Fond farewell

Last Saturday there were a couple of potential shows I could have gone to, but only one that really demanded my attendance: The memorial for Mark Valcour at the Dominion Tavern. Mark was the soundman for countless Dom shows that I attended since well before I got the blog up and running, and his students and colleagues will testify to his efforts at Algonquin, Carleton and CKCU. For the occasion Steve Fai of Black Boot Trio, Lonesome Paul and The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol paid tribute.

Here's Lonesome Paul; I'm embarrassed to say this is the first time I've seen the local legend in action.



And here are his Valley Ramblers, starting with bassman James Stevens (not Ian Cook as I said in an earlier version of the post).



Michael Ball, also of Ball & Chain (of course).



Dave Bignell on telecaster.



More Paul!



And so on, with Peter Von Althen on drums. Been a while since I've caught him with Trevor Alguire or the Jupiter Ray Project.



Singalong action!



Next up, Steve Fai, who I almost didn't recognize with puffy hair.



He started with a Rev. Gary Davis tune.



Steve's other side.



On to The Band Whose Name Is A Symbol, starting with a few heartfelt comments from John Westhaver on Mark Valcour's considerable legacy.



And now to increase the volume!



Guitar action with Dave and Bill!



John hits!



More volume with Nate and Miche, who is now hanging out officially.



Even more guitar!



Jason adjusts!



John hits!



Extra Nate!



A well-deserved tribute to a guy who was a huge contributor to music and radio in the city.

Country to the city

Following the Jetplanes of Abraham show I popped in next door where CKCU was having a fundraising show, with a country-western theme. Country-western singer (and Carleton professor) Steve Fai was part way through his set. I snapped a few pics before he finished off three or four songs remaining.





Up next was David Picco. The Newfoundland by way of Toronto singer is the latest signee to Woody Whelan's famed Mag Wheel label - noted of course for its patronage of The Nils and local punk rockers Resin Scraper.

Picco's set was somewhat hampered by the disappearance of his normal guitar: "I'm usually a Telecaster guy, so we'll see how this does." Just behind him is guitarist Jimmy Rose.



A somewhat washed out Andrew Barker on bass. Barker has his own musical outlet, The Lake Vernon Drowning, which sounds a tad different.



This was the second show for David's newly acquired drummer, whose name I can't recall.





Up ...



Up ...!



... and away!!!



Dave Aardvark said "That was way better than I expected!" while introducing Lefty McRighty. There are worse compliments, I guess.

Planes, trains and autoerotica

I pulled a doubleheader on Saturday. I've wanted to catch Jetplanes of Abraham ever since I missed their show opening for Islands (a show where I also missed the headliners, but that's a whole other story ...) (EDIT: Which may explain why I thought they were Islands; in fact as has been pointed out it was The Lovely Feathers. Well, at least Duchess Says were good). Events have conspired to keep me away - but no longer! I saw them and a pair of other fine acts at Zaphod's before skipping next door to the Dominion Tavern for a country-fried CKCU benefit.

First Boo Hoo - a trio from Montreal.



Next, a very energetic performance from The Ghost is Dancing - another one of those indie-rock collectives. Eight members, six of whom made the trip to Bytown for this set.



And finally Jetplanes of Abraham, who rounded out the material on their debut CD with a song written just the day before. Numerous blogs have been singing their praises, and Zaphod's was packed.



The Dominion has a fine turnout for their CKCU benefit. I caught Steve Fai's last four or five songs. Excellent as always.



Next up David Picco. I know Woody Whelan of Mag Wheel has excellent taste, and figured his latest signing would be good, but I was really very impressed. It didn't hurt that Picco sounds a bit like Mark Lanegan, one of my all-time faves.



Finally Lefty McRighty and the Boxcar Cadavers finished things off with a night of genitalia-themed countrypunk.



A full night's entertainment, that's for sure!

• Show reminder: Titan, Sleeping Pilot and Willem Dafoe play End Hits; The Tender Box and The Dunes perform at Zaphod's.

Return from the Dead

Continuing our Birdman Sound festive party coverage ... Steve Fai of Black Boot Trio stepped up to the plate to play a few solo songs, ending with the ever-popular You Don't Have To Drink To Have Fun. He also played Room 152 and a couple of others. Someone yelled out a request for Many Young Men Consider Themselves Cowboys, but as Steve pointed out it's not really an acoustic tune ...



As John declared, most in attendance could have listened to Fai all night, but there was a noisier bunch waiting in the wings: The Fortunate Sons! I've seen them play at a previous Birdman Sound party, at a New Year's show at the Bronson St. house occupied by The Four Frames, and at gigs at The Dominion (opening for Tricky Woo - an incredibly explosive show that was) and at Zaphod's (with Space Elevator). Four of them used to be in The Dead City Rebels, one of Oattawa's premier rock'n'roll outfits of yore. They almost had a record out on the infamous Man's Ruin label, but it went bumps up before the platter could be released. They kicked things off with the touching family tribute Motherfucker In Law - so appropriate to the season! - and detonated onward from there ...

Austen Morrow comes up from Toronto.



As you can probably tell, most of these pictures - like this one of Nate Hurlow -were taken at close range ...



At least there was a drum kit between me and J.P. Sadek ...



Ben Hurlow and Chris Anderson round out the band. You can just make out another former Dead City Rebel, Rene LeClair, there in back.



Faceoff action!



Guitar headbutting action!



And that's it because I ran out of film.

• Show reminder: Place, Akisakila and Liar's Rosebush perform at Club SAW.