The land is strong

Another week, another bunch of cool shows I will completely miss due to work. At least I get Monday off, so I may just troop over to Zaphod's free showcase to see Pysiedius, Paul Hinger, Clepto and The Art Burn Project before they all become international superstars, or at least start charging.
On Tuesday The New Pornographers make another pass through the capital. As I understand it, this is the Neko Case-equipped version. The opener is the mighty swell Land of Talk.


Land of Talk, Zaphod Beeblebrox, March 24, 2007

Wednesday, Time Again, Machine Gun Dolly, Gunsmoke and Zero Hours shoot 'em up at Mavericks.
On Thursday, Grand Theft Bus and The Soiree perform at Zaphod's. Over at Mavericks Hello Terror!, We, The Undersigned, Man With Target and Of the First Born Son play loud and fast.
Friday, there's more action at Zaphod's with The Sin Kickers, Twelve34 and Sedrick.


Rock Plaza Central, Irene's, September 16, 2006

Saturday The Bible All Stars, Sick Sick Sicks and The Rookers help out our four-legged friends with a benefit for the Humane Society. Jetplanes of Abraham, Rock Plaza Central, The Ghost Is Dancing and Interweb Sabotage bring their collective talents to Barrymore's. Blazer, Camp Best Friends and Dusty Walker perform at Zaphod's.


Danger City Rebels, The Aloha Room, May 11, 2005

Sunday seems awfully busy with The Slackers and Bomb The Music Industry at Babylon; The Danger City Rebels at the Rainbow; Hellbros, Trevor Thompson, The Bronze and Flesh Cadillac at Zaphod's; Paint It Black, Cold World, The Wishlist and Constant Struggle at Mavericks and Farewell To Freeway, Shotgun Rules, Lifestory:Monologue and Assemble Me rip it up Cafe Dekcuf ... seriously, is it a holiday on Monday?

Gimme Danger

I arrived at The Aloha room in time to catch Nick Danger's second set. I believe by this time the alcohol was taking hold. The performance was rough but ready.
The Bigsby-equipped Epiphone hollowbody and an admitted fondness for surf and rockabilly might lead one to expect a strictly 50s-style rock operation, but Danger and Co. have later influences. Witness the covers of Iggy Pop (The Passenger) and Elvis Costello (Watching The Detectives), along with Secret Agent Man and a savagely dispatched version of Lawrence Gowan's Criminal Mind.

Mr. Danger - in person!



Popsicle Pete. Yes, there are other places to go, but do they have velvet paintings of dobermans on the wall? I think not ...



Chunk. That's all. Chunk.



In action!



Danger, Pete, and a "microphone that needs Viagra."



No danger of boredom; N.D. was much more active than the pictures suggest. I only took a few since there's nothing more annoying than a flash in a small room when you're just out for a drink. Excellent new EP from Danger and Co., by the way. Next time they play I definitely want to hear their cover of Television Personalities' Diary of a Young Man.

• Show reminder: Steven Dall and the Department of Foreign Affairs play Zaphod's. Trevor Alguire of Mercury Pickup and Tom Thompson open. Spend a quiet evening at Babylon with Blood Brothers, The Plot To Blow Up The Eiffel Tower and Big Business. Skank and dip to The Planet Smashers, The Peacocks and The Manglers at Maverick's, or go over their head and catch some indie rock with Parlormaid, National Monument (from Winnipeg; their label's website says they've been compared to "Jesus and Mary Chain, Television, My Bloody Valentine, The Stooges, Polvo and Sonic Youth," so they must be really good!), Dear Jane I... and The Boffus Trio at Cafe DeKcuf.