Class action

My bout with the common cold not only stopped me from going to shows, but it also has apparently fried my brain because I just remembered this show from two weeks ago at House of Targ. Toronto duo Bond Girls came to play a set alongside Neon Wave, with whom they've just released a split single, and local outfit Stay Classy (who are also playing this Friday as part of Junofest, at the Dominion). Here's Classy frontman P.J. (also of The Gallop), and subbing drummer Tyler.



Bass action with Gavin (of Black Dogs)!



Singalong action with Love Machinist Allan!



Tyler hits!



Close-up action!



Extra Gavin!



More Tyler!



Extra Allan!



Neon Wave took things in a slightly more atmospheric direction; here's singer-guitarist Norm and a fuzzy drummer Ryan!



More Norm!



Extra Ryan!



More guitar with Derek!



Ear-scratching action!



More Derek!



Singalong action!



Bond Girls sounded a bit like a stripped-down Queens Of The Stone Age to me; unfortunately the lights were down so low for their set I only took a couple of photos. Here they are in all their grainy glory! Guitar action with Sam Seguin (once of Soviet States, I think?)



And here's The Balconies' Mike Laing.



Fun, but dark.

Got love if you want it

The Love Machine held down the middle slot. They seem to have a lot of local fans, but I can't call them a personal favourite. That said, I liked this performance a lot more than what I've seen before.

Jordan gets some microphone adjustment assistance from the crowd.



Allen on the left, Sean on the right.



Singalong action!



Sean gets some scratching help from Mike.



Allen rocks the Rickenbacker.



Sean sings!



Mike hits!



Big finish!



An energetic show; unfortunately my photos kind of stank. Their next show is at Mavericks March 8 with The Lovely Feathers and Oceans.

• Show reminder: The Sheepdogs and Billy The Kid perform at Zaphod Beeblebrox; Ornaments, Those Gulls and The Advocate play at 1848 in the U of O.

Surprise ending

Last time I was at Club SAW was September 4, 2007, to see The Rural Alberta Advantage. This time the headliner was Sadie Hell, which released their debut album and also raised some dough for SweatFree Communities, an organization for Third World workers. They got some support from Wuhan Lipfight, a band fronted by Menno Veersteg of Hollerado and Ottawa's own popular favourites The Love Machine.

Connecting Wuhan Lipfight with Hollerado is actually slightly deceptive. I chatted briefly with the members of the quartet after their set while they came up with pseudonyms and drummer El Suponte noted that while they stress all the time about what's going on in Hollerado, Lipfight is about doing everything they don't do in Hollerado. Thus, instead of snappy pop rock tunes you get skronky psych jam versions of Shortnin' Bread. The music is about as fuzzy as this photo.


Wuhan Lipfight at Club SAW, January 2, 2010

The Love Machine put on a very sharp performance. They actually gave their first performance at Club SAW about four years ago. "You can see how far we've come," joked guitarist Allan. They have a new album and video en route and played a bunch of new stuff.


Love Machine at Club SAW, January 2, 2010

The new video is courtesy of Luca Furgiuele, who also did the video for Sadie Hell's new single Pedestrians. The lady at left appears in the Love Machine video, if I understand things correctly.


Luca and friend at Club SAW, January 2, 2010

Then it was time for Sadie Hell; mainman Ben Welland corralled a bunch of folks to accompany him this time around, among them Peter and Christian Yurt of Hellbros, Mallorie Giles of Politique, new singer and guitarist May-Jun and Big Dick guy Dave Secretary on drums, along with usual suspects Dave Halabisky and Sean Lamframboise. They put on a sensational performance.


Sadie Hell at Club SAW, January 2, 2010


Sadie Hell at Club SAW, January 2, 2010

But the big surprise came at the end when Mallory ripped away the Sadie Hell banner to reveal behind it a big sign saying ...


"Colleen, will you marry me?" at Club SAW, January 2, 2010

Unfortunately it's kind of obscured by lights and microphone stands and a far-too slow shutter speed, but it reads "Colleen will you marry me?" As you can probably guess, she said yes. All together now: "Awwwwwww."

Your computer love

Friday on July 11 was pretty toasty ... I went down to Lebreton Flats to catch the Brothers Chaffey. I've already posted those pictures (alongside shots from a subsequent Barrymore's show) so here's Act II: The Love Machine. Right now the Love Machine is out on the East Coast, playing some post-Halifax Pop Explosion shows - tonight is Fredericton. They attract a young audience - hey the kids love 'em. I'm a little less enthusiastic, perhaps because my own youth was hideously scarred by listening to lovelorn synth bands.

Faceoff action with Allan and Sean!



Mike prepares to hit!



Jordan's glasses show the love.



More Allan!







Various members of The Brights come on stage for some birthday action (Sean was the birthday boy).



Bending action!



Singalong action!







Jordan tips back!



No doubt future plans for local shows will unfold once they return.

• Show reminder: The Reason, Benefit of a Doubt and Matt Reid play Zaphod Beeblebrox; there's punkitude at the New Bayou with Head Down, four-stroke, International Maniac Institute, Acid Overdose, Knives And Forks For Freedom. Deep Dark Woods and 90 Pounds of Ugly rock Irene's. Lonesome Paul performs at the Elmdale House Tavern.

Twist ending

You didn't have to look at a calendar to tell the weekend had arrived at Bluesfest last night. Sure, things were a little quiet at 6 p.m., but by 7:30 LeBreton Flats was a busy place: Busier than any night I'd witnessed this year, and it wasn't all Great Big Sea's fault. The first thing I did when I arrived was go to the Giant Telecommunications Company Stage where the Brothers Chaffey were playing.


Brothers Chaffey, Ottawa Bluesfest, July 11, 2008

Last time I saw the brothers Matthew and Curtis they were performing as a duo; this time they had their rhythm section (bassist Dave Macdonald and drummer Nick Diak) with them. Adam Puddington was also on hand, so they rocked pretty hard on their own tunes and a cover of Bo Diddley's Mona.


The Love Machine, Ottawa Bluesfest, July 11, 2008

My plan was to go and check out Shelby Lynne, but with an hour or so to go I wiled the time away at the River Stage. Like many bands today, The Love Machine like to link high volume with sensitive thoughts (at least on stage). Unlike most bands, this does not lead them to sound like blustering wimps. Despite being grilled by the descending summer sun, they put on a fairly energetic set with members of The Brights joining them for group hugs and to present singer Sean with a birthday cake. The big stage also gave drummer Mike a chance for some really high stick tosses (two of which he caught).


Shelby Lynne, Ottawa Bluesfest, July 11, 2008

I got to the Black Sheep Stage around 7:50, but the lawn chairs beat me to it. I get the impression a heap of folks wanted to see Ray Davies, since they didn't budge after Lynne finished her set. It was a fun one, with Lynne cementing her reputation as one of country's less clean-livin' stars by telling one concert-goer "fine-smellin' reefer man" and describing one song as being written after 14 drinks. She has a new record of Dusty Springfield tunes - her first actual vinyl record in a 20-year recording career, she says - and treated the audience to such Springfield tunes: Breakfast in Bed, I Only Want To Be With You and Tony Joe White's Willie and Laura Mae Jones. She had a very good band of Nashville musicians with her and it all sounded very sharp.


Ray Davies, Ottawa Bluesfest, July 11, 2008

Ray Davies hit the stage with only guitarist Bill Shanley for company - it seems the rest of his band went off and got married last time they were in Canada. Davies did play a tune or two of recent vintage, including the title track of 2007's Working Man's Cafe, but mostly stuck with well known Kinks classics: Dedicated Follower of Fashion, See My Friends, I'm Not Like Everybody Else, Lazy Sunday Afternoon, Tired of Waiting for You, Dead End Street, I Need You, Where Have All the Good Times Gone and a final one-two punch, assisted by Shelby Lynne's band, of the eternal Till the End of the Day and You Really Got Me.

Junction at the function

I almost skipped out on the Most Serene Republic's gig last week; I was tired as hell but figured a bout of music would perk me up. Not so. All these pictures were shot in a state of advanced stupor (the ones taken at DeKcuf I was catatonic for). Anyway, The Republic's opening acts were The Love Machine and The Junction. I have heard much praise showered upon The Love Machine. Indeed, as I headed into Zaphod's a gaggle of people who had just heard the machine was on their last song were mulling their decision to attend. Zaphod Beeblebrox wasn't so packed I needed a ticket - I'm sure I will next time - but it was pretty damn full. Anyway, I snapped a handful of pictures of The Love Machine, none of which turned out great.

I stand under the threat of correction, but I believe that's Ally G, Jordan and Sean going from left to right.





I got a spot a little closer to the front for The Junction. Things turned out a little sharper.

Matthew Jameson on bass.



Brent Jackson on guitar.



What a hammy chap that Michael Taylor is.



More Matthew!



More Brent!



Junction action!





Big finish!



As for the music, I only heard half of The Love Machine's last tune and The Junction sounded upbeat. Apparently they pride themselves on their lack of whining. The crowd certainly dug them.

• Show reminder: Marie Josee Houle has a CD release at Rasputin's with Amer Diab; James McKenty & The Spades release their new CD at Mavericks along with The John Henrys; Zolof The Rock and Roll Destroyer and Bad Flirt play Zaphod Beeblebrox; Ball and Chain gets all country at Irene's.