What's up, Pussycat?

Some shows you just know you have to attend; granted I missed a lot of that kind of those shows in the past year, but since I don't have to get up early now I can go and check out the Inimitable Quintron and Miss Pussycat last week. Opening was local lo-fi champ and 3-D monster maker Uncle Phil. He's released a bunch of recordings via Bandcamp, but I believe this is the first time he's hit the stage.

Phil sings!



The firends of Phil included Keltie from Bonnie Doon.



Also a couple of incognito pals (though we all know that's Brad from Year Zero making noise at left).



Uncle action!



The notorious Carruthers (a.k.a. Patric) from Fucked Corpse was also on hand.



It's all about the foulards with this crowd.



Brad frets!



Phil adjusts.



Bass action!



On to Quintron (Mr. Quintron to you lot) and Miss Pussycat, who began their set with some bakery-oriented puppetry.



Just add one cup of ultraviolet spectrum.



Looks a bit like my last culinary attempt.



After some cake-on-cake violence and a giant tongue, the dynamic duo took the stage!



Organ action! I might add this is the first show at House of Targ I've been to where there were no people playing any of the games while the performance was going on.



Shakin' action!



Singalong action!



Extra Pussycat!



Shirtless action!



The famous Drum Buddy!



Light-activated action!



Most entertaining!

Above average

If I were a rational person, I suppose I might have slept in on Sunday instead of going off to Club SAW for the hangover edition of Ottawa Explosion. As evidence I'm not, here are some snaps of Average Times, who I caught the last few minutes of. It was their first show.

Todd frets!



Drummer Stef, Tim (from Year Zero, etc.) and Curtis, a.k.a. Stabatron of Hellbros.



Stef hits!



And, er, that's it. Fortunately I managed to catch a bit more of them in August at the Atomic Rooster.

What year is it?

Year Zero, that's who! Wait - wrong Mike Haddad band. Anyway, Year Zero had a bumper year, what with the release of their fancy CD and vinyl ("We promise this is the last time we repackage the same recordings," someone said), and a swanky do for New Year's Eve at Babylon.

Introduction action with Emmanuel!



This is the least of Brad's tattoos that I've ever seen.



Singalong action with Tim and Dave!



Rhythm section action!



More Brad and more tree!



Shouty Dave action!



Michael hits!



Dave bends!



More singalong action!



Very fisheyed action!



Super-bonus Dave!



Some low-light action.



And so on ...



The f-stop is as low as she goes ...



Extra-special guest action with Davey!



Visitors audience action!



Singalong action!



Another shouty bit!



And finally some laser-shootin' action with Emmanuel.



A fun way to end and begin things.

• Show reminder: Birdie Whyte and Andre Bluteau are at Raw Sugar Cafe; Three Little Birds and Testament are at the University of Ottawa's Bar 1848; The JW Jones Blues Band is at The Rainbow; Washboard Hank and the Corn Pickles join Catfish Willie and the Buckle Busters at Irene's in a heavyweight battle of the band names; Jehan Khoorshed and his Problems and Jack Pelletier and The Battle of Ontario are at the Elmdale House.

This year, that year

Happy New Year everyone! I had the day (and night) off since the Ottawa Sun doesn't publish Saturday, and spent it doing productive things such as having lunch with my aunt, searching for a missing sweater, going to the gym, buying some death metal and African garage pop, clearing out my closet and of course heading off for a night of revelry at Babylon.

The show was opened by Male Nurse. Davey Quesnelle is no doubt relieved at having finished off his 365-songs'n'stuff recording odyssey over at his Tumblr site ... although since he's at 364 as of this writing I guess he has one more to do.


Male Nurse at Babylon, December 31, 2010
 
He played a clamorous set aided by Steve Adamyk and Dave Forcier, full of kicks and jumps and feedback.


Male Nurse at Babylon, December 31, 2010

Next up were Year Zero ... you may recall their CD release show back in July. This time, they were holding their record release show since the vinyl has landed courtesy of the fine P.trash label.


Year Zero at Babylon, December 31, 2010 

As you can see they dressed up all snappy for the occasion.


Year Zero at Babylon, December 31, 2010 

They also had a super-secret special guest for the last two songs ... Davey! Okay, so not much of a surprise there.


Davey Quesnelle with Year Zero at Babylon, December 31, 2010 

At around 11 p.m. the man and woman of Shameless took over: Emmanuel Sayer and Cait Powers that is.


Shameless at Babylon, December 31, 2010 

Plus, there were lasers!


Shameless at Babylon, December 31, 2010

It was all swell except that my Nikon Speedlight died ... oh well, it has taken about 30,000 photos in the last 18 months so I can't say it hasn't served me well. Thank goodness for the D90's excellent on-camera flash. (The Speedlight's also still under warranty, so fingers crossed I get a free replacement.)

• Show reminder: Steve Marriner and his happy helpers will hold forth at Irene's.

In the beginning

Next up at Babylon was Year Zero, celebrating the release of their new CD Year Zero (if only because guitarist Brad McOuat remembered to bring their merch tub this time around). They sounded a bit crunchier than usual.

Dave sings!



Tim between words.



More Tim!



Mike prepares to hi!



Dave gets the fisheye treatment.



Brad rocks the Nuclear Assault look.



Yet more Tim!



The whole lot!



A vinyl version of Year One is supposed to be on the way.

• Show reminder: Sunday isn't always a big day for music, but since it's Halloween all bets are off ... terrifying Hidden Words and Glenn Nuotio are at Raw Sugar Cafe; horrifying Halloween Hardcore hits Mavericks with sets from Today I Caught The Plague, Substance, Hunter City Madness, Be The Saviour and Ecliptium. Dry River Caravan and Brad Morden walk the Earth at Chateau Lafayette; MacKenzie Rhythm Section scare up some ska at The Rainbow.