Thursday, July 28, 2016

Mountains and Millions

If you had told me a few months ago I'd be seeing Black Mountain in the cozy confines of Zaphod's, I'd have assumed you were off your rocker, but here we are on a Friday watching Stephen McBean's psychedelic warriors, along with Kid Millions of Oneida's project Man Forever. As it happens, the booking was originally for the somewhat more spacious Ritual, but for whatever reason all the acts scheduled for their have been moved elsewhere. Kid Millions, accompanied by a trio of drummers (including Joshua from Black Mountain), started the evening off with a 30-minute percussion piece.

Man Forever at Zaphod's

Snare drum action!

Man Forever at Zaphod's

Bongos action!

Man Forever at Zaphod's

More percussion with Joshua!

Man Forever at Zaphod's

More Millions!

Man Forever at Zaphod's

Vocal action!

Man Forever at Zaphod's

And so on!

Man Forever at Zaphod's

The whole lot!

Man Forever at Zaphod's

Grimacing action!

Man Forever at Zaphod's

On to Black Mountain; it's been a decade since I saw the Vancouver outfit perform (at Babylon), but I've seen frontman Stephen McBean more recently as part of Obliterations, at Ottawa Explosion in 2015, as well as a while back with Pink Mountaintops. They knocked down the lighting a bit, and the swell of the crowd meant I couldn't really move, but it was a fine-sounding show. Here's the band's best-lit member, bassist Colin!

Black Mountain at Zaphod's

Stephen works the white.

Black Mountain at Zaphod's

Gripping action with Amber!

Black Mountain at Zaphod's

Stephen sings!

Black Mountain at Zaphod's

Joshua hits!

Black Mountain at Zaphod's

Colin sings!

Black Mountain at Zaphod's

Keyboard action with Jeremy!

Black Mountain at Zaphod's

Singalong action!

Black Mountain at Zaphod's

A dynamite night.

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