Common people

Every once in a while I have to get out of my comfort zone and actually go out to a venue I haven't been to before. The House of Common has been hosting small shows for a little while now, but I never got around to making the short trip to Hintonburg to see what was going on. Since I enjoyed Baby Cages set at Mugshots last year so much I figured it was worth the trip to see her, along with Snooker Emprium, Special Costello and Elsa. Elsa started things off. I've seen her perform with Everett; things were in a singer-songwriter mode for this set.



A well-lit Alex from Bondar was on hand to play drums.



Elsa sings!



Extra Alex!



And so on!



Montreal's Snooker Emporium play some off-kilter psychedelica - they actually made me think quite a bit of new local combo Spell (and not just because I saw the latter a couple of days later). Here's Jono and Nick!



Feedback action!



Ellen is their latest drum recruit.



Vocal action!



Ellen hits!



Keyboard action!



And so on!



Singalong action!



As you probably guessed, the only lighting was behind the drum kit.



Halifax's Special Costello is the brainchild of the lusciously voiced Jeremy Costello - he sounds a bit like Edwyn Collins.



Jeremy sings!



Keyboard action!



And so on!



For her mugshots appearance, Halloway had a violinist accompanist; for her latest work she's collected a new band (including frequent collaborator Jeremy), and also has a new road band to show off.



Halloway sings!



Singalong action!



Even more singalong action!



A fine evening out.

Explosive exit

As you might now (since I've been going on and on about it), I broke my camera Saturday night at the Ottawa Explosion (a month or so ago, that is). Thus, at the shindig's Sunday roundup I only had my point-and-shoot, bought back when I was still going to Bluesfest and needed something that wasn't an SLR but still had decent telephoto. Fortunately it was a nice sunny day, so apart from testing the focus repeatedly on random objects.



And yes, Gaycation were the first band on stage, but not quite the first act, since Sunday also hosted Debaser's Drone Zone, where a number of more experietal artists held forth, starting with Not Here/Not Now.



Pedal-board action!



On to the Hello Kitty-loving people of Gaycation; unfortunately this was one of the band's last shows. I suspect we'll see the folks involved hitting the stage in other projects soon enough.



LP is amused!



Singalong action!



Guitar action with Alanna!



Faelan sings!



Alanna sings!



Extra Sadboy!



Extra LP!



Bendy action!



Pinata-slaying action!



As is customary, the singer of the band wears the pinata and is sat upon by the guitarist.



Then it was back into the Drone Zone; Jared Epp brought some electronic noise to the Explosion.



Zone action!



The well-disguised women of Blue Angel were on next, this time in matching gold lame outfits.



Sammi sings! I also caught her solo act Pipahauntas just a few days ago, so pictures of that will be up soon (or perhaps that should be "soon").



Caylie sings!



Shiny action with Lidija!



Sammi works the low end.



Unmasked action!



Closeup action!



Singalong action!



Caylie is amused!



Caylie sings!



The whole lot!



Then there was some more Drone Zone action, this time with Everett - who play again July 25 at Black Squirrel Books to help raise funds for a capital pride alternative in August.



Adjustments are made.



Closeup action!



Singalong action!



Elsa sings some!



The last act I caught was Bonnie Doon, and they rocked away in fine style as usual.



Horn-rimmed action!



Rhythm section action!



Lesley taps!



Madison sings!



Lesley sings!



And that was it for the Ottawa Explosion! For me anyway. I did go to the Monday after-festival show (if memory serves), but didn't have a camera up to the task of Black Squirrel Books' interior.