couple.



I have a copy of their limited-edition vinyl EP Elder Schoolhouse awaiting my ears.

• Show reminder: There's ska a-plenty at The Rainbow with The Fundamentals, Freshly Cut, Ad-Rock Accoustic.

Penis!

I went over to Mavericks last night to see Dog Day and Attack In Black. Well, mostly Dog Day. When I saw Attack in Black at Zaphod's in November 2008 I recall liking them, but not as much as Dog Day in December 2007, also at Zaphod's. Anyway, as good and great as those performances were, they were put in the shade by last night's awesome effort.

The first band on was Currents, a quartet formerly known as Killing For Friday. I thought their music sounded like heavy post-rock with soft-to-shout vocals. I can see them sharing a stage with a wide range of acts without anyone scratching their heads over why: They had some of Dog Day's heavy propulsion. As it happens they're playing again tonight with Assembleme, Farewell Cool Reason and To The Rescue at Cafe DeKcuf.


Currents at Mavericks, October 28, 2009

Last time I saw Dog Day, I said of their music "It's very melodic but with an aggressive edge. I've heard comparisons to My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth mooted here and there, but can't agree." I don't remember taking any drugs that night, but now I'm thinking I might have been hitting the cold capsules a littler hard, because I definitely heard both those acts in their sound last night. I stand by saying they were very propulsive and remind me of New Order, though. Like last time their show was dynamite.


Dog Day at Mavericks, October 28, 2009

Last time I saw Attack In Black, I thought they sounded pretty good, but they were nowhere near as fiery then as they were last night. They were recording this show for a possible live album, and told the crowd they should shout whatever they want for posterity. "Penis!" yelled a woman in the crowd. "Is that the best you can do?" replied Daniel. The crowd demanded and received an encore performance of Cave-In. Here we have the brothers Romano.


Attack In Black at Mavericks, October 28, 2009

It was all so good I had to buy a CD from everyone except Currents (and that was just because they were giving their one away).

• Show reminder: The Hidden Cameras and Gentleman Reg play Babylon; White Cowbell Oklahoma, rock monsters Iron Giant and the Sal Piamonte Band are at Mavericks for some good, clean, wholesome entertainment. I'm not sure I want to know what Bart-Man, Super-Joe and Purple Turtle are doing at The Rainbow. East of Gatineau and Andrea Simms Karp play the Elmdale House. Minto, Dave Norris & Local Ivan and Loon Choir are at Zaphod's. Devin Johnstone is at the Avant-Garde.

Dogs and Bears

I saw Dog Day at the tail end of December 2007 and thought they sounded great; pretty active performers as well. They're performing at Zaphod Beeblebrox once again tonight, along with The City Above and Louise Gloor.


Dog Day, Zaphod Beeblebrox, December 3, 2007

Elsewhere, Cut it Out!, Scarred Love and The PG-13s offer up several flavours of punk rock at Cafe Dekcuf; Kinnexa Cross and Orchid Thieves play The Rainbow; there's art both visual and audio at the Mercury Lounge with For the Fairest, Bear Claps and Chris Neale.

Ruff stuff

Dog Day topped off a fine evening of music with their propulsive indie rock. It's very melodic but with an aggressive edge. I've heard comparisons to My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth mooted here and there, but can't agree. The Tomlab signees aren't afraid to turn things up, but they struck me as being a bit like a more guitar-oriented New Order. The band has been touring quite a bit and were on the last leg of their tour that had already taken them across Europe, the U.S.A. and parts West - they were sounding very tight.

Seth Smith and bassist Nancy Urich, formerly of The Burdocks.



Casey Spidle hails from Hailfax hardcore combo The Hold ...



As does his wife, keyboardist Crystal Thili.



Canine action!









The whole lot!



Big finish!



A super ending to a snappy show.

Going, going ...

Damn snow! I'm not sure how folks it kept away from last night's Dog Day show, but it wasn't much fun to ford through en route to Zaphod's. Too bad for folks who decided not to brave the weather; Dog Day were really excellent, as was the rest of the bill.

First up, The Noble Son - a one-man show with an acoustic guitar, a looping pedal and some well-deployed guitar FX. His banter might benefit from some streamlining, but otherwise the set was really good.



The Murder Plans followed; as before their set was definitely rocking.



Finally Dog Day laid down some very robust indie pop. Some of the guitar tones made me think of The Cure, but without the affected singing.



And now onto other business: Jeff Martin of Harshey e-mailed me (and a bunch of other folks) last week to say that Harshey is no more. They're playing one last show, and then going off to their other bands: Garaga, The Allrights, four-stroke, elbeejay and so on. Here they are at Mavericks in June 2006.



They'll take their last bow (until the reunion) at Zaphod's, Dec. 20. with The Vanity of Human Wishes.



Speaking of the Allrights - shown above playing at Cafe DeKcuf in April - they're playing tonight at Zaphod's with Cardiff combo Los Campesinos.