Vapour trails

The CHUO funding driver is over now (not that they'd object to a few more people throwing them a few bucks, I imagine), and with it a series of fund-raising type events, including this show at Babylon. Opening act The Vapourizers are yet another band in what might be called the Liquor Pig Festival family, and as such are usually only found at open-air festivals and the like. All familiar faces in this band ... and is it just me or were a disproportionate number of the drummers at this gig CKCU show hosts?

Them Vapourizers: A shadowy Peter Slim, a hat-wearing Machine Gun Jimmy, a drumming Dick Altavista and a bass-playing Chief Lone Pig.



Dick Altavista on both kinds of drumming.



Jim sings!



Dave played some synth for the vaguely Paul Rolandish intro tune.



Instrument switching action!



Later, some harmonica.



Guitar faceoff action!



More singing Jim.



More singing Tim.



And so on.







Dunno what they're doing next, but I suspect a slot at this year's Liquor Pig Fest may be in their future ...

Let's talk turkey

Off to Irene's on Saturday for some CKCU-supported roots rock. First up were The Turkey Basters, who have been together either 25 years or six weeks, depending on who's doing the counting. It's about 75% Stumblers, 25% Honest Injun, 50% CKCU radio show host. There was a cover of Hank Williams' Your Cheatin' Heart (I think?) and some other stuff I've forgotten in the week in between (wait - Ghost Riders In the Sky was the other one).

Dave - a.k.a. Pedro - starts things off with some harmonica.



Stumbler Jim handled the lead vocals this time around.



Richard on troublesome guitar.



Surprise! It's Dave Aardvark on drums!



The whole lot!



Rhythm section action!



Basting action!



Who knows what the next 25 years hold?

• Show reminder: High Five Drive, Fleeba and Contrabandit play End Hits; The Alley Dukes, Sick Sick Sicks, Gunsmoke and Machinegun Dolly play Cafe DeKcuf; Laura Barrett, Woodhands and Glenn Nuotio perform at Club SAW.

Baste from the East

Iren's has a good long weekend lineup. I was working Friday so I missed The Ethics and Eric Vieweg and The Silver Lining, but I was (mostly) free on Saturday and went off to see David Picco and the freshly christened Jetset Motel.

The opening act was The Turkey Basters. As you can see from the drum kit, it's a bunch of Stumblers and Birdman Sound guy Dave Aardvark.



Newfoundland via Toronto country-folk performer Greg Hobbs was up next.



Finally, the consistently excellent David Picco and Co.



Today Irene's is playing host to Great Aunt Ida and Sarah Hallman.

• Show reminder: If Ms. Nilsen and company aren't your thing, there's always The Crimson Tides, Centretown Insurgents, The Suicide Pilots and electropunker A/V at 61 Argyle Ave.