Ottawa Tonite.com : Section Title
Subscribe for Free!
Posts Tagged ‘Irene’s Pub’
Ross Neilsen Changes Things Up and Moves Forward
New Bassist, Mini Series And Massive Spring Tour
Ross Neilsen Changes Things Up and Moves Forward Into An Already Banner Year
Ross Neilsen has had a busy year. Semi- finalist in The International Blues Challenge, a solo album recorded in Clarksdale MS, performances in Mexico and a solo tour are just a few things Ross has been keeping busy with. Now, Ross Neilsen and his band are hitting the road for more than nine weeks over the spring months, taking them from coastal New Brunswick to British Columbia, and all points in between.
While its business as usual for Neilsen, fans of the rocking, blues power trio will notice something different this tour. Neilsen has dropped the moniker Sufferin’ Bastards and has a brand new bass player. Neilsen says it was not an easy decision to let long time collaborator and friend, Shawn Worden, go last December.
“It was a horrible decision to make. On one hand this was my musical partner in crime and best friend of thirteen years and on the other hand things were just spiraling to a bad place. Definitely one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Shawn was a fan favourite and a great musician. He will be missed. We’re looking at this as a door opening though, not closing.” – Ross Neilsen
The new bassist will join the line up for The Ross Neilsen Band’s tour schedule which begins April 26.
They’ve been busy bringing Pacey up to speed and have chronicled his joining the band in their on-line spoof mini series “The Great Bass Player Search” found on Neilsen’s website, www.rossneilsen.com.
“We’re getting our new bassist, Young Will Pacey, up to speed with this tour then we’re going to be writing for a new record. Will’s a great guy and a great player. We know folks expect a lot from our live show so we’re working hard to make sure we deliver when we hit the Canadian highway. We did this mini series so we could introduce him in a very comical way. We take our music very seriously but we try not to take OURSELVES too serious. We thought this would be a fun way to say introduce Will to Canada.” - Ross Neilsen
Neilsen recently journied to Memphis, TN, to compete in the International Blues Challenge where he finished a semi-finalist. Long time influence and hero, Ray Bonneville, moved on from Neilsen’s room to win the Challenge. Directly after the competition Neilsen traveled to the home of the delta blues,ClarksdaleMS, to record a solo album withMemphisengineer, Kevin Houston. The album is slated to be released this September and features Neilsen on resonator guitar, stomp box and vocals. Never one to rest, Neilsen boarded a plane, to perform in Mexico, in February before his annual solo tour of Ontario, Quebecand the Maritimes.
“Memphis was amazing as always. Ate lots of BBQ, met lots of great players and got to see Ray Bonneville perform three days in a row. Very educational! Recording with Kevin Houston in Clarksdale was easy and fun. Hard to believe we were working just down the highway from the fabled crossroads of highways 49 and 61 where Robert Johnson is rumoured to have sold his soul to the devil. As if that wasn’t enough I got to play blues on a beach in Mexico watching the Pacific roll in under palm trees. Very surreal start to my year!” -Ross Neilsen
See the trio live:
April 27, 2012
9.30 pm
Irene’s Pub
FRIENDS ON FRIENDS perform the Beach Boys “FRIENDS” album & “PET SOUNDS”
Surf’s Up Gang!
The Ottawa based trio consisting of: world-renowned musician Steve Boudreau (keyboards, melodica, background vocals), universally loved engineer/producer/drummer Philip Shaw Bova (drums and other things you hit to make music) and internationally questioned but tolerated hit maker Matt Ouimet (Guitar, Lap Steel, background vocals) Will play the ground breaking PET SOUNDS record, in it’s entirety, all instrumentally letting your subconscious fill in the words.
As Booker T and the MG’s did “McLemore Avenue” (their instrumental version of Abbey Road) FRIENDS ON FRIENDS do to PET SOUNDS. All Instrumental All Awesome! All of it!
This is a show not to be missed, a milestone in local music awesomeness, the best thing ever on that day!
Set 1 will be the Beach Boys cult classic “FRIENDS” album (start time of somewhere near 10pm)
Set 2 will be the “PET SOUNDS” album (start time somewhere near 11pm)
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 4TH @ IRENE’S PUB – $8 at the door.
TELL EVERYBODY! FRIENDS ON FRIENDS is your favorite BEACH BOYS cover band!
See you there!
your friends,
FRIENDS ON FRIENDS
It’s THE SUPER AWESOME CLUB this Friday!
When it’s a SUPER AWESOME CLUB show you can’t go Wrong!
The SUPER AWESOME CLUB invites YOU to their annual club meeting Friday, January 7th at Irene’s Pub (885 Bank St. $8, 9:30pm)
Remember how fun last years SUPER AWESOME CLUB show was? With the Plate spinning Lions and the Dancing Bear and the accidental basement meth-lab pyrotechnics? Well this year will be Even Better! We’ve got New HITS (“Pumpjob”,”Ray Gay”,”Droppin’ Bombs”) and New Toys and Jake promises to wear his new christmas sweater with a Giraffe on it.
The SAC Features:
WAYNE EAGLES – Guitar – Wayne is a Man amongst women, a devout worshiper of left handed tree-frogs, and an olympic shot-put favorite in the upcoming London games. In the last 2 weeks Wayne has gone to outer space 3 times to beat up some aliens ultimately saving the human race from a tragic demise.
Wayne says of the SAC: “I haven’t been this excited about a show since that time I filled in for George at the Shea stadium August 15th 1965.”
JAKE VON WURDEN – Bass – Jake has a near-mint condition Honus Wagner (short-stop) baseball card from 1909 that he will be giving to 1 lucky SAC fan on the night of the show. Recently Jake, who has found extra time on his hands, joined a local Modern dance troupe and with the grace of a injured manatee has been scaring audiences to death with inept leaps and twirls… he won’t be showing off his “mad dancing skillz” at the SAC show… that’s a promise.
STEVE BOUDREAU – Keyboards – Steve just successfully completed a 2 hour seminar about how to “correctly lick the strip that securely fastens closed an envelope”. After so much learning Steve is taking a quick vacation to Naraka to do some soul cleaning. Steve has collected his toe nail clippings for the last 15 years, they will be on display at the show and, by way of a silent auction, will be available to 1 lucky SAC fan.
MATT OUIMET – Drums – Matt is perfect. There is no fault in him. He is Gallant, Intelligent, Handsome, Clever, Humorous, and very Caring. He does however have a spotty criminal record and is not allowed near infants or the severely aged. He has a few blemishes on his skin that ooze quite a bit, and he often bastardizes the english language so badly that he has been verboten to speak in many public forums. Matt’s 4 illegitimate children refuse to go to the SAC show to support their father just as he refuses to support their upbringing.
Come on down to SUPER AWESOME CLUB show!
Tell Your Friends! Be there and Be Square!
love,
the SAC Management
Mashed Potato Mashers: CD Release Show November 5th!
Mike Essoudry’s Mash Potato Mashers is a super cool and unique band in Ottawa. It is a parade style band (2 Drummers and 7 Horn players) that plays originals and covers in a balkan, 2nd line, klezmer, brazilian and reggae/ska styles.
Super – Cool Grooves, Super – Cool Tunes. Crazy dance time!!!! No Amps! Just Mobile Horn Power and Fun!!! Come On Out before we come for you!!!
MEMPM will be releasing it’s first CD on Friday, November 5th @Irene’s Pub (885 Bank Street)
9:30pm (10$ at the door)
Come join us for a Smashing Mashing Bash!!!
Visit the Mashed Potato Mashers Myspace page here.
The Randypeters Reunion Show: Soundchecks and What-evers
Video courtesy Jason Leroux
The Randypeters Reunion: A brief history of the Randypeters
Article courtesy of Mick Kern
Press Kit from May 26th, 1988 – quotes on the front page…
“At a time when musicians are caught up in costumes and choreography, it’s nice to see a band that still embraces the spirit of Rock & Roll”.
- The Charlatan
“Energetic, sweaty guitar rock performed with free-spirited abandon and unusual intensity is the band’s stock in trade”.
- The Music Scene
“Now they’re release their first EP, Independency Day. To me the EP captures the free spirit of Us”.
- Music Express
“Even without encouragement, the Randypeters play as if their lives depend on releasing real Rock & Roll energy. See them tonight before they leave town and become as big and important as they deserve”.
- Winnipeg Free Press
“And when one thinks of all the critics and company reps down there frothing at the mouth for the next big thing, the idea of the Randypeters being as hip as the current young wave of American talent becomes quite plausible. The band is that good”.
- The Fulcrum
Influenced by a mishmash of the Rolling Stones, the Clash, rockabilly, 65/66 Beatles, surf music, and whatever the heck else was on CKCU-FM those days, the Randypeters were a difficult band to pin down, though a roots rock/country/punk hybrid would be accurate.
The band was from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and were anchored by vocalist Pieter Botman, and guitarist Rand Peppler. Along the way, a couple of bass players, and a ton of drummers, served time with the group. Mick Kern (1981-1985) and Derek Campfield (1986-1990) handled the bass duties.
The list of drummers probably could take up the entire computer screen. Bill Anderson, Rob Hanson, John Ferguson, Bob Grant, Mark Craig, Gilles Mantha, Bob Grant (again) and finally Gilles Mantha (again).
For the record, Rob Hanson and Bob Grant drummed on the songs found on the Blender Mix compilation (1983), and Mark Craig drummed on the tracks found on the Independence Day E.P. (1985) and the CKCU-FM Cassettera compilation (1985).
The majority of the songwriting was done by Botman and Peppler, though Kern and Campfield also chipped in with a number of songs. As far as our research indicates, only “Sounds of Children”, written by Mark Craig, emerged from the ranks of the drummers.
The Randypeters came to life for a Talent Show at Gloucester High School in suburban Ottawa in 1980, and broke up sometime in late 1989. Pieter and Rand were members of the same Gloucester swim team, and Pieter and Mick met during Grade 13 home-room at Cairine Wilson High School in Orleans, Ontario.
Along the way, the Randypeters recorded a couple of EP’s (Independence Day-1985 and You Thought I was Foolin-1988), appeared on the Blender Mix compilation album (1983), the Cassettera compilation album (1985), and a CMJ sampler (1988).
The band opened for the likes of the Cramps, the Minutemen, Rough Trade, Trio, the Exploited, the Anti-Nowhere League, Forgotten Rebels, Alien Sex Fiend, and Eight Seconds.
A chance to open up for the Kinks, and later Midnight Oil, fell through. More frustrating was the chance to open for Katrina and the Waves during a Canadian tour. That also did not materialize. Don’t even get us started on the “Open For The Clash” gig at Barrymore’s in 1984.
There were a couple of music videos produced, which can be found on YouTube, though only “Innocent City” (1983 – directed by Richard Millen) is worth watching.
Skyline Cablevision in Ottawa recorded the July 1st, 1985 concert at the Astrolabe Theatre, overlooking the Parliament Buildings. Somewhere, there is a very good stereo recording of this concert. This gig featured Pat Levinson, formerly of the Dub Rifles, on sax. He was with the Randypeters for about six months during the first part of 1985.
Outside of Ottawa, the Randypeters played a ton of gigs in Montreal and Toronto. Montreal gigs included Station 10, Le Steppe, Club Soda, and Fonfounes Electriques. They were also the first non-Montreal band to play at The Jungle Bash at Concordia University.
In Toronto, the Randypeters played the likes of the Beverly Tavern, the Upper Lip, the Rivoli, and Larry’s Hideaway.
The band also toured Canada a number of times, playing in cities such as Victoria, Vancouver (The Railway Club), Edmonton (Rockers) , Calgary, Regina (The Beat Club), Winnipeg (Verna’s) , Thunder Bay (Lakehead University), Hamilton (McMaster University), Deep River (high school gig three times), and Quebec City.
Television appearances included the 1985 Rock Wars program on Good Rockin’ Tonight on CBC. That video can also be found on YouTube. JD Roberts of MuchMusic interviewed the band on July 1st, 1985. The Randypeters also appeared on a couple of telethon broadcasts during the late 1980′s, and countless radio interviews across the country.
Derek Campfield passed away in March of 2008.
Keep yer’ shirt on: Irene’s has the Randypeters Reunion Show!
After more than 20 years, the Randypeters will be playing two sold out reunion gigs on October 15th and 16th at Irene’s Pub, 885 Bank Street.
A suburban rock outfit that originated in the Ottawa underground music scene during the 1980s, the Randypeters released two vinyl EPs, Independence Day and You Thought I Was Foolin’. Both charted across Canada on college and commercial FM radio stations, but energetic live performances were the band’s trademark. By the end of the decade they were breaking into larger venues across the country, completing three national tours. The Randypeters helped define the ’80s music scene in Ottawa, from their first show in 1980 at Gloucester High School to their last in 1989 at the original Zaphod’s on Rideau Street.
Although the band had some personnel changes over the years, guitarist/songwriter Rand Peppler and singer/songwriter Pete Botman remained the anchors. Pepper is now a successful Los Angeles businessman, while Botman splits his time between Amsterdam and teaching scuba diving in the Maldives and Thailand. Original bass player Mick Kern is a satellite radio sportscaster in Toronto. Keeping the beat will be steadfast drummer, Gilles Mantha. Guest guitarist Glen Russell will also be returning. Sadly missed will be the late Derek “Deke” Campfield who once said about playing with the Randypeters, “It’s as much fun as you can have without taking your clothes off.”
This will be a party not to be missed!
Matt Ouimet brings “OH JESUS” to the Glebe
Saturday May 15th I encourage you greatly to join me and the Victory Chimes (from Montreal) in a wicked night of wicked hits at wicked Irene’s in the wicked Glebe, it’s going to be wicked!
The show next week will include such amazing banter as:
“is everybody having a great time out there?”
“is anyone ready to party?”
“who said that?… come on who said that?… Show your face Coward!!!!…….. who said that?”
“does anyone have a pick?”
“Mmmmoooooomm Dooon’t!!….. you’re embarrassing meee…..”
So please come so that I know for sure that you like me.
thanks,
matt
Matt Ouimet is a gifted multi-instrumentalist, producer, arranger, and songwriter from Ottawa. Matt’s musicality transcends genre and his musical voice is clearly heard through any instrument you get in his hands.
Whether chicken-pickin’ his way around a telecaster in a up-tempo country romp, or making color waves with his lap steel at a singer-songwriter session, or laying down wide open drum beats at an outdoor event, you can count on hearing his humor, adventurousness, sympathy, youthful energy and beyond his years wisdom in all his playing.
Ottawa’s staple sideman puts his talents to good use “OH JESUS” (released January 2010) and you will not regret buying this record!
“Matt Ouimet on “Oh Jesus” sounds like Brian Wilson fronting Willko.”
- Dick Altavista, CKCU
“Matt sees wide. He senses what other people don’t sense and he hears what dogs can’t hear…. He’s not Gandhi but he’s ear candy.”
- T. Bruce Wittet , Music Etc./Modern Drummer/People Will Talk Media
THE VICTORY CHIMES
After spending a number of years playing keyboards and bass in various rock and jazz bands(Royal Mountain Band, Moufette, Fearless Freep, Vox Crosby, Dr. Draw, the Jeff Louch Trio, N.L.S Trio, and piano player at a polish restaurant) in Montreal, Jeff louch has started a solo project.
Over the last six months he wrote and recorded all the music at home and at Breakglass Studio. David Smith engineered. Jeff was also helped out by Rich White (Besnard Lakes) who played guitar on a few tracks, Bucky Wheaton (fromerly of Land of Talk) who played live drums, and Ariel Engle (Moufette) and Tavis Triance (Royal Mountain Band) who sang harmonisms.
He is now joined Alex Formosa on guitar, Michelle Tompkins, Tony Spina on bass and Tyson Scallmann on drums.
Listen to the Victory Chimes: http://www.myspace.com/victorychimestheband
May 15th 2010
Irenes Pub Ottawa ON
9:30pm $8
www.mattouimet.com
Mike Essoudry’s Mash Potato Mashers
A very cool new band in Ottawa, 2 dancing drummers, 7 horns, and a megaphone.
You might laugh, you might cry, you’ll definitely dance and you’ll have an Over the Moon great time.
Irene’s Pub, Friday, March 19th @ 9:30
$8.
Visit www.myspace.com/mempm
The County Boys: Saddle-up to the bar at Irene’s, February 6th
A few short words on the “County Boys” from Peterborough: they are hitching up their posts at Irene’s Pub on February 6. By happenstance I was in Toronto last week-end and caught their show at the Dakota Tavern. I had not heard of them before and had wanted to catch a Bluegrass show earlier in the day but since the timing didn’t work out, I decided to stay and watch this trio from the banks of the Otonabee instead. Peterborough has produced many quality roots acts including: Jackson Delta, the Silver Hearts and Jimmy Bowskill. The County Boys are following in the tradition of roots musicians from the Virginia Hills to the Red River. They have soaked in bits of country, folk and blues.
When they squeeze the sponge of creativity they release bits of all that have come before them and infuse it with modern sensibilities. Leaving them with tributaries that go back to the field holler, while they paddle down the streams of: Gram Parsons, the Dillards and the Great Speckled Bird.
Their live show is filled with high energy country/rock/folk romps through a series of originals mixed with a few well chosen covers. It is easier to often comment on the covers since they can be easily put into context. In this case they played music by: John Prine, Hank Williams and Washboard Hank. Anthems that I have heard several times before and they did credible versions of all these classics. My favorite was an accordion led boogie through Dire Straits “Walk Of Life” a great song played with the joy and passion of young men, which of course they are. The originals were a little harder to get a grasp on. Songs about drinking, partying and loving.
None stood out but none left me wanting to unsurp myself from my chair and bar hop to see what was playing down the street. The band could use a little more work on their stage presence. They came across as a little too inward for such outgoing music.
But all in all it was a show that left me with a smile and a hole in the wallet from staying later than I had intended to. Not a bad thing for a cold winter night.
Irene’s is located at: 885 Bank Street
613 230 4474
Admission is $7, opening act “Tilda”
http://www.myspace.com/thecountyboys
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/countyboys
