Drawn by hand

For the last time (of the festival, anyway) we climb to the stairs to Cafe DeKcuf to witness the goofy, occasionally ribald charms of Spencey Dude & The Doodles, who combine cuddly punk sounds with snarky romantic potshots (which apparently hurt the feelings of the maximumrocknroll reviewer - now that's punk rock!).

Spencey and Dreamdate's Anna!



You can't have as many San Fran bands show up and not have Oscar Michel (also of Gris Gris) along for the ride.



Anna sings!



The whole lot!



Spencey sings!



And so on!



Bonus Anna!



They're now back in San Francisco, just chilling.

Ottawa Explosion, Day 4, Part II

I dragged myself over to #Mavericks where the door guys were inspecting Swiss passports - folks are coming from afar again! - then went upstairs for a bit to see  Grime Kings do some sound-checking. However, the first show was downstairs ...

Yes, it was time for Uranium Comeback's anuual show! They even had a new song this time.


Uranium Comeback at Mavericks, June 16, 2012

Grime Kings are a youthful trio - they all sported "no drinking allowed" Xs on their hands. They come from Belleville and deal in distorted indie rock with a few funky bits thrown in.


Grime Kings at Cafe DeCkuf, June 16, 2012

Back downstairs for the mighty rumble of Dagger Eyes.


Dagger Eyes at Mavericks, June 16, 2012

Upstairs, there was a whole lotta harmonizing with Philadelphia's Eeries.


Eeries at Cafe DeKcuf, June 16, 2012

Once again, Strange Attractor's Brit-style '77-themedrock had the crowd jumping about.


Strange Attractor at Mavericks, June 16, 2012

There were a couple of Bay area bands in the house as well. San Francisco's Dreamdate were probably the prettiest band at the festival, at least musically, with more harmonizing.


Dreamdate at Cafe DeKcuf, June 16, 2012

Last time I saw Needles//Pins was in the basement of the Kent St. Legion. They were great then, and were great again on Saturday, with plenty of good-natured heckling for the Ottawa expatriates.


Needles//Pins at Mavericks, June 16, 2012

Spencey Dude and The Doodles were, as their name suggested, kind of goofy. They're actually part of Greg Ashley's circle - he produced their album and bassist Oscar has also served in his band (meanwhile, Dreamdate bassist Anna Hillburg switches over to drums).



Spencey Dude & The Doodles at Cafe DeKcuf, June 16, 2012

Finally, the festival's grand finale, Portland's Mean Jeans rocked Mavericks but good. Things started a littler later than expected and had to be cut short, but still enough time for a bunch of dynamite Ramones-style rockers and some surprise wedding proposing.


Mean Jeans at Mavericks, June 16, 2012

I was feeling so bagged I was almost relieved when they had to call it quits.