Back to Hell

Fresh Hell returned from hibernation/maternity leave early in January for a show at Black Squirrel Books, on a bill stacked with gravelly voices and emotive singing. First up were Laniard - here's Steve and Kieran!



Guitar action with Jon Creeden!



A shouty bit!



Steve hits!



Bass and beard action with Kieran!



Extra Steve!



More other Steve!



They were followed by Philadelphia's Sold, doing some organ-inflected post punk. Here's frontman Ted!



Keyboard and bass action with Stefan and Scott!



Stefan sings!



Rhythm section action with Scott and Jon!



More Jon!



Sold were doing a brief Canadian tour with Montreal's Laureate, who hit the stage next. I saw them about a year ago, opening for Doc Hopper at Targ. Here's Giancarlo!



Percussive action with Mike!



Bass action with Erin!



More Giancarlo!



Tapping action with Mike!



Extra Erin!



Fresh Hell wrapped things up with an energetic set. Here's Steve and Devin!



Occasional Flying Hellfish Corey sings!



Contemplative action with Vance!



More Steve!



More Devin!



A fine return to form.

Pop til you drop

Ninieties Boston punks Doc Hopper are back, and back on the road, and decided to head up to Ottawa to play their first show here in a couple of decades. This was a five-act night, starting with solo troubador Matt Charette.



More Matt!



And so on!



Montreals' Laureate got the pop-punk started. Here's bassist and vocalist Erin!



Singalong action with Matt!



Giancarlo sings!



Mike hits!



More Matt!



Extra Giancarlo!



Extra Giancarlo and Erin!



Even more Matt!



Even more singalong action!



More guitar!



Extra Erin!



I last saw Audio Visceral perform at the For Pivots Sake fundraiser at Targ back in August 2017; once again, heres Steve in his Pac-Man duds!



Bass action with Kevin!



More Steve!



Steve sings!



The whole lot, including drummer Gary!



Close-up Kevin action!



Gary hits!



Steve works the dancefloor!



Close-up Steve!



Extra Gary!



Tongue action!



Visceral action!



Just like the last time I caught them, The Steve Adamyk Band followed Audio Visceral, and they're still a trio. Here's Johnnie O. on bass!



Steve strums!



The whole lot!



Singalong action!



Pat hits!



More Pat'n'Steve!



And so on!



Double-Dave guest vocal action!



I didn't see Doc Hopper the last time they played Ottawa (some time around 1995?), but I have seen Mikey Erg just recently, at the Ottawa Explosion.



Chris sings!



Buttoned-down action!



Singalong action!



Rhythm section action!



Greg hits!



There was much more jumping that I failed to capture ....



More Mikey and Chris!



And that's it!