A whole new bag

I've seen SHaron Jones and The Dap-Kings a few times - they always put on a dynamite show, but I'd say this one stood out in particular for the quality of new material they laid out for the enthusiastic crowd. On the downside, Ms. Jones was not meant to be separated from her fans by a security barrier.

A little pre-gig soundchecking from her men of brass.



It was mighty dark.



Conga-power!



The shadowy Mr. Bosco Mann.



The Sugarman lays down some sax.



Sometimes a saxophonist must lay on the percussion.



Gah, but was the lighting ever bad.



With no Binky Griptite on hand to handle the introductions, the conga player did the emceeing



And here's the lady herself!



... flanked by a shadowy Tommy and Homer.



More Jones!



And in a more solemn moment.



Soul singing action!



Jones is also a font of excellent advice.



Soul-shouting action!



More advice!



As for advice to own self, it was to go home and sleep, even though the show wasn't completely over ... I was sidetracked into watching a bit of Les Claypool, but other than that it was off to the sack.

• Show reminder: The Donna Litas, Bloomistry and Riishi Von Rex perform gratis at Zaphod's.

Les and more

I may officially give up on weather forecasters after last night's predicted thunderstorms were replaced by some of Bluesfest's best weather (not that it had a lot of competition for the title). My main ambition for the evening was to see Sharon Jones and The Dap-Tones, but it also included an opportunity to see noted French electronica band M83 and a few pleasant chance encounters.

The first was with local electro-rockers Politique. Curiously enough I bumped into BushPilots frontman Rob Bennett at the show. As it happens, Politique singer Mallory is his niece. Her previous appearances on National Capital Rock have included a backup singing stint with The Loose Ties. Some may also recall drummer Etienne from a somewhat similar local combo, F!ghtF!ghtF!ght.


Politique, Black Sheep Stage, Bluesfest, July 16, 2009

The next thing on my to-do list was to go and see M83, but there was some time between the two shows so I wandered off to see Loudlove perform. A few days ago I was chatting with Both Kinds of Music host Dick Altavista about bands and he noted what a boost a good frontman gives a band - not just in whatever musical skills he or she brings to the table, but how they connect to the audience with banter and the like. Matthew Chaffey of The Brothers Chaffey was cited as one local example, and you'd have to add Peter MacKenzie Hammond to the list of ones who "get it." He's a pretty funny guy joshing with his bandmates and making light of his own low fly and taste in underwear. The band's reggae, ska and funk influenced rock also sounded pretty good, like a very muscular Joe Jackson.


Loudlove, Subway Stage, Bluesfest, July 16, 2009

There was still a few minutes to kill so I went over to see bluesman Zac Harmon and his band rip it up. The Dallas guitarman has a long resume bending the strings with various blues notaries and a decent singing voice. And he can make those blues guitar faces like nobody's business. Excellent band, too.


Zac Harmon, Hard Rock Stage, Bluesfest, July 16, 2009

Then it was off to see M83. The French electro band apparently morphs into a three-piece for live shows. They put on a really good set too and were about as engaging as two people facing each over keyboards (and whatever that sound-modulating thing is on top of mainman Anthony Gonzalez's rig) can be.


M83, Black Sheep Stage, Bluesfest, July 16, 2009

After that I cooled my heels and listened to (Smog)'s Rain On Lens waiting for Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings to take the stage. As always Ms. Jones was a forceful presence, and the band also have a raft of new and excellent songs to share with the audience. Jones had a succession of young men brought on stage for her to tease. My only question: Where's Binky Griptite?!? He wasn't on hand to lend his funky guitar-stylings or emcee talents.


Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings, Black Sheep Stage, Bluesfest, July 16, 2009

Unfortunately I was starting to feel a little under the weather, so I left a few minutes before the end of the show, pausing only briefly to snap a few photos of Les Claypool, or at least someone in a monkey-mask playing a single-string bass with a pitch-shifting bar on the top.


Les Claypool, Hard Rock Stage, Bluesfest, July 16, 2009

After that I wandered home, pausing only to listen to a snatch of the Alan Parsons Project and watch Styx explode their confetti bomb as they finished playing Sail Away. They were encoring with Eye of The Tiger as I walked up to Somerset. On the plus side, I ran into Ian Manhire outside the Rock'N'Roll Pizza Party and bought a Nobunny ticket from him - No. 99 of 150. Don't wait too long to get yours!

• Show reminder: Arms of the Girl, My Favourite Tragedy and The Tammy Jones Band play Zaphod Beeblebrox; The Paul Deslauriers Band provides all your doubleneck guitar heavy blues rock neccesities at The Rainbow; Hellbros, The Babblegoons, The Bigmuffs and Zebrassieres play Mavericks. Rocket Rached and the Fat City 8 are enough for the Elmdale House. David Ward plays the Avant-Garde along with Dave Norris and Local Ivan.

Dance academy

It's the end! Of Bluesfest 2007 posts, that is - and about time since the actual festival closed up about six weeks ago. My final act of the festival was Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. As anyone who's seen her show here in Ottawa (or elsewhere) before knows, it's always a funky evening with Ms. Jones and her stalwart backing combo.

Please welcome to the stage ... Ms. Sharon Jones! Or words to that effect from emcee and guitar-slinger Binky Griptite.



And here she is.



The ace rhythm section, Homer "Funky Foot" Steinweiss and Bosco Mann.



The horn section: David Guy, Ben Sugarman and a baritone saxophonist whom I can't find a name for.



More Bosco!



It's not a Sharon Jones show without audience participation. This guy definitely played his role to perfection. You can just make out guitarist Tommy TNT Brenneck at right. My photos of him at the last show I caught were much better.



The ladies get up next. The Black Sheep Stage is no Babylon, so Jones had to help heft a few gals up herself.





Speak up!



Shake it!



More Bosco'n'Binky.



Sharon shows off a few more moves of the funky and possibly chicken variety. In heels, yet.



Jones action!





Dynamite as usual.



She's Playing Montreal and Toronto Nov. 11 and Nov. 13 ... might there be a place for our humble city in the tour?

• Show reminder: Neil Hamburger and Daiquiri yuk it up at Zaphod's.

Finally!

There goes Bluesfest for another year. On the last day I camped out at the Black Sheep Stage. I was slightly tempted to go and see Detroit Women, but elected in the end to stick around. I saw three acts I've heard and enjoyed before, to varying degrees, and enjoyed them all once again. There were also three acts I hadn't seen before - I got a real kick out of of them too.

I was too much of a slowpoke getting down to LeBreton Flats to catch all of Danny Michel's rock set, but did catch a good chunk of it. Jim Bryson was invited to play keyboards on one song and ended up playing the whole set. The weather also took a turn for the better. "Now I can complain it's too hot!" jested Michel.



Next up was Papa Mali, my favourite surprise of the day. The dreadlocked guitarist hails from Louisiana and serves up a great swamp-soul-funk combination with cool reverbed vocals. His singing style and lyrics made me think of Baby Huey. He also played an instrumental cover of Neil Young - After the Goldrush, I think. If I were running Bluesfest, he'd top the list of performers I hadn't heard of before that I'd invite back.



With a name like King Sunshine, I expected a soca or calypso outfit. I wasn't far off - this Canadian nine-piece give a definite Caribbean inflection to their dancefloor friendly sounds.



I saw the Deadstring Brothers last year, and enjoyed their take on the countrified side of The Rolling Stones. They were even better this year - and, as singer Masha noted, "I'm embarrassed to say I'm still wearing the same stuff as last time." Heck, there are now some actual brothers in the band!



I know Steve Forbert mostly by reputation, but have never been fortunate enough to catch him live. Never mind that his first album is approaching its 30th anniversary, he still acts like a man with a hotfoot on stage.



Following Forbert's set, someone waved a magic wand, transforming a graying and sitting crowd into one 30 years younger and without lawn chairs. Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings ended things off with an equally energetic performance. A raised stage with a metal barrier isn't exactly an ideal situation for a Sharon Jones performance, but with some hopping and lugging a few folks from the crowd did make it up to dance on a couple of tunes.



A swell end to good festival. Further photos will appear in the days ahead.

• Show reminder: There's much hardcore at Babylon with Madball, Outbreak, Death Before Dishonor and Unleash Hell. Mink, The Poulsens, Transmission (or is Transformers?) and Sin Silver play for free at Zaphod's.

Soul Sister No. 1

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings brought a huge crowd into Babylon on a Tuesday, and played a super-hot show for them.
They're a large crew themselves: They had almost as many people on stage as White Cowbell Oklahoma did at Barrymore's (possibly more, if you count the audience members they invited up to shake it) and the stage at Babylon is quite a bit smaller.
This was one sweaty show - between the large crowd, the lights and a muggy evening the air by the side of the stage was starting to feel more like soup after the first few songs.

Sharon Jones - Soul Sister No. 1!!! Likes a fish in her dish, she says.



The horn section: Dave Guy on Trumpet ... Neal Sugarman on sax, "Spliffy" on bigger sax. They blow, they move, then blow again.



Homer "Funky Foot" Jenkins on drums and fixed stare and Bosco Mann on bass (also the group's musical director). Remember how in the Batman movie the villains always were filmed at an angle?



Bosco and Tommy "TNT" Brenneck on guitar. I believe Bosco is thinking "Damn, you tall."



Binky Griptite, MC, vocals, and a heavily reverbed Fender (plays with a thumb pick ... haven't seen that before ... I don't go to enough country music shows, I guess).



More Sharon? Why not! She really had the audience in the palm of her hand for the whole show, with both her performance and her between-song repartee.



Some behind the neck guitar action from Mr. Griptite.



"I'm going to walk right up to the White House door ..." Sharon Jones explains politics in the U.S. and how to get that Mr. Bush's attention.



Jones, is 4-foot-11; Tommy is 6-foot-4 ... you do the math.



The Dap-Kings had a relentless soul and funk attack - it was a killer show from start to finish. Certainly in the Top 3 so far this year.

• Show reminder: The Telepathic Butterflies play Zaphod's tonight with Mono Hum.