Quick hit

After Big Dick's killer set, it was back to the main area to see Crusades - already posted out a few days ago. Then a few folks piled back into the small room - which was really turning into a sauna, you could feel the heat billowing out the door - for Critical Convictions. I only shot a few photos because things got rambunctious pretty quick and with a flash in one hand, camera in the other and nowhere to run dealing with crowdsurfers became a bit of a chore.

And they're off!



And rocks the six strings.



Maxx shouts! I think Jo from Germ Attak likes this song.



Richard hits!



The overhead view!



Marc handles the low end!



Jo surfs!



The crowd goes wild!



After that I made my escape.

• Show reminder: There's a coastal invasion, with Dog Day and Apollo Ghosts at Raw Sugar and Daniel Romano, of Attack In Black at Cube Gallery on Wellington St. with The Mountains & The Trees. Ashes Past, Mary & The Black Lamb and Daedalean Complex are at Zaphod's; Daydream for Dollars perform at the Elmdale House.

Songs for swinging lovers

Back to the small room for a monstrous ear-crushing courtesy of Big Dick. The tumescent twosome is composed of Johnny O from the Million Dollar Marxists, Uranium Comeback and Token and Dave Secretary of Van Johnson, Black Actors and Grizzlar. Their thunderous pummel is a bit like a faster Godheadsilo.

Ian Manhire recruited fiancee (now wife) Sheila Mungall to introduce the band, named "after something I have." "Big Dick?" said Sheila, with some perplexity.



And they're off!



Dave hits!



The overhead view!



Scrunching action from Johnny! (Okay, it's mostly the fisheye.)



More Dave!



Johnny sings!



Video action!



Dave sings!



Shadowy action!



The shouty bit!



"So, so great!" says Davey.



Guest vocal action! Me: "Who was that guy?" Davey "I have no idea."



Their next show is this Saturday at Babylon, with Mark Sultan (a.k.a. BBQ) and The Creeps.

• Show reminder: The Start, Boombonic Plague and Dellinguent Grubs perform at Zaphod's as part of Basement Art; Solomon Dean, Arrows In The Air and the Isosceles Project play the Rainbow; the Elmdale House's monthly songwriters' get-together features Lefty McRighty, Ray Harris, Chris Rayburn, and Murray Kingsley.

White nights

The White Wires have gone from Ottawa underground pop favourites to international nearly-not unknowns in the space of one album and a few singles, and are now on the brink of releasing their second fab LP coming up soon on Dirtnap. Frontman Ian Manhire also has the weighty task of organizing the Gaga Weekend, so he was showing a bit of wear and tear on this sloppy but engaging set ... but not as much wear and tear as I was feeling, judging by these kind of substandard photos.

First some video, complete with false start and jumping!



Running about!



Luke handles the low-end!



Ian sings!



Closeup action!



Allie rocks the kit.



The shouty bit!



The crowd goes wild!



And, er that's about all I have worth repeating. How they got through their show the day after at Westfest I'll never know. Their next show is August 27 at Babylon, then they're off to Europe for a tour with Mean Jeans.

• Show reminder: Intronaut, Goetia and Biipiigwan destroy eardrums at The Rainbow early while Snatchback, Deadline Arson, Shot By Jack play the late show; MyChildren MyBride, After The Vendetta, Right Before The Rise, The Breathing Apparatus, and Man Bear Pig rock Mavericks; Promonium Jesters and Nanochrist play Zaphod's.

Where is there

The Centretown Cripplers returned things to the small'n'sweaty red room. This was the compact version of the band, with one Banoub, one Wells, two Cooks (now that they're married), one Sturk and a Harrison.

First, some shady introduction courtesy of Ian Manhire.



Shouty Matt action!



Matt'n'Dave (plus Mel at back, handling the drums in the absence of Jamie Warren.



Dave climbs, Devin basses.



Running about!



Guitar-waving action ... you really need the fisheye for this room.



I knew I had to take a decent photo of Brendan sooner or later.




Mel "Stickbuster" Sturk prepares to hit.




Devin rocks the low end.




Chris sings!



Shadowy action!



Back-to-back action!



They've recently released their new album, There's Nothing Good About Where You Live, though so far far it's only online (as far as I can tell). They're playing August 26 at Mavericks.

• Show reminder: Hard Charger, Excommunicated, The Donner Party and Masterblaster commit acts of aural violence at 443 Kent St.; The Isosceles Project and The Killing Field play The Cajun Attic; Bad Fate and The Ascot Royals perform at Zaphod's; Australian roots musician Toby Beard and Kim Churchill are at The Rainbow.

Where were you in '82?

We bounced forward, now it's time to bounce back, or at least pogo in place to the sounds of Germ Attack, Ottawa's fave - and likely hardest-working - 1980s-style punk rockers. A lot of folks said their set was a highlight, and not just the ones who have The Varukers on heavy rotation at their squat.

Jo sings!



Germ-laden action!


Simex rocks the bass.



Will keeps the beat.



Jo and Simex look back!



Jo bends!



Simex sings!



Shadowy action!



More Will!



Staring action!



They're playing someplace secret in Hull August 7 with Pregnancy Scares and Lets Dance ... ask a punk to find out where, say the posters!

• Show reminder: Bloodshot Bill checks in at the Rat's Nest at 279 Flora Ave. for a very early show ... or not, seems it was cancelled; there's yet more ska, this time at Club SAW with Saucy Jack, Wooka Tribe, Government Livestock and Matt Farrier. The Gallop canter into The Rainbow.

Make it quick

The order of the day at Babylon was short, hot sets from a trio of super bands. The occasion was Chicago combo Red Dons trip through our fair city. Hot because all three bands completely rock. Short because ... well, read on.

Uranium Comeback opened things up. They played a set of their usually killer pop-punk, a short one because they only know eight songs and write a new one only once a year. Their cover of choice this time was The Pointed Sticks What Do You Want Me To Do.


Uranium Comeback at Babylon, July 30, 2010

Crusades also played a short set because being a new band they don't have a huge backlog of tunes to draw on ... they also all have other bands to occupy their time. As mentioned earlier, this was their 7-inch release show.


Crusades at Babylon, July 30, 2010

As for Red Dons, a band with roots in Portland, Chicago and sundry other burgs, their bassist Husayn Sayer separated his shoulder a few shows ago but soldiered on despite the pain. He sat down through the set and left all the jumping about to the guitarists, who were mighty energetic. 


Red Dons at Babylon, July 30, 2010

Needless to say I had to pick up their first album (I already have their second), plus work from associated acts The Observers and Revisions, along with Last Communion's picture disc (mighty fine picture it is too, but I would say that) and Crusades' newie.

• Show reminder: It's Ottawa Ska Festival time - you can catch Danny Rebel & KGB, The Hangers, The Dirty 30s, Treble Warriors, The Brass Knuckles, The Living Sound System, Clockwize Sound, Angela Solo and Saucy Jack at The Rainbow; 88 Fingers Louie, Contrabandit, HellBros! and Knives And Forks For Freedom rock Mavericks; Oz rockers Airbourne and Bleeker Ridge are at Capital Music Hall; Sherri Harding and The Heat play Irene's; the Elmdale House hosts Brendan Flynn and the Terribal Liars; Chris Landry of Harvey Cartel will play an acoustic set at the Arrow & Loon in the Glebe, with some special guests.