National Capital Rock: Mere Humans

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Got Live if you want it

Last Wednesday was my first visit to a new venue, Live! On Elgin. It's a nice space, just upstairs from Dunn's, that seems well intended to also work well as a venue for theater productions, standup comedy, film presentations and the like. It's obvious some thought has gone into the arrangement of the seating, and it's well-suited for sit-down shows - the sort of show with moshers and slam-dancers, maybe not so much. My Live! baptism came courtesy of Mississippi Grover, Mere Humans and The Ven Dreddies - starting of with the man whose tonic is sonic.

Percussive action!

Gripping action!

On to The Ven Dreddies, a.k.a. Jim, Tyler and Ike's excuse to rock and goof around at the same time.

Tyler frets!

Ike hits!

More guitar!

Jim sings!

Extra Ike!

Tyler sings!

The whole lot!

The Mere Humans released their debut album on Bandcamp at the beginning of the month (appropriately titled This Is Rock'N'Roll), and promise a vinyl version if enough folks pick up the digital version. Here's Dave rocking out some tunes from said album.

Janice handles the low end.

More guitar!

Grimacing action!

The whole lot!

Dave sings!

Janice sings!

And so on!

Chris hits!

And a better view of the space itself ...

Definitely a show that deserved a wider audience.

Monday, February 02, 2015

Good2Go again

After checking out the show at Black Squirrel Books I zipped over to the House of Targ to see Mere Humans and Good2go. Back in the early days of National Capital Rock I saw Good2Go several times, but in the last few years - about the time I moved to a night shift - our schedules seem to have parted ways. Though I did catch a couple of Bluesfest performances in 2009 and 2010. The last time I saw them in a club was at a New Year's show ringing in 2009 at the Royal Oak - way too long ago for my liking! Anyway, on with the show, starting with Dave Kerr of Mere Humans.

Janice handles the low end.

Chris hits!

More sparkly Gretsch!

Extra Janice!

More hitting!

Dave is being funny!

Janice sings one.

More guitar!

Human action!

On to Good2Go, who really killed it. This might have been their best set yet, which is saying something. Here's some pre-show shenanigans with Miss Maureen taking over Gilles' drum kit.