Dead can dance

The Gost Is Dancing finished the night in the usual rambunctious multi-membered Toronto indie-rock style made semi-famous by outfits like Henri Faberge and The Adorables, Jetplanes of Abraham and others. There was a bit of blending with The Coast's set, and things ended up with "The Coast Is Dancing"

Hands up, Odie Ouderkirk!



Eric Krumins gets down on base while Gabie Nadeau squeezes.



Alt Altman (I think) shouts ... I think that's Dave Kates at left. With all the instrument switching and membership swivelling it can be hard to keep track.



More shouting and accordion-playing.



Clapping too, of course!



This was followed by some clothes removal, as you can see by shirtless Alt Altman and pants-less Jamie Matechuk.



Synchronized jumping action!



Drummer Kevin Corlis sheds the shirt for the big finish.





Big, Coast-assisted finish!



Always a fun gig live.

• Show reminder: Soulbomb, Auto-Racing and Hemi-Loco play Zaphod's.

Death and unlife

Zaphod Beeblebrox featured a nicely synchronized bill featuring a pair of bands influenced by the British of indie rock circa 1985-95 and one of those newfangled collectives courtesy of i(heart)music.

First up were Ottawa's own Murder Plans, a band I'm now kicking myself for not catching earlier. A very together act that takes a few cues from mod-pop and '80s indie rock like Orange Juice. Their set was very sharp and energetic and I'm looking forward to giving their EP a listen.



The Coast put on an equally energetic performance. I've heard them compared to The Verve, an impression that didn't really survive the show ... these guys would be great on a bill with The Diableros, though.



Finally The Ghost Is Dancing wrapped things up with their collective indie-rock. Eight members made the trip to Ottawa this time around (compared to six when they opened for Jetplanes of Abraham's CD release show). A fun set featuring a finale with the members of The Coast getting on stage for a The Coast Is Dancing version of Bob Dylan's I Shall Be Released.



As you can see, there was also some disrobing involved.

• Show reminder: Local pop-punkers The Poulsens and The Annoyers, face off with 60s-rock lovers the The Manvils and Saskatoon southern soul rockers The Sheepdogs perform at Zaphod's.

Shake the sheets

The Ghost is Dancing is an indie-pop collective from Toronto. That's not surprising, since Toronto is now entirely populated by indie-pop collectives. They'd be comfortable on a bill with The Arcade Fire and Henri Faberge and the Adorables.

Jim DeLuca floats sideways. That's Odie Oderkirk at left.



Jamie Matechuk plays piano.



Gabie Nadeau on accordion.



Sing-and-or-shoutalong action!



Bassist Eric Krumins gets his kicks in.



J. shouts!



Gabie breaks out the tambourine.



Good thing Kevin Corlis stepped out from behind the drums so I could get a decent shot.



I hear they may be returning to Ottawa soon ... exact details unknown. They released an EP earlier this year; a full-length is forthcoming.

• Show reminder: Zombi, Sleeping Pilot, Maserati and Dr Wily and the Robot Masters perform at Cafe DeKcuf.

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.