What? You expect a show to go off with any glitches.. Tell me another! Not only did the bassist of ill intent break as string with in the first set, but the mike cord kept popping out of the amp for no fucking reason and an amp overheated during The Riptides set..

But that's Carleton Place for ya.. Well.. That's basically shows in general.

I got there at 6:55 and a crowd of guys was congregated around the door so I stood there for a bit and one of them said. "It's open.. Go ahead in, we're just standing here.." I nodded, okay.. Since I was told by the person who apparently set up the show, that they opened at 7 I didn't seem to think there'd be a problem, until I stuck my head in the door and was met by an irate youth centre worker who yelled at me with her mouth full. "We're not opening till 7:30 get out.." Well then! At least it wasn't -30 below like last time.. Carleton Place the friendly town... Oh.. sorry.. That's Almonte.. But they're not much better.. Anyways.. I digress.

So I was thrust back out the door and standing with the punks. Attempting to make small talk I asked if any of them were in a band and they all raised their hands except for a token few who backed away and dragged on their butts. That was when I was introduced to ill Intent from Carp. Pretty cool guys, Jay, the guitarist and Chris, the drummer, kept staring at their watches. I soon discovered that 2 cars containing equipment and the vocalist were AWOL.. Minutes later however he showed up and had a small argument with Jay. "You told me to turn left at the [insert landmark here]!!!!!!" Bryan said almost irritated. "But it was right! Not left!"

Oh the perils of having outtatowners playing gigs in places they've never heard of.. I can't tell you of how many numerous times I've been at shows where whole bands have gotten lost and finally phone up saying "Oh we're lost in someplace called [insert weird middle of no-where place here].. Where in the fuck are we?! and how to we get to Carleton Place!!??"

Anyway. I finally get in and I start moving equipment in for the bands, amps, drum sets, etc and the youth volunteer catches me and makes me sign the guestbook from hell.. I don't know what it's supposed to do.. Silly really. I signed the stupid book, and then helped set up the gear and drag it out of various trunks and dump it in various corners of the centre. "Over there's fine.." ill Intent from Carp played first.. When Bryan found out I was doing a review of sorts he smiled, and sidled up to me. "A review?! You're gonna give us a good one right?! Here! I'll pay ya!"

Well Bryan.. Bribing a journalist, even a shitty little backhole webpage in the middle of nowhere journalist is evil! Not that I wouldn't have taken the money.. Heh. They were what I'd call average punk.. Not screaming hard, but hard energy enough to keep me awake for the first set, until bassist Ryan busted a string.. I didn't even notice till they finished a song and he'd taken off his bass and the second string was hanging off it. And in true spirit of being a punk rocker, they didn't bring any spare strings (After a quick survey, it turned out that NOBODY had brought spare strings.. *sigh*) So the drummer from Underage Thinking, Ryan#2 donated Kyle, UT's bassist's bass to the cause so they could finish their set.. Bryan's brother, Chris was on drums. He beat some mean skins, must admit..

So.. Bottom line? They weren't bad.. Could have picked up the energy a bit more.. Last words from ill Intent? "Carleton Place was pretty.... cool!!?!?"

Next played Carleton Place's own UnderAge Thinking. Matt, guitarist for UT limped in on crutches, an apparent fight lost with a trampoline.. SOMEBODY! I'm not naming names, apparently had said the day before that they were surprised that nobody had gotten hurt on the trampoline yet, and then miraculously Matt ended up 5+ months in a leg cast. Conspiracy? Possibly.

I haven't seen UT in awhile obviously since the members have all changed a bit.. I'm not saying they've changed line up, but apart from Matt's lovely cast, drummer, Ryan had a nice little afro going.. They're pretty hardcore.. Lotta screaming and jumping up and down done by Kyle, the bassist. I've got a thing about hardcore, it's okay as long as I dont have a headache at the time. Thankful for them I didn't have a headache, so the show they put on wasn't all that bad. Last words from Underage Thinking? "It only kills the weak brain cells"

Now.. There was a bit of a confusion with the line up, Underage Thinking was supposed to play first then ill intent then The Muggins and finally the awesome Riptides. But somewhere along the line, UT was bumped to second, ill intent was first and Muggins and the rip tides changed as well with Riptides before the Muggins, putting the Barrhaven band last.

So the Riptides played after UT and put on an awesome show.. I must admit I'd only decided to go to the show, when I heard they were playing.. My expectations of what they'd be like were surpassed immensely.. It wasn't just surf-punk.. It was everything! Hardcore, punk, skatepunk. and apparently Bob Goblin, bassist was lobotomized because of me.. Go figure, I was told he was brains of the outfit.. Andy Vandal, vocals was everything I expected and more.. I'd met him earlier this year at his wonderful job at CD exchange on Rideau.. Go say hi! Heh. He'd tried to sell me his demo back then, but I'd already spent 60 bucks on CDs (one of which was from CD-E) and was broke.. I did buy it at the concert though. . Doug Vermin squealed on his guitar and leapt around trying to keep up with Andy and Bob who seemed to have something in their pants.. Speaking of which, Andy had come to the show with long underwear on.. "cold are we?" I found later they were to hide the tattoos on his legs.. It seemed to be a theme tonight.. Tatooed legs.. Were those flames real Andy?

Sean Shameless on drums was equally whacky(no pun intended) pulling faces at my camera, a definite change from the other drummers of the night who stoically tried to concentrate on banging the drums, despite my flash going off. Nice tongue ring Sean..

Very cool set put on by them despite the technical difficulties with the amp. How dare it decide to shut off when it's overheated like that.. It would have been neat to see it burst into flames, but then again you'd be out of an amp.. Oh well.. Last words from The RipTides? "Doug Vermin drinks his own pee...."

I bought a Riptides shirt and CD after the show. Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hehe..

Finally played Muggins from Barrhaven, who were loud, growly and very cool. Before the first song the lead vocals, Tyler begged a youth centre volunteer to turn off the lights.. "Could ya turn off those lights?"(He never did) When the guy nodded that he would, Tyler cried out. "Yeah?! Oh I *love* you!!" Hmm. Like UT and I-I they yelled and barked and screamed but had a little more energy and style than I-I as the whole band moved around more and interacted more. On bass was Steve, on guitar was Matt and finally was Ian "the guy in green" on drums. Apparently Ian had put on this lovely show. and kudos to him.. Heh. Last words from The Muggins? "Our amps go to eleven...."

My last words? Not a bad show. I mainly went to see Riptides, so I guess I'm a tad biased against the rest of the bands, although they were all amazing in their own way. Lotsa swearing in the lyrics and the 'intros' I bet the youth centre was pleased.. Heh. Do you guys kiss your mothers with those mouths?

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