Mikey Chuck River’s Farewell Show with Richard Barrie @ Robot!House!! March 17
Yes the news is true, Mikey Chuck Rivers is packing up and leaving Ottawa. What better way to send him off though than a house show on St. Patrick’s Day? The answer….none.
Mikey Chuck Rivers was all smiles and ready to go, kicking off his set with “Mikey Here,” which I love because he works in The Cure’s “Boy’s Don’t Cry” into it. It was a gathering of friends and good times were had. During “Much Music Video Dance,” JS, shirtless wearing an LCBO bag as a hat and holding a moose, could be heard drumming on his belly to the beat. The night had two great duets, first one with his lovely lass, Jill Regier, doing “I Don’t Believe in Anything” and then an impromptu Robots!Everywhere!! cover of “Call Me Some, Looking For Time” which saw Phil (Robots!Everywhere!!) rush to the front of the living room to sing and rock out! (video below) This was an excellent send off which saw us all enjoy in beauty tunes and some brews. Don’t be a stranger Mikey!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwH-KDLujt0?rel=0&w=420&h=315]
Once the show ended, a large contingent of us motored over to Irene’s Pub to see local punk rock crooner Remi Royale. The night of madness and drunken debaucheries really picked up at this point, but how can they not when your entertainer is shirtless, wearing tight red pants, and sporting a hotdog belt? By the time “Sweet Dreams” began to play, tables had been shoved out of the way, people where standing on booths singing and dancing, and there was overall St. Patrick’s Day madness. As you can see, Remi Royale is a must-see at least once in your Ottawa life. His gigs aren’t always this wild, but every second Monday at Irene’s and every last Sunday at the Manx, good times are had by all.
Getting the night started Richard Barrie, guitarist of New Elders. He opened with an acoustic cover of NoFX’s “Linoleum,” so needless to say I was excited. He weaved from originals like “Jungle” and a song about the sketchiness of Vanier, to covers such as “Semi-Pro” by Steve Rawles and “Gates” by The Menzingers. I have seen Richard as a solo act a few times now and it is always a good time.
