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The “Cook Off” Competition: Helping The Ottawa Food Bank

By Jeff Fennell

The Cook Off is an event where the local community (businesses) can display their cooking talents. At the same time, they can enjoy great entertainment and a stiff drink.

The Cook Off was an idea that came from two women who wanted to give back to the community. The event was held at  Babylon Night Club on Tuesday April 20th.

The idea of having a cook off was to create a competition. Each category had 2 contenders that were competing against each other. After paying for a plate, the clients were able to taste each dish and they were able to judge the various cooks on a ballot. In the end, the best cooks won a trophy.

To top the night off, there was a raffle where all proceeds were given to the Ottawa Food Bank. In the end everyone went home happy.

For more information about the Cook Off: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=10150139081290171&ref=ts

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The Polymorphines make it work with Transistor Sistor

Here’s the sad truth: bands like the Polymorphines don’t really exist anymore.

There are a few here and there still dishing out original hard rock, but most groups that sound like this are rehashing the tired old Zeppelin and AC/DC covers in places like the sad wreck of what once was Barrymore’s. But the Ottawa-based combo is creating new material, fresh energetic rock that is a far cry from simply aping the old masters.

I’m not sure a lot of people still listen to music like this, outside of live venues, although there are several instances I can think of where the Polymorphines’ new Transistor Sistor would be appropriate. For example, while hanging off the side of a 747 in mid flight, or being chased down the tracks by a runaway locomotive; or, say, parachuting into a VietCong encampment during the Tet Offensive, circa 1968. Those kind of special occasions.

Then again, this is the kind of group that, once they start playing, all notions of stylistic pigeon-holing disappear.

They produce sweaty, riff-driven hard rock without the pretension of much mid-to-late 70′s fare (even Zeppelin was guilty of this). There are no 25-minute keyboard solos, no flowery lyrics about hobbits and wizards and magical stairways, but the band kicks up a solid groove and keeps it going throughout the record. Transistor Sister has a remarkably consistent feel from start to finish.

Like a lot of 70s rock, their music is heavy on guitar, drums and a particularly fluid bass, but there is a unique feel to the recording that sounds like a cross between a church basement and Shea Stadium.

The band lists Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath and Neil Young among their influences and they’ve absorbed and synthesized elements from all of them.

Outside of standard blues-rock groups, not many rock acts have tried to incorporate a harmonica player. Aerosmith does it once in a while when they’re trying to revive their flagging rock cred. Mick Jagger fooled around with it in the early years before discarding the harmonica in favour of sexually ambiguous gyrating. There are a few scorching harp solos on this record that will make your ears burn.

The Polymorphines make it work, too. Transistor Sistor, is a full-length collection of high-powered rock songs that evoke sweaty bars, mosh pits and beer-fueled dance marathons. It sounds like a live album from the studio floor and is tastefully underproduced by Dave Dudley; the group is tight and obviously very used to one another, which is why the record sounds like they stepped right off the stage and into the booth.

A major highlight is “Dirty Cop”, which is one of the funnier tracks on the album, a tongue-in-cheek skewering of overstuffed authority figures. There’s a lengthy harmonica solo on this one and a cool beat. “Goodbye Kiss” woudn’t sound out of place on a Black Sabbath record, circa 1970, only this is even heavier and the band seems more concerned with sound than image. “Black Sky” has one of the hottest opening guitar licks you’ll hear in this day and age.

Another high point is “Wicked Woman”, where the beat momentarily slows down and they channel the ghosts of early-70s Santana. (Santana’s not technically dead, but the music sure is.)

In the end – and without denigrating the studio effort in any way – this is a band that will make its reputation through live performances. What the album gives you is a keyhole glimpse into what must be an amazing stage show.

You get that chance March 20th at Babylon for their CD release party.

Listen to The Polymorphines here: http://www.myspace.com/thepolymorphines

Jehan Khoorshed is a music reviewer for Ottawa Tonite, and can also be found here: http://www.myspace.com/jehankhoorshed

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