Coincidence? I think not

B and I decided to try a new pub last Friday. New to us anyway. We were trying to avoid all the loud karaoke and bands at every other pub in our neighbourhood. But of course, this place had a band as well, by fluke a guy I work with was in it, and so we just gave up our quest for non-live music and stayed. And this is the story of how we saw this amazing band and really experienced the most fantastic evening that we've been talking about ever since AND the cover was only $5.



I can't remember the last time I saw such an incredible live show...by accident...and in such an interesting atmosphere. Okay not true, B and I agreed the last time was the last day of our honeymoon when we stumbled into a Jazz bar in Ottawa (photo below) that was complete with all Russian war posters and incredible Russian food (and a full DVD of the Eurythmics when the band was on their break).





This place which, contrary to the last reviewer's comments, does not have the coolest name (?!), just turned into one of my favourite places in the city. Here are my reasons:

• the name and font are so terrible, it's fantastic
  
• it's a bit of a dive and the sightlines to the stage are pretty good.
• they serve poutine that is quite good
  
• they serve perogies, which I didn't try but they were super cheap and if the poutine is good, how can the perogies not be?
• the beer selection is oddly lacking and the staff is so laid back, sometimes it's hard to tell who works there
• they play the worst early 80's rock in between sets. You know that kind that you forgot existed because no one includes it in their over-glorified memories of the 80's?
  
• it's next to The Roxy where this guy is currently in a play that I hope to actually make it to
• there's not much else around there in terms of bars so no annoying late night revellers floundering around outside (except for the ones you're with of course)

The band...honestly I can't remember the last time I smiled that much. By the end of the night I felt like I was drugged. The crowd included:

• a Quebecois man that had come by just to see the band and kept looking around with a big grin on his face and saying "franchement!"
• an older couple who kept moving closer to the stage and finally ended up dancing with...
• the crazy dancing guys, one exactly like a certain zany ex-boyfriend and the other a bit like yellowbird's B mixed with a cartoon jazz guy and wearing a hat. really good dancing. really bizarre yet unaffected dancing. so much fun to watch.
• the drama type crowd, who showed up later then all danced into a frenzy.

by the end of the night, the harmonica antics combined with the super high energy of the band and the crowd was hypnotic. Since then I have been walking around in a happy stupor.

the band?

• front man plays the harmonica so well. so so well
• he gets so into it when he's playing and singing, you forget where you are and what day it is
  
• drummer plays just barely on the beat, I mean not slightly ahead of it and not in time like a metronome. in time in this amazing way where you keep thinking he won't quite make it. in some of those slow tunes the groove was just incredible
  
• the lead guitarist solos were jaw dropping at times. I mean made you kind of pinch yourself
  
• bass player, the best bass player neck moves ever
• they began with watermelon man!
• they covered Hideaway!! (see above)
• their name is terrible but it doesn't matter they are so good
  

Icing on cake? Bought the cd and it's just as good! when does that ever happen?