Age of machines

Ottawa hardcore greats The Fucking Machines have decided to swing back into action; they played a reunion show at House of Targ March 24, and have another date at the Dom planned for May. They had a trio of fab punk bands opening for them starting with the new-but-experienced Wire Cuffs; you saw a bunch of these folks popping up at the last Punk Rock Covers night post. Here's Brendan (also of Slim and Popular) on vocals and Callum on drums!



Guitar action with Devin!



Brendan is still sporting his Billy Idol do from a previous covers night.



Bass action with Janine!



Callum hits!



Guitar action with Kristian!



Extra Kristian!



Even more Callum!


The whole lot!



And so on!



Singalong action!



Doxx were as lively as I remember from the last time I saw them, in October of 2016 at Zaphod's. Here's Sof "Dressing for the weather I want, not the weather we have!"



Kieran hits!



Guitar action with Brittany!



More Kieran!



Extra Sof!



Bass action with Ska Jeff!



More Brittany!



Closeup action!



Extra Jeff!



Bonus Britt and Sof!



Asile followed them with their trsdemark hard-hitting motorheaderized style. Here's Joel!



Bass action with Scot!



Extra Joel!



Guitar action with Patrick!



Patrick sings!



Shouty Scott!



More Joel!



Scott was having some strap issues!



More Patrick!



Shouty Patrick!



Scott sings!



Joel hits!



And finally a bit more Pat!



Last time I saw Fucking Machines was at Mavericks during the 2011 edition of Ottawa Explosion. Their members have kept varying degrees of busy in other bands since then. Scott has travelled through a few bands, most recently Coastal Pigs, which played Targ just a couple of days prior to this set. David Jackson has been doing some solo experimental stuff and working with Improvising Musicians of Ottawa-Outaouais, Johnny Nash has been playing with Neck (and others), Dave has dome time with Black Tower, and so on. On to the show, starting with Scott!



Colin sings!



Johnny sings!



Brainy action with Dave!



More CiV and David!



Extra Scott!



John hits!



Bonus David!



Extra Dave!



More Johnny!



Mechanical action!



They'll be back in action in May at the Dominion.

Punks' night out

I headed over to Targ on Friday night to check out the latest edition in the Punk Rock Covers series. This was No. 14, with sets featuring the songs of NoMeansNo, Personality Crisis, Avengers, Gun Club and Misfits. The show was also a benefit for Safety and Education for Trans Youth. First up some NoMeansNo with Chris and Mark from No Fuss, Tara from Lindbergh Babies and Joel from Bel Ann-Ana. Here's Mark!



Chris and Tara!



Joel sings!



More Tara!



Extra Joel!



More Chris!



More Tara!



Then I went off to eat some perogies; Winnipeg's Personality Crisis was the next act paid tribute. Here's Ken!



Dave hits!



Bass action with Karen (a.k.a. The Bella-Bombs' Turbo-Bomb).



More shouty Ken!



Guitar action with Devin!



Extra Karen!



More guitar!



More Dave!



Boom Creek did a fabulous job covering The Gun Club - they fit the role to a T.



Bass action!



Adam hits!



Guitar action with Ian!



And so on!



Bonus Neil!



More bass!



Even more Neil!



Clubby action!



Tara was back on stage to front The Avengers cover band, along with some Wire Cuffs folks (who will be back at Targ as a band covering Billy Idol this Friday).



Guitar action with Sarah!



Rhythms section action with Dave again and Janine (last seen playing with Porcelain Forehead) on bass!



Guitar action with Brendan!



Sarah sings!



More Tara!



Brendan sings!



Dave was brought in on drums with only one practice.



Even more Janine!



Blueish action!



Neck rounded the night off with their versions of The Misfits' hits; Kevin did the singing while Wire Cuffs' Callum manned the traps. Here's kevin doing some pre-set flexing!



Eye-shadowed action!



More Kevin!



Callum hits!



Singalong action!



Guitar action with Jeff!



More Johnny!



Another fine fundraising effort.