Temple of buzz

It was a swell time at the Dominion Tavern Saturday night with Montreal's The Fuzz headlining, Dagger Eyes rocking out and new Ottawa trio Neck making their on-stage debut.

If you've been following the blog for a while you'll know everyone involved in Neck: Jeff from Garaga and Harshey plays guitar, while Kevin and Bevans from The Visitors and The Creeps handle rhythm section duties.


Neck at The Dominion Tavern, April 6, 2013

And they sound just like you'd think a combination of those bands would!


Neck at The Dominion Tavern, April 6, 2013

Last time I saw Dagger Eyes was at The Dominion, back in December. They're sticking to their guns.


Dagger Eyes at The Dominion Tavern, April 6, 2013

Oh, and Ilona has a big new tattoo on her right arm, which I failed to properly document.


Dagger Eyes at The Dominion Tavern, April 6, 2013

Montreal combo The Fuzz seems to be entirely composed of  Ottawa expats: You've got a couple of Matts (from Mannequin and Thee Nodes), and of course Rodney from The Holy Cobras on drums. They make a very Stooges-esque sound.


The Fuzz at The Dominion Tavern, April 6, 2013

Oxley frets!


The Fuzz at The Dominion Tavern, April 6, 2013

A super set; I can hardly wait for a record.

Something new

Next stop in the Ottawa Explosion tour of Ottawa: Birdman Sound, which hosted a couple of acts (including owner John Westhaver's own The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol) in the time between the Yogi's Meatlocker BBQ and matinee and the festival blowout at Babylon. First up - after a slight delay - was New Human. It features Matt Oxley, baritone guitarist/rapper Rebecca and drummer Ryan from Holy Cobras.

On our left, a fuzzy Matt and Ryan.



On our right, Rebecca.



Ryan aims high.



Oxley frets.



Rebecca sings!



The whole lot!



More Oxley!



More Ryan!



Pow!



Rebecca raps!



For once, I really like my drummer photos!



What happens next, I know not.

• Show reminder: Blind Witness, Rising City States, Sleep Is For The Dead, Kill For Change and Perjury are at Mavericks; upstairs at Cafe Dekcuf you'll find Brighter Brightest, Take Me To The Pilot, Fairview and Apocalypstic; Edmonton's Rapid Loss, Nightmare//Reality and Dead Lights play 452 Gladstone; Monic, Gypsy Chief Goliath, Pigeon Park and Sister Hyde rock The Rainbow; the Elmdale hosts Amanda Davids Band and Andrea Simms Karp.

In the birdhouse

Birdman Sound and Vertigo Records both had Ottawa Explosion in-stores. I went off to Birdman because I wanted to see what yet another Matt Oxley combo sounded like and off course to catch The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol.

For this particular bunch of freak rock (and one rap song) Oxley was joined by Rebecca on guitar and vocals and Ryan on drums.


New Human at Birdman Sound, June 18, 2011

For this show, The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol stripped down to a sextet, with Nate, Bill and Dave on guitars, John on drums, Mark on bass and  Jason on other stuff. Sometimes their music is drifting and trance-like, but this time around it really motored along.


The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol at Birdman Sound, June 18, 2011

Then it was back home for an hour to rest my tired trods, eat a bit more, rehydrate and await the arrival of the Ottawa Explosions final blast for 2011.

• Show reminder: Paper Lions and Mookie The Loyalists are performing at Zaphod's; Edison's Art, Carl Agar, Jeff Paul Graham play The Rainbow.