Big country

I saw Lil' Andy and Karaoke Cowboy a while back at The Dominion, opening for Reverend Glasseye if memory serves. The lineup's a little different (they have a new man on steel). Otherwise, it was solid baritone barroom country, much as before. He kicked things off with a Hank Williams cover - Ramblin' Man - always a good way of starting things.

They covered Leonard Cohen's Tower of Song, with an intro from Lil' Andy describing his chance encounter with Cohen at a local bank. "I do like country" said Leonard.



Mark Peetsma, looking a bit scary.



At left is Joe Grass - I saw him just a few months ago at Bluesfest.



Ben Caissie prescribes some percussion.



Karaoke action!





There were a few more covers in the set, including Walking in Jerusalem, a traditional tune they appropriated via The Dillards.



Hollah!



They concluded with a version of Neil Young's Roll Another Number For The Road, with a few time-sensitive lyric changes.

The leaving trains

It was a fine evening of country music at Irene's just a short while ago. Lil' Andy and Karaoke Cowboy once again graced Ottawa with their presence - last time I saw them at The Dominion opening for Reverend Glasseye. They have a new album out, and they played songs off what we critics like to call their sophomore effort along with some well-selected covers. Interesting coincidence, I just bought the Mark Lanegan-Isobel Campbell album today, in which they cover Hank Williams' Rambling Man, and Andy and Co. kicked off their set with that very same tune.



Next up, The John Henrys. This was a sort-of going away show for Rey Sabatin, since though he's sticking with the band he's quitting the town. Soon he'll be taking up residence in Toronto.



They finished off their set with John Henry's Revenge. As usual, there shall be more later (probably around Christmas, at the rate I'm building a backlog ...).

• Show reminder: Emm Gryner and Jill Barber get all chanteuse-like at Zaphod's.