Shore thing

It's cold outside - to borrow a turn of phrase from pre-Raspberries combo The Choir - but it's plenty sung in The Rocker Room. The space underneath The James St. Pub is probably Ottawa's smallest venue that isn't somebody's basement or living room. On the other hand, the nice low white ceiling and walls are handy for flash-bouncing photographers like me. Even better, this show boasted a couple of really exciting bands.

Manic frat-rockers Beach Blankets started things off by launching happy face inflatable balls into the audience.



Singer Muddy is allegedly in some rap acts, organist Meaty also played bass in The Holy Cobras.



Former Sick Fits and current Mother's Children frontman Mike Hurtz handles the traps.



Fellow Sick Fit and Mother's Child KJ enters the guitar zone.



This is a not very good picture of bassist Andy, who some of you (but not me) may recall playing with The Cryptomaniacs at Irene's back in June 2006.



And now ... beach party action!



Muddy shows off his girlish figure.



Meaty reaches the tipping point.



Muddy sings!



Meaty goes ape!





I've heard Muddy has a monkey on his back.






Big interpretive dance finish!







Definitely one of the most fun sets I've seen this year.

• Show reminder: John Carroll, Mike O'Brien and Trevor James play The Elmdale House.

The second coming

Last time I saw Priestess, in May 2007, I gently suggested they finally get around to recording their second album. Hello Master was keen and all, but I've seen something like three different issues of it. According to their Myspace blog of about a month ago, their new record was being mixed, so hopefully we'll soon have it oin our hands (or on our hard-drives, for the digitally inclined). Back when I first saw them in 2005, opening for Motorhead, I was saying they'd soon be huge. Well, not quite, though they've obviously built up a dedicated fanbase. The crowd at this show liked their new stuff, so hopefully they'll finally fulfill my prophecy.

Mikey Heppner swings some hair. I'm not sure if a semi-hollowbody is all that good an idea for band that plays at their level of amplification.



Dave Watchorn stares down the audience.



Vince Nudo attacks!



Mike Dyball.



Mikey eyes the photographer!



Not quite back-to-back action.



Monitor-standing action!



More hair-swinging!



The whole lot, provided you can see Vince's knees.





Big finish!



A fine end to an excellent night.

Merry @#$!ing Christmas!

Off to the Bytown Tavern for some holiday cheer - or at least some holiday hardcore. It may not be my last show of the year (I hope to check out Good2Go New Year's Eve, and whatever this Rampage thing at the Rocker Room is on December 26), but it's certainly The Fucking Machines last show of the year - and possibly Critical Convictions as well. The two bands tore through their sets in front of a good-sized crowd. This wasn't the wildest show I've seen by either act, at least in terms of audience craziness - then again it's hard to mosh in winter boots.

Maxx roxks the microphone, while Jeff bundles up.


Critical Convictions, Bytown Tavern, December 23, 2008

Most of The Fucking Machines - guitarist Dave Jackson is probably wandering around in the audience.


Fucking Machines, Bytown Tavern, December 23, 2008

"See you in June!" says Scott. It could be true ...

Heavy mammal

It's always cool to go and see Priestess, one of favourite hard rock bands, Canadian or otherwise. But I was particularly glad to get a chance to lay eyes and ears on their tourmates, Bison B.C., since I'd heard nothing but good things about them. All of those good things turned out to be true. They rock out like crazy both live and on record. Their sophomore effort, Quiet Earth, is one of the best things I've heard this year. It's definitely a must for fans of Sleep and the like.

James Farwell looks heavenward.



Dan And rocks the V.



Masa Anzai and his famously beat-up Epiphone bass (which gave him a few moments of difficulty during the set).



Brad Mackinnon on drums.



James goes down.



James is also responsible for yelling.



Headbanging action!



Ungulate action!



Bending action!



Rhythm section action!



Big finish!



An intense set.

• Show reminder: Critical Convictions and The Fucking Machines rock the Bytown Tavern.

Full charge

I believe I introduced the Toronto power trio of Chris Henry, Darcy Yates and Darren Glover in my post-show post. The veteran rockers of Flash Lightnin love them some choogle. You can check them out covering ZZ Top - who they've described as their favourite "local band" - on Youtube if you care to go searching. They like that heavy rock sound and have shared a stage with White Cowbell Oklahoma. They'd fit right in with most of the Small Stone label's southern division (Antler, etc.).

Darren Glover sings some.



Darcy Yates sings some.



Chris Henry does not sing some.



Bending action!








Rhythm section action!



The whole lot!



More bending!



A real good sound and a solid performance all 'round.

• Show reminder: Antoine Caron et L'Orkess and The Stans perform at Zaphod Beeblebrox. Ty Hall and Nick Benton of the EZ3 do their EZ2 thing at The Rainbow.

Hoedown explosion

In the dark dank depths of November - on Remembrance Day, that is - I trotted over to Mavericks to check out a smorgasbord of metal. Many flavours were on offer, starting with Montreal's Barn Burner. They're fairly gangly lot, who I thought sounded pretty enamoured of the technical end of metal. On the other hand we're not talking Dragonforce-esque power metal here. Listening to their recorded stuff is more like some Man's Ruin space rock like Sons of Otis - perhaps that's just the vocals being higher in the mix.

Here we go from left to right: Guitarist and main singer Chevy, bassist Rick, guitarist Huey and drummer Tay Tay Gnar Gnar.



Singalong action!



Solid gold bass action!



Wide stance action!



Yet more singing. I did slate their vocals a bit on my post-show roundup ... they sound much better in the studio.





Huey not only sports a choker, he also had a bowler for part of the set. Those Montrealers are so fashion conscious.



GGTT in a New York state of mind.



Rooooock!



Not a bad option to check out should they come through town again.

• Show reminder: Beneath The Massacre, The Plasmarifle, Endemise, Jack Lumber and Frame The Innocent play Mavericks.