Bluesfest: Monophonics

After Beirut I went back to the River Stage to see what California combo The Monophonics were all about. They're an old-school collection of organ rockers who like their funk with a touch of psychedelica.

Ian McDonald handles the licks, Kelly Finnigan works the keys and sings.



It was another sweaty day.



Here's bassist Myles O'Mahony and the brass section, Alex Baky and Ryan Scott.



More saxophone.



Extra trumpet!



Singalong action!



Myles sings!



Drummer Austin Bohlman rounds out the group.



Rhythm section action!



Gripping action!



I saw them the next day on the mainstage, working up an even greater sweat.



Extra brass!



Extra bass!



If you like your funk retro, they were definitely the band to see. Up next on their dance card is some work with French singer Ben l'Oncle Soul and some live touring in February.

Ottawa Bluesfest 2012, Day 12

The final fay of Bluesfest for 2012. I confess I didn't catch a lot of it. With everything so muggy I figured about four hours was my limit, and I spent it watching primarily local bands, along with New York's The Postelles and (again) The Monophonics.

I arrived early enough to catch the tail end of The Ethics set, sounding as sharp as they did back when I caught them at Raw Sugar a while ago.


The Ethics at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 15, 2012

That done, I went over to the Claridge stage for The BushPilots set. They're sounding more like Jerry Jerry and The Sons of Rhythm Orchestra every day ... not that they were too far away from there in the first place. I think the youngsters waiting for K'Nann were a bit nonplussed by their roots-rockin' ways.


The BushPilots at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 15, 2012

Next up were Ottawa expats The Balconies who had a sizeable crowd for their set on the River Stage. They were looking a lot more rock (at least singer Jackie was, with a lot of red lipstick and black hair) and sounding quite a bit more rocking as well.


The Balconies at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 15, 2012

I figures I should go and see what The Postelles, over on the Electro Stage, were all about. They come from New York and played some straight-ahead indie rock. Good guitarwork and some soulful vocals from these guys, but not really gripping to my ears.


The Postelles at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 15, 2012

With not much else on the radar (I completely blanked on the Royal Wood show in the Barney Danson Theatre), I checked out some more of The Monophonics soul-funk. They covered some Syl Johnson, Terry Reid's Bang Bang and went out on Thin Lizzy's Underdog. Here's the horn section in action.


The Monophonics at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 15, 2012

Lastly I took in some Young Empires. They're a Toronto Band that likes mixing a few world beat sounds into indie-electro sound. Can't say it was my bag.


Young Empires at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 15, 2012

And that's it until next year. I wasn't as taken with the linup this year, though there a few spots of pleasing peculiarity.

Ottawa Bluesfest 2012, Day 11

When the Bluesfest schedule was revealed for 2012, there were two acts I'd swore I'd see: The Melvins and Mastodon. Seeing the Melvins went off as hoped, and Saturday's lineup offered a chance to see Mastodon. The only other band on the bill that Ireally wanted to see was U.S. Girls. I've always been a fan of the Siltbreeze label and I figured (correctly) this would be another act I'd dig. The only problem was that an entire day stood between the two, and nine hours in the current weather was distinctly without appeal. I pedalled down to Lebreton Flats around 1 p.m. to catch Meghan Remy, looking classy in a white turban and patterned dress.


U.S. Girls at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 14, 2012

I returned about 7 p.m. to see Beirut - yet another band, a la Hold Steady, which I first saw in the environs of Zaphod's putting on a very lively show. The band seemed a bit more prim this time around. Perhaps it was just the sweltering heat. A good show anyway.


Beirut at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 14, 2012

I did depart briefly to see what The Monophonics were on about. The San Francisco band seems to owe a certain something to Psychedelic Shack era temptations and other funk soul bands touched by the lysergic hand of Haight-Ashbury's musical heyday. That said, I wasn't quite knocked out by their performance. It was solid, not mindbending.


The Monophonics at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 14, 2012

With a little time to burn between the end of Beirut and the start of Mastodon, I went over to watch Shemekiah Copeland. I first saw Copeland rocking the house many Bluesfests ago - during its original Lebreton Flats stint, if I recall correctly. It was gratifying to see she drew a good crowd for her rollicking R&B.


Shemekiah Copeland at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 14, 2012

Finally, off to see Mastodon, who put on a  killer 90-minute show. The mosh-pitters kicked up a huge dustcloud as the show went on. The first few minutes were a bit trying, since the guys behind me were of the "idiots who have to be constantly shouting stuff" variety. I moved back a few yards and they were thankfully obscured by Mastodon's mighty volume. Unfortunately the lighting was not conducive to good photography (not with my little point-and-shoot, anyway).


Mastodon at Ottawa Bluesfest, July 14, 2012

It would have been a great way to end the festival, but there's still Sunday, which should also be a bit cooler.