Turn the other cheek

Continuing our delayed Ottawa Explosion coverage, things headed inside at Club SAW, for sets by Kappa Chow, Monomyth pals Nap Eyes, the "Socan Billionaires" (various Scattered Clouds and Hi-Lo Trons members) and The Yips. Kappa Chow started things off with some rough-and-tumble punk rock, now with extra buttock exposing.

Joe rocks the wraparounds, Ilse prepares to hit!



Some Astral Gunkster guitar.



More guitar!



Joe expresses himself.



Singalong action!



Cheeky action!



More guitar!



Nap Eyes put on a particularly strong set; once again I was particularly ipressed by Brad Loughheed's ripping guitar work, which perfectly complements Nigel Chapman's laconic singing and Velvet Underground-inspired songcraft.



Nigel sings!



Rhythm section action from Monomyth's Josh and Seamus!



Percussive action!



Brad kicks out the jams.



And so on!



On to the band billed as "SOCAN Billionaires". This turned out to be most of the latest lineup of the Hi Lo Trons - that is, Mike Dubue, Phillipe Charbonneau, Pascal Delaquis and Alex Moxon - but without synthesist Adam Saikaley.



Mike sings!



Pascal hits!



More Mike!



Extra Alex and Phillipe!



Rhythm section action!



Pascal, post beer-spillage.



The Yips finished off Day One with a typically rocking set.



Kerri sings!



Faceoff action!



Headbanging action!



More guitar!



Hair-tossing action!



Percussive action!



And so on!



A great start to this year's weekend blast.

Need for sleep

So Saturday night I went over to Gabba Hey to check out some touring East Coasters and grab a Hot Dogs 7-inch from Pierre's wee shop. You might be thinking "Isn't today Saturday?" Yes, you read right - this post is a week late due to school and studying and wanting to keep regular hours. The main draw was The Yips, who have a new tape out on Bruised Tongue, but I had to go early (and by early, I mean around 1 a.m.).

Let's start with the surfin' sounds of The Legato Vipers, who brought switchblade combs and whiskey flasks for their merch table.



Let's just say their music is more 1960s than 1984 ....



Leather jackets for everyone!



And so on ...



On to the swell sounds of Nap Eyes, who really impressed. And yes, that is Monomyth guitarist John Salter on bass. He pulled a doubleheader, as did Seamus Dalton, who drums for the Eyes.



Nigel Chapman does the songwriting ... there's something a bit Postcard-Orange Juice about their sound.



Seamus hits!



Guitar with Brad Loughead!



Bassist-stroking action!



Back to back action!



On to Monomyth, who seem to be doing an excellent job carrying the torch from Elevator to Hell.



Seamus sings!



Singalong action!



Microphone-sharing action!



Feedback ation!



The crowd goes wild! And falls over!



Then it was time for me to head home for bed ... I'll have to catch The Yips another day.