In Session

Here I was going to have a quiet Sunday and avoid breaking any limbs on Ottawa's ice-slick streets when Winnipeg's Liptonians decided to cruise through town. The Avant-Garde Bar broke with tradition and open on a Sunday to accommodate them and a couple of more centrally Canadian combos, Henrietta and The Wind Up Radio Stations set up as openers (or since Henrietta was holding their CD release show, perhaps The Liptonians just glommed on). Anyway, first up were harmonizing trio The Wind Up Radio Sessions. The band is comprised of the Kiely brothers, Marc and Dan, from Dundas and Matt Lazenby, originally of Yorkshire in England. Nowadays they call Montreal home.

Set up action! (It's Marc, Matt and Dan going from left to right.)



Matt throws in a little Korg action while Dan trades in his usual drumkit for some guitar.



The Sessions as seen from the staircase.



Dan back behind the traps.



Marc gets in his kicks.



Marc sings!



Matt works the low end.



Singalong action!



Everyone seems to play a bit of everything in this band.



See what I mean?



They're apparently working on some recordings for release this year.

• Show reminder: Mark Sultan, Tang Soleil (featuring folks from Demons Claws and Mystery Girls) and Zebrassieres rock Babylon; Sharks & Ladders, Paint and Danger Bot are at Zaphod Beeblebrox; Salle Gauloise, Spilled Guts, Lost Youth and Shot Nerves are at the Rat's Nest (a.k.a. 485 McLeod); David Gogo plays the second of two nights at The Rainbow; Iz and the 3 Alley Cats and King Rattler. The Hornettes blow into the Avant-Garde Bar.

Surprise visitors

I was planning to spend a quiet evening in on Sunday, but then the Avant-Garde's upcoming shows lineup landed in my e-mail. Now, the Avant-Garde is usually closed on Sunday, but as it turns out they opened for a show with Winnipeg's Liptonians and a couple of local combos, Henrietta and The Wind Up Radio Sessions. I've been hearing some buzz about The Liptonians so I trotted over around 8:30 p.m. to see what was up.

The Wind Up Radio Sessions led things off. The trio started up in Hamilton, moved to Montreal and seem to have some Ottawa ties now as well. It's made up of two brothers from Dundas, Marc and Dan Kiely, who definitely have the sibling harmony thing going on and Matt Lazenby, a British-born Montrealer. They're a quite robust sounding pop trio.


The Wind Up Radio Sessions at The Avant-Garde Bar, March 6, 2011

There's a fair amount of instrument switching going on.


The Wind Up Radio Sessions at The Avant-Garde Bar, March 6, 2011

Henrietta have recently produced a new record (of the actual vinyl variety) and I gather from the stage banter they've been on a bit of a hiatus - or at least had trouble getting the whole lineup together. I quite liked their hard-driving music and admire guitarist Kyle Devine's tone (perhaps due to the aluminum neck guitars he uses). They also covered Built To Spill's The Plan.


Henrietta at The Avant-Garde Bar, March 6, 2011

They're an active lot, even squeezed onto the Avant-Garde's tiny stage.


Henrietta at The Avant-Garde Bar, March 6, 2011

The Liptonians have been compared to Spoon, perhaps due to their tight rhythms, but they definitely have a deeper lover of the keyboard than that band. I dare say it's the first use of a reed organ I've seen on stage. They, too, have a new album out, entitled Let's All March Back Into The Sea, which they're touring behind.


The Liptonians at The Avant-Garde Bar, March 6, 2011

There's too many of them for the stage ...


The Liptonians at The Avant-Garde Bar, March 6, 2011

They'll be back in town for the Prairie Scene showcase at Mavericks at the end of April.

• Show reminder: Are Zaphod's showcase Mondays getting back in gear? We Are the City and Aidan Knight play there tonight. Jason Kirkness is performing at the Rainbow.