Bluesfest: Laurent Bourque

I saw Laurent Bourque for the third time at Bluesfest. It was my first time seeing him perform with something like a full band. It was a good thing he had some folks with him, since he was doing sonic battle with Protest the Hero's main stage set.

Grimacing action!



Extra guitar action with Sam Seguin!



Laurent had some paramedical assistance from Luc Duross and Jaime Kronick.



Laurent sings!



Jaime taps!



Rhythm section action!



Laurent sings!



Sam sings!



As an aside, I am very, very pleased with how my point-and-shoot photos turned out at this set.



Jaime brushes up.



The whole lot!



Then I went to see the laugh-a-minute folks in Protest The Hero.

• Show reminder: Structures, Counterparts, A Sight For Sewn Eyes, Rising City States and The Gillingham Fire Demonstration play Mavericks; it's time for Quesnellefest at Babylon with The Famines, The Nymphets, Dagger Eyes and Pregnancy Scares. Malajube, The Besnard Lakes and The Darcys perform at Ritual. Ron Hawkins and Colleen Brown roll into the Elmdale. Pear and the Awkward Orchestra get all whimsical at the Avant-Garde.

Bluesfest 2011: Day 7

After a day's respite it was time to head back to Lebreton Flats, but my stay was going to be shorter than usual. I almost skipped the day entirely, since the only act I really felt pressure to see was John Fogerty, but my desire to see him wasn't at the same level as a show at the Dominion happening that night (more on it later). I decided in the end not to waste my ticket, and I'm glad I did because I saw a bunch of entertaining stuff.

First on the list was Doll, who I've seen before. This was the first time they've been accompanied on stage by a stilt walker, though. I guess she would be hard to fit into Cafe DeKcuf ...


Doll at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 12, 2011

Then I cruised by the Subway Stage for a look and hear at Slyde. They sound quite young, thanks to singer-guitarist Nathan Da Silva's naif voice. I hear a big Rush influence - apparently I'm not the only one - thanks to the band's eye-on-society lyrics and proggy keyboards.  


Slyde at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 12, 2011

Finally I landed at the Hard Rock Stage for the remainder of Laurent Bourque's set. Every time I see Laurent some loud band seems to be playing with earshot. In this case it was Protest the Hero. Fortunately he had a full band this time to fight back volume-wise, including members of Paramedics from the day before.


Laurent Bourque at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 12, 2011

Not that anything could stifle the overwhelming volume being generated by Protest the Hero's drum and bass. Everything else about their set, particularly Luke Hoskin's guitarwork, was lost in the din. But that doesn't mean it was a complete waste of time. Let's just say that if PTH goes belly up, singer Rody Walker has a great future in standup comedy. No joke - his between song chatter about teenagers and their stupid haircuts (including his own past abominations) was laugh-out-loud funny.


Protest the Hero at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 12, 2011

That aside, the high point of the day was Dana Fuchs livewire performance on the Subway Stage. She's a gusty singer who attracts plenty of Janis Joplin comparisons and really pulls out all the stops live.


Dana Fuchs at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 12, 2011

No wonder she attracted a big crowd ... but after that it was time to head home. I did snap a few photos of Andrew 'Jr. Boy' Jones who was performing on the National Bank Stage with some assist from the Texas Horns.


Andrew Jr. Boy' Jones at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 12, 2011

His bassist was playing with a bandaged hand - what a trooper!

The green man

Sometimes you take your shows where you find them, particularly with my horrid schedule. I'd say this particular evening was quite solid, even if the headliner wasn't someone I was hugely interest in, you know Laurent Bourque is going to put on a good show and Toronto's Treasures seemed most promising. First up at Cafe DeKcuf, Bourque, the Ottawa-born, current Montreal resident and former Spark membr doing the solo thing.

He was already in full swing when I walked in the door.



"I'd like to explain that I did not tousle my hair like this ... it was the wind that did it."



The other side of Laurent!



Well, basically it's a lot of Laurent photos today ...



It's a bit minimalist, I know.



Scrunchy action!



A shouty bit!



And so on ...



That should hold you to his next show in the area, which happens to be at blacksheep, June 11.

• Show reminder: The Crackling and Kris Ward play Cafe Dekcuf; Ruby Spirit and Full-Tipped Sleeve play Zaphod's; Prett Melberts and The Best Friend Patrol, The Ginger Fox Band, Move Your Mountain and EMAN perform at the Elmdale.

Evening star

Looking about for something to do last night, I stumbled over The Treasures. The Toronto outlaw country syle band were sharing a bill with Laurent Bourque, who I've seen and enjoyed before opening for Old Crowns at Mavericks, and Sam Bradley who has been enjoying some success in the pop-soul-folk genre thanks to his inclusion as a cowriter of one of the tunes on the Twilight soundtrack (although the movies are alleged to be atrocious, the music selection doesn't seem half-bad). However, I mostly marched off to Cafe DeKcuf on the merits of The Treasures' Tried So Hard.

Laurent was already up an running when I got in the door. Last time I saw him he was accompanied by Jamie Kronick - this time he was truly solo, and sounding quite good. He did have to compete with the loud rumble coming from the all-ages punk rock show coming from downstairs - "I told the promoter I should be on that bill," he joked.


Laurent Bourque at Cafe DeKcuf, April 27, 2011

As for The Treasures, this is their  first trip to Ottawa, which they seemed to enjoy. I can think of a bunch of local acts they should get on a bill with for their promised return (The John Henrys would suit just fine). They certainly lived up to my advance listening.


The Treasures at Cafe DeKcuf, April 27, 2011


The Treasures at Cafe DeKcuf, April 27, 2011

Finally Sam Bradley closed things off with a set that made me think of J.J. Grey and Mofro, who also blend folk, rock and soul, albeit with a far more southern, swampy feel.He has a very adept backing band in guitarist John Notto, drummer Mark Kerrey (also responsible for some of the songwriting) and bassist Jeff Riedlinger. Perhaps the convivial feeling was due to about half the audience being family members: "My grandfather is here, my mom, my cousins ... my dog, my cat ..." he joked between songs.


Sam Bradley at Cafe DeKcuf, April 27, 2011

And a less-flashy photo.


Sam Bradley at Cafe DeKcuf, April 27, 2011

A pleasant way to spend an evening.

• Show reminder: Zac Crouse and Steve Gates perform at the Raw Sugar Cafe; there's Prairie Scene related activity at Mavericks with Royal Canoe, The Liptonians and Maybe Smith; the Elmdale is also in on the Prairie action with Codie Prevost and Desiree Dorion.

Young spark

Laurent Bourque got his start in Ottawa where he was part of The Spark; nowadays he makes his home in Montreal, but is a frequent visitor. Although he has a band he left most of them at home for this solo show, which also featured local acts The Amalgamation, The Property Line and Old Crowns.

Laurent sings!



Snarling action!



Gripping action!



Guitar-lifting action!



Facial expressions, he's got 'em.



Longtime collaborator Jamie Kronick joined him on stage for a few songs.



Xylophonic action!



Singalong action!



Big finish!



Laurent Bourque will be back with his band at the Black Sheep Inn Friday.

Things with strings

Last night presented an opportunity to see a bunch of acts I hadn't laid eyes on before. With the exception of The Property Line (who I saw at The Rainbow in May 2009) the lineup was unfamiliar ... or so I thought. The theme of the evening could be very loosely defined as "bands with one guy with an acoustic guitar in them."

First up was Laurent Bourque. Laurent grew up in Ottawa (I believe there were a few relatives in the noisy audience) but is now based in Montreal. For this show it was just him and a brief assist from Jamie Kronick of The Property Line (and many other bands). He promises to return soon so Ottawans can hear his songs as they appear on album "really wonderful ... overproduced and everything."


Laurent Bourque and Jamie Kronick at Mavericks, January 9, 2010

Amalgamation played next; they broke with the theme. As guitarist Brandon noted "We sort of stick out like a sore thumb." They were a bit on the jammy side, with lots of clean guitar (cleaner than I'm used to that is, which means just about zero).


Amalgamation at Mavericks, January 9, 2010

Old Crowns returned to the acoustic side. And as it turns out they aren't complete unknowns. Apart from Joel Soucy of The Property Line (and other bands) playing bass, Stephen St. Pierre is the lead singer. He's appeared on this blog (admittedly a while back) both solo and in Soviet States.


Old Crowns at Mavericks, January 9, 2010

The Property Line finished things off. I remember them as sounding a tad more rustic back at The Rainbow. Last night they were firmly ensconced in the indie rock sounds of local acts like Amos The Transparent and The Acorn - or so it seemed to my poor tired brain.


The Property Line at Mavericks, January 9, 2010

The band said they were pretty tired too - they played in Toronto the night before, then drove home, which may be why stuff wrapped up by 12:30 - awful early for a four band show at any venue that isn't Zaphod's.

• Show reminder: AfterParty, Harvey Cartel and In Antarctica perform at The Rainbow.