Stephane in Ottawa

Stephane is home!

Well maybe that isn’t his exact home there behind him, despite what he told us, but Ottawa is home to Steph, our drummer (if you didn’t know).  He was transplanted to Alberta many good years ago, but his Dad still lives and works here, just down the road from the Market where love to hang out and play. One more reason why Ottawa is always awesome!

A whole day – what to do.  Well how about sleeping into half past noon to recover from a rough night? Yeah, that happened. Maybe it was later even. Brunch at Cora’s, also known as playschool restaurant, and a trip to Spaceman Music to look at some vintage equipment we can’t afford and get a parking ticket. Does anyone else find something wrong with parking meter guys who stalk their prey?  Like the kind who you see on the block when you drive up, and obviously knew you were going to not read the confusing sign clearly, so they drive around the block and wait for you to go into the store and then pounce on your car and type as fast as possible? Yeah, those guys suck.

Ottawa Parliament etc

Walking around Ottawa is fantastic, if you didn’t know. Our band loves Canadian history. Sometimes we can be caught making a google and a wikipedia and clearing up little dates and facts for our own benefit.  So getting a taste again of the history and being overwhelmed with nationalism just by the shadow of building is collectively satisfying.

And then there is Zaphod Beeblerox.  An historic venue we haunted last June with great results. We were playing their highly promoted Free Music Monday showcase. Translation: no cover charge and the bands don’t get paid. But its the best gig on a Monday night we can hope for, as people come out, and again we had a chance to meet some fans, make some new ones, and use up all the extra drink tickets Tom gave out (thx Tom). We pulled out the ‘rock set’ and hammered out 35 minutes of our loudest stuff. Yes, testosterone-fest. It was great.

In good fashion we moved out of Zaphod’s to see a ’scuffle’ beside our van, and waited an hour while police arrived and took witness statements on our hood for an hour.  Good times. Did we mention Zaphod’s is next door to “Bare Fax”. You figure it out.  A few more drinks, some Shawarma King, and once again Ottawa rocks.