Some ensemble required

From the mighty rock'n'roll power of Camp Radio we got to the mighty noodling psych-poppery of Tres Bien Ensemble. I wonder if they're named after The Beatles' song Michelle (there's actually more than one TBE out there). As mentioned earlier, singer and keyboardist Yawd Sylvester is in Wayne Omaha (and also The Violet Archers). I forgot to mention just about everyone save Weakerthan Greg Smith is also an Omaha vet.

Yawd! A bassist!* Matt James! Greg! You can't see drummer Kirk Hudson because Matt's in the way. Not shown: The PA dying. Maybe Camp Radio killed it.



After some mostly successful PA repair, Jon Bartlett comes on for one of several introductions.



Yawd turns a dial.



Singalong action with Matt and Greg!



The view from the other end of the keyboard, plus a less-obscured bassist, who I'm now told is Daniel 'Paco' Paquette, not Aaron 'Bass' MacPherson.



More Greg!



Kirk models the Flaming Axe fest look.



Pointing action!



Stylophonic action!



More Paco Aaron!



Thank you and goodnight!



They seemed quite improvised at times, but definitely in the Wayne Omaha mode.

• Show reminder: Speaking of Raw Sugar, Henry Svec and Kelpster Andrew Vincent play there tonight, while Male Nurse spins the hits; Evil Farm Children, The Bushpilots, Marie Josee Houle, Chrissy Gordon and Boom Creek rock the Elmdale House for boobs everywhere; Cadillacs & Cadavers and Knives and Forks for Freedom play The Cajun Attic; Inepsy, Germ Attak, The Dirty Tricks, Critical Convictions and Prisons are at Mavericks; The Band Whose Name is a Symbol and Mark Alexander McIntyre celebrate their new vinyl slabs at the Clocktower; Darlings of Chelsea, Junkie and The Spider and Headbounce are at Zaphod's; The Rainbow has Big James and The Chicago Playboys early-ish and The Windup Radio Sessions with Paint late-ish. Greg Cockerill performs at Irene's.

Gone to the park

The second half of Kelp's 16th anniversary Saturday shindig was held at Raw Sugar, the coffee, deserts and beer place on Somerset St. that's a hit with all the kids, and site of the quite-jammed Banditas reunion show from two months previous. This show was also quite jammed - I got my ticket in a hurry, I can tell you. First act of the night was The Michael Parks, the somewhat more rocking side of Andy Swan's musical personality.

And here's Andy rocking the Gibson SG with special guest Jenny Omnichord.



Bassist Greg Smith is also in The Weakerthans, guitarist John Higney is another guest.



Drummer Shayne Cox in a moment of repose.



The whole lot!



Andy sings! (And you can see Chris Page and Jim Bryson chit-chatting in the background, along with Jon Bartlett.)



Higney takes it all sitting down.



Bartlett rocks the tambourine.



More Greg!



More Shayne!



And that's it, until Swan makes his next foray from Breadalbane, P.E.I. Andy is offering up his albums free/pay-what-can at his website, so you have to check that out as well.

• Show reminder: pH, Adam Saikaley, OokPikk are at Mercury Lounge; The Darcys, Kalle Matson and Life In 2D; Despite All This and RedD Monkey are at The Rainbow; Wassabi Collective play Mavericks.

Sweet 16

Jon Bartlett's Kelp Records turned 16 this year, and as usual the usual (and sometimes unusual) suspects turned out to help celebrate. There were a couple of big shows at the Mayfair Theatre, including a rare appearance by pop-folk legend Bill Fox that I was sorry to miss, but at least I had the Saturday off so I could see a triumvirate of events celebrating all things Kelp. The first was at the Carleton Tavern, which naturally means pulled pork sandwiches and a bunch of bands playing from lunch to dinner. The first performer of the day was Guelph musician Jenny Omnichord. I keep seeing Ms. Omnichord performing with other people, most recently Richard Laviolette, and maintained my perfect record of showing up late to see her do her own stuff this time. When I bicycled up to the tavern, The Secret Loves were performing.

They sounded even better this time; particularly Christine's vocal parts. As before they threw in a cover of The Sonics' He's Waiting.


The Secret Loves at the Carleton Tavern, May 15, 2010

It wouldn't be a Kelp anniversary show without an appearance by Andy Swan. Andy is now living in P.E.I., in the bustling metropolis of Breadalbane, pop. 170, but still made it out west to perform a very-country tinged set.


Andy Swan at the Carleton Tavern, May 15, 2010

He was aided by Jon Higney, Jon Bartlett on drums and Shayne Cox on bass.


Andy Swan at the Carleton Tavern, May 15, 2010

He was followed by Flecton Bigsky who played some stoned folk with a bunch of covers (I at least recognized a Rolling Stones tune). Dreamcatcher Scott Terry played some psychedelic guitar as a backdrop.


Flecton Bigsky and The Dreamcatchers at the Carleton Tavern, May 15, 2010

The Flaps finished things off with some of their instro-rock ... it's been a long time since I've seen them; they were as tight as ever. They inspired at least one couple to dance along before I had to hit the road.


The Flaps at the Carleton Tavern, May 15, 2010
 
A few hours later it was time to head off to to Raw Sugar, first band up was The Michael Parks ... which is Andy Swan again, with Shayne Cox on drums and Greg Smith on bass. Higney helped out on guitar and Jenny kicked in some extra vocals. Jon Bartlett also popped in to hit some tambourine and sing later in the set.


The Michael Parks at Raw Sugar, May 15, 2010

That was followed with a very rocking set from Camp Radio, who are also wrapping up their second record and played a bunch of the new stuff.


Camp Radio at Raw Sugar, May 15, 2010

They also brought on a few special guests, including Jim Bryson.


Camp Radio at Raw Sugar, May 15, 2010

The anniversary party made me think of Shed Sessions, one of the reasons being that I saw Wayne Omaha for the first time at one of them many years ago and the next act up features Yawd Sylvester (also of the Violet Archers). Parks man and Weakerthans bassist Greg Smith is also on board. The music was quite loose and trippy. There wasn't any nose-flute this time around, but there was some stylophone. There show was unfortunately somewhat delayed by electronic difficulties, but things worked out well enough in the end.


Tres Bien Ensemble at Raw Sugar, May 15, 2010

Jon Bartlett's Rhume finished the night off, which naturally meant another appearance from Chris Page, along with Higney and Jamie Gullikson from The Flaps and brother Jarrett on bass.


Rhume at Raw Sugar, May 15, 2010

Scott Terry did some singing, as did Jim Sproull on Uncontrollable Urge ... even Piet from Reverend Glasseye ducked in through the side door.


Rhume at Raw Sugar, May 15, 2010

Jon concluded the set - which included a great cover of The Mice's Second Best - by singing out the secret location of the final show by The White Wires. I wasn't that surprised that it turned out to be Victoria Island, and not just because I'd been told as much earlier in the day. The White Wires drove their U-Haul truck past as people began heading down Somerset, and over to Booth St. (or took a shortcut down the Empress St. stairs). Up went the back door of the U-Haul van, and the rocking commenced! Then stopped about 30 seconds later when the generator conked out. After some fiddling stuff was running again, so it's on with the show!


The White Wires on Victoria Island, May 16, 2010

The crowd was mighty entertained ... a few folks even danced on the truck's roof (no points for guessing it was members of The Girlfriends getting up to trouble).


The White Wires on Victoria Island, May 16, 2010

A fine end to a full day.

Out of the park

Having heard from the Friends-of-Kelp contingent (that being Brockway Biggs and Agile Like This) we move onto folks who are already on the label. Actually, The Michael Parks brought out so many special guests it sometimes felt like the label's entire roster was on stage at one point or another (oh, okay, a decent cross-section then). Fortunately Andy Swan handed out a set list so everyone could keep track.

Flaps guitarist John Higney laid down some steel for Trick of the Shadows and Altona, MB; Rolf handles the bass (and stayed on for Grease The Streets).



Also on hand to Andy Swan and Shayne Cox was Acorn chief Rolf Klausener.



Another Acorn, Jeffrey Malecki, minds the drums.



Swan roomy Andrew Vincent was on for Vanessa and Chinese Laundry.



Flecton was an unexpected guest on The Only Game In Town (or at least, he wasn't on the set list). That's Vincent's brother Colin sitting - yes, sitting! - behind the drums.



Jarrett Bartlett stepped out from behind the soundboard to contribute some bass.



Kelp dance party action!



Label supremo Jon Bartlett keeps the beat on Why You Wanna Break My Heart.



Shayne Cox rocks the six-string, Chris Page rocks the eight-string on Mary 16.



Lots of fun.

• Show reminder: Sin Kickers, Mile Over Mecca and Mono Hum play Zaphod Beeblebrox. Kim Barlow, Great Aunt Ida and Kyrie Kristmanson perform at the Black Sheep Inn.

By the sea

Kelp's 13th anniversary celebrations moved into high gear with a gig at the Navy Club. Not the easiest venue to find, but a hefty number of folks showed up to enjoy several excellent sets from the record label's family and friends.

First up, New Brunswick's notorious Brockway Biggs rapped over some choice Maritime beats under his Pimp Tea brand.



Waterloo's Agile Like This regaled the audience with songs about Satan, oral sex and America's Next Top Model.



The Michael Parks (formerly The Detective Kalita) had a special guest for almost every tune. Here's Chris Page on mandolin with Andy Swan.



The Flaps kicked out their usual superb instrumental rock.



The Acorn capped things with a scorching show (and numerous percussionists).



The festivities continue today with an instore performance by Chris Page at Sounds Unlikely, Andrew Vincent & the Pirates, Andy Swan, Greenfield Main, Jenny Omnichord and The Luck at the Carleton Tavern starting at 1 p.m. and Camp Radio, Rhume, Flecton and the Two Minute Miracles at the Glue Pot Pub around 9 p.m. (and finishing around 2 a.m., if last night was anything to go by).

• Show reminder: Evil Farm Children go head to head with Good2Go at Irene's Pub; The Creeps, Radar Hate, The Outbred Inlaws, The Visitors, The Annoyers and The Poulsens punk it up at Cafe Dekcuf. Various Starling veterans fill out the ranks of The Hundreds and Thousands - they play Zaphod's with The Golden Seals. Les Trois Accords and Pepe et sa Guitare rock out at the Capital Music Hall. Mackenzie MacBride and The Supermodel Syndrome perform at the Avant-Garde Bar.

The art of detection

Detective Kalita have just released their new CD, The Michael Parks. I'm actually listening to it as I type these words, thanks to Kelp Records' new streaming technology. It was recorded at the House of Miracles, and like The Night We ate the Cake is a fine slice of wistful, folky pop music - and an excellent excuse to come and play Babylon (not that one is required). The attendance wasn't great, but since the show was on the same night as the critical Senators vs. Sabres Game 5 matchup, that isn't too surprising.

I've always liked Andy Swan's electric guitar work, but this time around he stuck to the acoustic.





The rhythm section: Mr. G. Smith and Shayne Cox.



Cox gets medieval on the drum kit.



Rolf Klausener did a fine job subbing for Sandro Perri on the electric.



He also did a bit of singing.



Andy Swan had Dale Ronson help out on tambourine, and a complete stranger came out of the audience to help on drums (by the time he hit the stage my batteries were too exhausted to snap a picture).



Jon Bartlett, in addition to being supremo of Kelp Records, was also dispensing Jagermeister - now in a handy spray bottle!



Detective action!





As usual, Shayne Cox rocks.



While Shane was off guitarin' The Acorn's Jeffrey Malecki filled in for him.



The whole lot.



Swan also did a few songs from his fine solo album, A.M. at the H.O.M.

• Show reminder: Former Unicorns play Babylon as Islands along with Busdriver and The Dymaxions. If the weather's nice you might want to check out The Dears, Clothes Make The Man, The Golden Dogs and Malajube at Tulip Fest.