The outer limits

Having just caught Regulations I raced over to Zaphod's in hopes of catching headliners 120 Days. No need to hope, since as it turned out the first band, Out Reason, hadn't even left the stage (and 120 Days didn't even end things - they played third before Embassies of Denmark). As for Out Reason, they seem like an affable bunch, fine musicians, solid original material, but too conventional to interest me a great deal. I guess if I listened to more Dave Matthews, Wallflowers or Matchbox 20 I'd dig them more. I should mention that since they didn't introduce themselves from the stage while I was there that this could be some other band entirely ... I can't find anything about Out Reason on the Internet either, so here's a bunch of photos about which I can say little more.





I won't say they didn't try.



They asked the audience to sing the chorus to one of their songs, which as far as I can tell went "And maybe a Lexus." GTO namedropping I can bear, but Lexus?



To sum up, an energetic performance about which I cared very little. I was prepared to not be interested by the next performance, if only because they swiped their name from a band that is well enough known to discourage such things. Since The Undead's bassist is sporting a Misfits shirt I'd like to think they'd heard of Bobby Steele's offshoot, but we live in dire times so perhaps not. After seeing the lead singer's hoodie and off-centre ball cap I was a little worried that I was about to be subjected to a short set of rap rock. Fortunately The Undead play a sort of doom-death metal hybrid in the vein of dISEMBOWELMENT, Winter and such evil kin. Active stage performance too. Unfortunately I couldn't find out much about these guys either.



I like the lighting in this photo a lot.



Wish I'd gotten in both feet in this one ...





Mosh pit action!



Solid show from these guys. They aren't note-perfect, but they've got the right vibe.

• Show reminder: The Last Vegas perform at Baylon with the reunited Phantom Shifters; Clock Strikes, The Possums and Amos the Transparent play Cafe Dekcuf.

Begin at the End

My night started earlier than usual with a trip to End Hits. Swedish hardcore band Regulations were in town to live up to their reputation as one of punk rock's great loud hopes. Opening up were Ottawa's own teenage manglers, The Sweet Janes. Unfortunately, this pictures obscures their mysterious guest bassist - okay, it was Luke from the Million Dollar Marxists filling in.



The Regulations keep it nice 'n' short, eh?



Next I went to Zaphod's. It was not yet 9 p.m., and the first of four bands slated to play that night were still on stage. Just who they were, I'm not sure. The band scheduled to play was called Out Reason, so I guess this is them. They seemed like a good bunch of musicians, but their stuff was a bit too mainstream to tickle my fancy.



Next up, The Undead. No, not that Undead (despite their bassist's Misfits T-shirt), or any other Undead. If I were the sort of shallow person who judged bands by their appearance, I would have expected some godawful rap-rock deal. Instead, these guys are more on a death metal-hardcore tip. They also stick out their tongues a fair bit.



Norway's 120 Days were the big name draw, and a sizeable crowd did in fact turn out for their synth'n'bass set. They sounded like Spacemen 3 with Moogs. A good heavy, danceable sound from these guys.



Finally, Embassies of Denmark closed things off with a particularly ferocious set. They really ripped things up.



The Embassies will be performing at Barrymore's Nov. 4 as part of the Million Dollar Marxists' CD release shindig.